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redeye78 · May 19, 2005, 08:06 PM

I am a student and last year I purchaced FCP HD Academic. I started looking into upgrading to FCP Studio. I talked to the apple store online on two seperate occasions and they told me that it would be no problem to upgrade to the commercial version for the upgrade price of $699. I recieved the box today and went to install it and the second serial # that you enter in an upgrade is my previous versions #. IT DID NOT WORK!!! I sat on hold for over an hour while they tried to find someone to help me. The woman asked me for the last three letters of my previous serial #, and then she said that I can't upgrade from an academic version! I THREW A FIT. I spoke to two seperate people at the apple store and they both said that it would be "NO PROBLEM." When I ordered the box I actually called the academic ph # so I could get the discount on the 6800 ultra. The lady at the pro apps support said that they are probably going to have me send back the box I have now and then send me the academic version. THATS NOT WHAT THEY SOLD ME ON THE PHONE! Then the proceeded to tell me that there are many more cases like my own, and they will call me back when they resolve the issue????

I have FCP STUDIO sitting next to me and I cant even use it!!!!

zerostar · May 19, 2005, 10:50 PM

I have been reading this alot, it sucks :-(

My FCP 3.0 was academic, I upgraded to 4.5 Retail and the FCP Studio upgrade went just fine for me.. sorry to hear your trouble

Producer · May 20, 2005, 12:37 AM

I bought the student version Production Suite directly from Apple's website last fall and was unaware that I couldn't upgrade to the Retail Studio version till I read apple faq page... I wish I knew this when I purchased the academic version.. I'm curious though if I bought the upgade if it would install.. because sometimes apple says these things just to encourage you to pay more such as them having you buy the family pack of OS X when you can install it on other computers with the regular version but judging from your experience it sounds like I won't be able to upgrade and will have to purchase the retail version..

If anyone was able to upgrade there academic version to the retail version please chime in and let us know

thanks

redeye78 · May 20, 2005, 09:06 PM

Now they are saying that I MIGHT hear something next week,

!!!!

Producer · May 24, 2005, 11:59 AM

Any update on this subject? I want to purchase the Studio upgrade but am waiting to hear from someone who tried to install it over the Student edition or if apple has officially changed it policy.

Kenneth · May 24, 2005, 02:02 PM

Yea.. academic to retail licensing should be easy.. but not in reality.
I still have a copy of Final Cut Pro 3 academic version here. I just finished college 2 months ago and about to upgrade to retail box (e.g. Photoshop)

majesticmac · Aug 8, 2005, 09:29 AM

I can't believe that apple is not supporting us. I am on the phone with customer relations now. I was told when I bought the academic version that all I would have to do is pay the difference to upgrade to the professional version. This is some poor customer service, Apple has to fix this.

Producer · Aug 8, 2005, 09:35 AM

Majestic.. let me know how this turns out.. I've been waiting to upgrade because of this... it might be possible that if you buy the upgade that it will work even if apple says it won't which is what I'm trying to find out.. if anyone else has and update on this please replay.. I have no problem if this is their policy but they should have told us before hand when we bought the academic version..