First of all, be very carefull shopping for discounts on particularly expensive software like Adobe products as this is a very popular vector for people selling pirated copies. Beware "OEM" versions of anything that a reputable site like Newegg.com does not list OEM versions of, beware disclaimers about having to activate the software through phone or email only (I had one copy of photoshop where the software pirates had a call center where they pretty much read you the result of a keygen - two years later the place had evaporated), beware anyone telling you you don't have to activate (it's cracked in that case). Beware of prices too good to be true because they're exactly that. If you are trying to buy an old version used, ask the seller to see the original disc and packaging and make sure they go through the deactivation process described at http://www.adobe.com/products/activation/.

You can also seek educational discounts if you're a student or know a student, or you can try royaldiscount.com whom I have shopped through and have passed every check of legitimacy I've come up with - real boxes, real discs, real activation codes, real BBB and CNet vouchsafes. Still, be carefull; I'd avoid the ones they list as OEM for example.

As for using old versions in general, it would help knowing what you plan to do with Illustrator. In most cases you're probably fine with anything CS2 or later (CS1 probably isn't bad but CS2 has smart objects, live draw and live trace which are pretty major features). If you're working for Flash, later versions are probably going to have better compatability since Adobe bought Macromedia within the last couple years.
Source(s):
http://www.adobe.com/products/activation/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator
http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-security-and-firewall/norton-360/4011-5_7-... (CNet page re: Royal Discount)


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