Free - "The Photoshop Anthology"

[Lara RR]

Snap this up!

Hello,

Our entire Photoshop Book is FREE to download for 30 days!

You've downloaded PDF sample chapters of our books in the past, so I thought you'd be thrilled to discover that for the next 30 days you can download the full 278 page PDF version of "The Photoshop Anthology" (usually $29.95) for FREE!

Here's your link to snap up a free copy:

http://www.sitepoint.com/launch/f948f3

There's no catch. This is no "special offer." It's purely a FREE giveaway of this incredible book.

Grab your copy today before our servers go into meltdown!

All the best,

Shayne Tilley
sitepoint.com

PS: Feel free to spread the word to anyone who may be interested in Photoshop, or anyone who just likes getting stuff for free.

[Dragon Slayer]

I find it hard to believe a "Reseller Staff" member would bite on what appears to be a website builder/host business trolling the Techimo Freebie Forum, and this is not a jab on the staff member but rather an observation from my sincere attempt to obtain the supposed offered free Photoshop Anthology PDF.

I followed the link and after cliking on "Download",- was beset with the not altogether unexpected request for an email address where the "PDF download link would be emailed". Although I never participate in any free offer that requires an email addy, I felt this offer had more credibility because it was posted as a link by a Techimo/Reseller Rating Staff Member,- so I was compliant with the request and gave a low priority/value Yahoo email address.

Surprise, surprise, surprise,- a message pops up stating that Yahoo email addresses are taking an extraordinarily long time to process,- would I like to give another email address? Of course it is then obvious that they know Yahoo addresses are 'disposable' when sites like theirs abuse the privacy they have conned you out of with a gesture of "look at our valuable freebie".
I then click that I want to continue with the Yahoo address,- whereupon a message states that I should check my email for receipt of the Photoshop Anthology PDF link in about 5 minutes. A list of no less than five pre-checked newsletter subscriptions also pops up, which I then un-check.
Then another message pops up; "not so fast,.. in exchange for this valuable freebie,.. why don't you click on some of these sponsored links?".

After perusing a couple of the links (hovering over them to see what they 'actually' are, and finding none of interest, I close the window.
HOURS later, still no download link sent to the email address.

No problem,- but if I DO NOT receive the download link AND ONE SINGLE PIECE OF UNWANTED MAIL APPEARS IN MY BOX,- I'LL KNOW THE SOURCE.... .

I have rarely used the email address I gave, and NEVER have I received a single junk mailing,.. if I now DO, that address is disposable, BUT THEIRS ISN'T,.. so I would just KEEP the Yahoo address and collect all junk mail that shows up,- multiply it with CC Forwards a couple hundred times over,- then add THEM to every junk mailer sites mail subscription list and shove it up THEIR (the 'freebie' offering sites) mail holes. Fair, ethical and appropriate practice.

[Dragon Slayer]

Of course I'm only blowing steam, just had to rant after that experience, and those comments will likely be deleted by moderators,.. but I do wish these sites (the offerers of freebies, not Techimo/Reseller Ratings) would have a just LITTLE bit of ethical sensibility when they concoct their advertising 'phishing' schemes for crying out loud, as they only backfire and make people who might otherwise have HAD some genuine interest in their sites to be permanently alienated.

PS Moderators,.. please don't be bullies, don't delete my fair and HONEST comments.

[Lara RR]

I signed up for it and got their download email in about 20 minutes - they said they had about 20,000 requests at the time, so they/their servers were simply overloaded with requests.

I don't, in fact, sign up for many freebies at all, but Sitepoint is a reputable place (as far as I know from visiting their site and getting their newsletters for the past couple years) - as far as I can tell I've never been beseiged with spam from or because of them. I wouldn't have posted this offer otherwise.

[shawnwmodel]

I thought I got duped too, but I got my link and PDF!! It works, and as with all my previous posts "PLEASE Read All Fine Prints!!". I didn't get any junk mail because there is a link right underneath that says, "NO THANKS"...

Simple, easy, free, and like Lara said, it takes a few minutes, I waited about 30-45 minutes... Thanks Lara!

[Dragon Slayer]

I too eventually received the link, a few hours later; kinda stepped in it on this one. I usually don't get bent out of shape easily, but the step by step 'Fuller Brush Salesman technique' presentation of download access (and their comment about Yahoo email being exceptionally slow) really began to give the impression they were yanking my chain.

Yahoo is in fact exceptionally slow, by design,- as it uses 'served by advertising' for its servers and dedicates the majority of users bandwidth to doing just that as a priority over the actual email services even beginning to load. My extreme security settings and custom tweaks make ALL sites that use the various 'served by advertiser' dedicated server programs of eBay/Google/Yahoo and others a real pain to navigate (in spite of my considerably more than adequate broad bandwidth),- and unless/when I really need to access any of these sites and apply my custom tweaked settings to permit the absolute minimal of annoyances, I just block them and their affiliates altogether.

While I understand that most of these sites wouldn't be able to stand alone without sponsors and advertising affiliations,- it is the manner in which they do it that is like the pushy salesperson who sticks their foot inside your door and feels that YOU are rude in responding with hostile comments or appropriately breaking their foot.

Ah, but there I am ranting again,- when I was meaning to be at least somewhat apologetic for unfairly and prematurely judging sitepoint.com and there genuine offer of what really is every bit the nice freebie they said it was [is]. I certainly and sincerely apologize if I even appeared to have implied that Lara (who posted this thread) may have been duped into 'unknowingly' assisting an advertising troller,- as she clearly knows [knew] a lot more about them than I.

[Dragon Slayer]

SHAWNWMODEL Quote: It works, and as with all my previous posts "PLEASE Read All Fine Prints!!". I didn't get any junk mail because there is a link right underneath that says, "NO THANKS"...End quote.

Yeah.., and clicking please remove your email address from a subscription/mailer list means thats what happens when you respond by clicking...

That nai'vete' is how people END UP ON buy/sell/trade SPAM lists,- as they then know they have a live and responding party to their phish. It's not like your're dealing with contractual law, as spammers KNOW they are violating Federal law,- they just rarely prosecute such cases.

And now I know I'm off topic for this thread, but couldn't resist the overwhelming need to address such a comment. My apology Lara, perhaps this would make an [very] interesting "Off Topic Thread", if you or another Staff Member could possibly move rather than 're-move' it?

(Again, this is not a reference to any issue with sidepoint.com or any of the newsletter/subscription offers to its own or any of its sponsors or affiliates, but pointedly addressing "freebie offers" in the guise of opt in/opt out click/checklist subscriptions and how commonly they are NOT what they appear to be,- in fine print or otherwise).

Back On-Topic for this thread: The Photoshop Anthology PDF 30 day free download link IS absolutely legitimate and well worth the time and effort to download. The Photoshop Anthology: 101 Web Design Tips, Tricks & Techniques - PDF Only - SitePoint Books

[Lara RR]

Feel free to start a new thread in the appropriate forum!

Glad you're enjoying the freebie.