There’s an interesting argument about this (and more) over on the Adobe forums too:

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?14@@.59b5f71e/13

I am a happy user of Adobe Lightroom 1. This week they released a significant upgrade which includes some useful enhancements. I went to purchase the upgrade, knowing full well that Adobe’s upgrades aren’t “cheap”. However, when putting the upgrade into my “shopping cart” I noticed that the VAT rate they are charging is 21%! Have I missed something somewhere or has VAT suddenly changed – is this fraudulent activity on their behalf?

IF we were looking at Photoshop or Ilustrator, then I would be wanting the Mag to mention how buggy the product can be for many users also, but that’s a different product for a different thread.

Like many in the UK, I view the cost of software with horror. And I agree, it is not the cost of production and distribution that drives the UK prices, but rather “what the market will bear”.
Fortunately, not only am I a teacher, I have two children in education. Therefore I qualify in spades for educational discount on software. And this does bring the price down to a reasonable level.
Of course it is done for a reason ~ hearts and minds; able users in the market place; expectations set for the work environment to name a few.
Educational software is not ment for commercial use. But the licence does not run out when the student leaves education. And students can continue to upgrade from the educational version after they have left education.
I teach at foundation degree level. UK university courses cost approx £3300 per year. Adobe software educational discount means it costs 15%+ of the yearly course fee.
I don’t expect my multimedia students will throw Adobe software away when they leave university, especially those who work in the media area. Many work as contractors, so need to keep updating their skills. Buying at an educational discount and continuing to upgrade means they can keep their skills up to date at home, thus making them more employable.
So whilst I undersand the problem those in the commercial environment have with software pricing, don’t think of it as all doom and gloom. Educational discount means students leave college / university with exposure to and skills in the latest levels of software … which saves you starting training from scratch, thus saving you money you can put towards …. buying the software!

Adobe SHOULD have been reffered to the Office of fair trading years ago for PRICE FIXING. I took part in the consumer research they are talking about and it was a joke. I get to give more input when I’m testing Dog food for my Pet.

It really is long overdue for Apple to do for photographers what they did for Videographers when they made Final Cut Pro.

Acrobat is over priced in the US let alone the UK, don’t even get me started on splitting Photoshop into standard and advanced.

As ever I will underline the fact that the best way to get any adobe product is to contact a friend or relative living in the US or Canada, have them buy the product then ship it giftwrapped to your European address.

If they block this kind of import route, they deserve to be serial or keygenned off the face of the planet!!!