FCP Studio 3 upgrade, I don't believe this!

J

jbednarski

Active member
I got my upgrade to FCP Studio 3 today and it wouldn't take my old version's serial number. Called Apple and they said it was because I was trying to upgrade an academic version. Did not know that this couldn't be done. I purchased the upgrade from B&H because it was cheaper than Apple and they said that since the software was opened they wouldn't take it back, although it didn't say anything about academic versions not being able to be upgraded on their web page. The guy at Apple said next time buy from them and I would have been told this beforehand. He also said that they couldn't do anything about it and that I should sell the upgrade on ebay or get a serial number from someone who has an earlier full version of FCP Studio. I can't believe that this is their official party line on this. So right now I'm out $269.00 and need to spend $1,200. on a brand new version?! Does anyone have any ideas on what to do? It would be appreciated.
 
I tried Google-ing and came up with several but they we're for "Not-for-sale" versions. I wouldn't know where else to look.
 
That is a tough break--I think you are right that B&H's site should note that the academic versions are not eligible for the upgrade. Apple's webpage, BTW, both in the education store and in the regular store, does say that academic version is not eligible for the upgrade.

All is not lost, however. If you go to Apple's website, you will see that it says that prior versions of FCS, the Production Suite and prior versions of Final Cut Pro are eligible for upgrade. Surely, you will be able to find one of these on eBay or somewhere else for less than the cost of the full version of Final Cut Studio 3 (which I believe is now $999, not $1200). You should verify all of this yourself on Apple's site, rather than relying on this post, to be sure that you can use the upgrade you have already bought with whatever you find on eBay.

Good luck,
Kevin
 
jbednarski said:
I got my upgrade to FCP Studio 3 today and it wouldn't take my old version's serial number. Called Apple and they said it was because I was trying to upgrade an academic version. Did not know that this couldn't be done. I purchased the upgrade from B&H because it was cheaper than Apple and they said that since the software was opened they wouldn't take it back, although it didn't say anything about academic versions not being able to be upgraded on their web page. The guy at Apple said next time buy from them and I would have been told this beforehand. He also said that they couldn't do anything about it and that I should sell the upgrade on ebay or get a serial number from someone who has an earlier full version of FCP Studio. I can't believe that this is their official party line on this. So right now I'm out $269.00 and need to spend $1,200. on a brand new version?! Does anyone have any ideas on what to do? It would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Quite a predicament considering you paid for a legal version... check my pm.
 
If you bought FCS2 Academic retail (i.e. it came in a heavy black box from an authorized reseller), it should've had a big ol' sticker on it saying "Academic Version - Not eligible for upgrades", or something to that effect, right on the front of the box. I mean it was a savings of $200-500, depending on the store and the country, over the regular retail version. I find it a little strange that you didn't know that it wasn't eligible for future upgrades...anyway, yeah, B&H should make it clearer on their site about the FCS09 upgrade, but their regular version is $860US, still a bit cheaper than the US Apple Store. It's probably best to just sell the upgrade on craigslist etc. and ust pony up the dough for the regular version. That way you can make sure you'll be eligible for the upgrade price when the REAL FCS3 comes out sometime next yr (obviously speculation on my part).

Also, if you're ever in Toronto, you can go to the U of T Computer Shop, find a student, get him/her to buy it from there (with your cash of course), and you can have it for $799CDN (tax in ON is 13%). I'm just kidding about this last one. Mostly.
 
I have Final Cut Studio 2 (Standard - Not an academic)
Disc and serial # available
Registered under my Name, Can be transferred to new owner.

This is original and genuine.
You can confirm, by calling 1800 My apple

$400+ (shipping is not included)
 
Thx for all the replies. I looked at my original box and it does say "academic" but nothing else. In fact, in all the documentation nowhere is it specified that it not upgradeable. I've been looking at some of the versions on ebay but it's difficult to know if some of them are legit. They have the word "academic" buried in the copy.
 
Kwan said:
I have Final Cut Studio 2 (Standard - Not an academic)
Disc and serial # available
Registered under my Name, Can be transferred to new owner.

This is original and genuine.
You can confirm, by calling 1800 My apple

$400+ (shipping is not included)
Click to expand...

Didn't you already sell that on REDuser a while ago or am I thinking of someone else?
 
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