Existing users, 
Activiation is painless and not worth worrying about unless your the type of person who violates EULA's without hesitation.
Adobe had activation on their PC version of CS last year. (It only affected photoshop). You could install the software on up to two computers. You could update the product with no problems. The only hassle with this type of activation was if you had an installation error and burnt up an activation. Or if you activated it twice and replaced one of your computers. You had to contact Adobe and they would give you access to reactiviate.
It was painless - no harder than registering the software.
This years activation improves on the two problems from last years. You can deactivate a computer yourself.
Updates - Ya, it stinks to have just purchased software and something better comes along. I hear you. I've been burned by that happening a number of times. But to say they are trying to scam you- it's not true.
There are many improvements. If you really use Adobe products, you will see.
Acrobat allows you to create forms that can be used and saved by users of reader. This will allow large companies to have their develops use Acrobat and all their users use the free Reader. (A huge savings).
Illustrator adds a "Vectorization feature" Allowing you to scan artwork and create vector images from it. (That is huge). Yes - Coral Trace has the same feature. However, to finally have this in the Adobe Line Up is terrific.
And there are more.
If you feel the updates aren't worth the money, then don't buy them.
Adobe Creative Suite
photoshop, illustrator, indesign, acrobat, flash, dreamweaver...
Version: 4.0
Activation, Updates, blah - djdiesel
Jeffrey Lund,Perhaps you're not understanding where some of us are coming from in our criticism of the "Activation Process" of applications... therefore I'll try one more to explain...
#1: Not all of us feel COMFORTABLE divulging ANY information to companies, expecially those of us who have been victim of information fraud and it has cost us thousands upon thousands of dollars in cash, time and lost credit ability.
#2: Not all of us care to give our information to a company so that they can use it for their own marketing purposes without them compensating us in SOME capacity, be it discounts on software, etc... there thould be SOME reward for those who wish to give up their info so Adobe can make cash off ot it and it shouldn't be FORCED. It's the principle, if you know what that is.
#3: Adobe has been creating these apps for years and years, to say that they lose a LOT of money, I can't say for sure, they obviously make enough to have a BURSTING profit every year, so much so that they can continue, on a regular basis, to develop new apps or "update" existing ones.
#4: Some of us do not wish to connect certain computers to the internet, at ANY cost, as I said before, if you've ever been a victim of identity theft, you'd understand why. If not, then you have absolutely no clue and should speak to some who have to find out what they went through. With that being said, how is one to register their prestine Mac computers new SW if they don't want to connect it to the net? I, myself, have a few laptops I will NEVER connect to the net (but yet will NEED to use these apps on while travelling to clients) becuase of what I went through. So give us a fix-all for it mate, since you seem to be all-knowing.
#5: Every user or potential user has the right to feel and say what they wish with regards to this activation process.
Perhaps this will help shed some light on an obviously dim subject for you. Perhaps not, that's up to you.
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Wednesday, April 13 2005 @ 12:10 PM PDT