I wasn't aware of this until someone told me, but if you're a high school student, or in plenty of cases, college student or faculty member, you're elgible for HUGE, legal discounts on the full, unrestrained software. Poser 6 is $129 Bryce is only $60 Maya Unlimited is only $350 (Down from $6000!!!!) All the Shade softwares are vastly lower, even Lightwave is only $250. This is a great oppritunity, and this site offers MUCH more then just 3D. Photoshop, After Effects, Combustion, even hardware, like mp3 players, for MAD cheap. www.academicsuperstore.com .... spend away.

Just remember that these softwares are only valid while an eligible student. And commercial use is VERBOTEN! They catch you using academic software for commercial projects - bye-bye registered license. So, not 'unrestrained'. There are limitations on use.

Just seem slike spam to me

Um, when you buy this software while you are a student then you cannot use it a year later anymore when you've done with school? LOL ... does the software detect that? AFAIK there is no restriction regarding commercial use on Rhino when you buy the academic version.

Message edited on: 04/26/2005 04:06

It depends on the software. Some of them even require you connect to the internet and renew your license every month or so if you're using a student version. Some allow commercial use - most don't. I do know for a fact that if you purchase Rhino, even as a student, it's yours forever and you get a full license. I.E. you can do commercial products with a student version of Rhino.

I presume this is just for USA?

Rhino might, but as you say, most others don't allow commercial use under an academic license. Good for Rhino! :) Agreed, this seems like spam. Just wanted to alert the unwary to the lack of disclosure of the post. Academic software is not 'really inexpensive commercial licenses on full software' (in nearly all cases).

Macromedia can't be used for commercial work, at least last time I checked they had a logo on every output saying it was a student copy. Marque

Spam? Ouch... didn't mean it that way. Aren't upgrades still relatively cheap anyway? Well, whatever, my mistake.

I did not consider this as spam. Marque, how do they put a logo on a website that you could generate with Dreamweaver?

Marque, I don't know (using full version), but they definitely limit use of Dreamweaver (MX 2004) to one system. I installed it on my server as a quick editor - do most editing on my main system - and it doesn't run. Obviously, they have online authentication. Maybe that's how they do the other?

Message edited on: 04/26/2005 11:58

Some software puts a nasty watermark on all the images. Maya does that. So the lowered prices are good for learning, but I'd never include such an image in a portfolio. www.creationengine.com is the other decent academic site. Note that some of the makers have stiffer requirements than others! Some only require a person to be taking a single class, others need to see the current class schedule of a full-time student (x units). Some just need a scan of the current student ID, others such as Adobe, need a handful of proofs. And, of course, there are different proofs if you are the instructor. As to using something after you finish with the class? That is up to the license and personal honesty. Another thing to check is whether an upgrade path is included. Carolly

Hmm...I both teach and take classes at the local university and if it weren't or academic pricing my department would still be in the stone age as far as technology goes. I've used Macromedia products (Dreamweaver, Contribute 1-3 [dont' get me started on this nightmare!]) as well as Adobe and CL goodies and have to admit I've never seen any "student" watermark or such like critter on any of the stuff I've done. But I wasn't looking for it, either. I think it was good that dvd_master sent out the notice on academicsuperstore.com because there are a lot of students who find this forum as they develop their artistic abilities. I guess the "deal" is to read the fine print...several times. Caveat Emptor!