Is adobe allowing free downloads of PS CS 2? NO.

[sheana2002]

I heard this in an illustration class I am taking, with some people claiming they have downloaded the program. I can't believe this is true.....somebody please advise. Thanks in advance.

[WBoswell]

On another note, if Adobe loses too much money on pirated software every year then the price for legitimate users go up.  People don't think about that.  All those people who ignore Adobe's statement that it isn't free sofware are responsible if this happens.  They don't care because they didn't pay for it anyway.

[the_wine_snob]

I have licenses for PS CS 2 (along with almost everything under any CS 2 suite designation), and still use a few of those programs on an XP-Pro laptop. Though I have CS 5, CS 5.5 and CS 6, I followed the discussions closely, though from the Adobe Forums, and not any other sites.

While loosing the CS & CS 2 Activation servers was a bit of a surprise, I was glad that Adobe stepped up with an alternative. Was it the ultimate alternative? Time will tell.

Unfortunately, many read half of the Adobe PR, and then speculated on what it might entail.That speculation, along with some inflation, is what too many have encountered. It is like the game, "Telephone," where one person whispers a statement to the person on their right (or left), and the message gets passed along. At the end, the last person's understanding is compared to the actual message. Strange things happen along the way.

Hunt

[WBoswell]

I think the main problem is the word from Adobe is buried in these forums while the people who have already downloaded the software haven't seen it.  They downloaded and left already because they heard it was free because so many websites claim it is.  Also since Adobe never put out an official notice on the download page and included serial numbers for each product, people are believing Adobe is giving it away.

Many of the techie websites are still promoting it as free because they didn't research it.  They took the word of other websites that it was free then everybody out there thinks it's free.  Adobe created their own problem and continue to create more problems for themselves by not posting a notice.  Their continued silence and failure to post an official notice further creates the message that the software must be free.

Some of us know it is for licensed CS2 users and not the world.  Now it looks like it's free to everybody because Adobe fails to make a statement where everyone can read it.  It's probably too late by now.  Maybe at this point they don't care.  They're certainly getting enough PR lately.  Maybe it will work to their advantage.

[the_wine_snob]

Yes, there HAS been much confusion.

First, as I still use CS 2 on one machine, I am glad that Adobe did provide a solution for those license holders, like me. However, I think that I would have provided that support, in a different way.

As I have only followed the Adobe statments, and have not followed what might, or might not have been on any Adobe download pages, but it does seem that some of the wording, or lack of wording, probably did contribute to the confusion.

When things die down, and get sorted out, I will download the CS 2 installers for my Adobe programs, in case I do need to reinstall and Activate. I do anticipate that the sorting is on-going, and wish everyone luck on that process.

Hunt