First of all the CS5 products are going to require a 64-bit OS to utilize more memory for ram previews, rendering, etc. Also, if you're going to make legitimate use of the CS5 products you're going to need a high-end computer.

My experience from downloading the software from torrents is that, more times then not, you end up with malware that are a pain in the bum to get rid of.

To make things more frustrating, many times, when you think you have obtained a functioning version of the application, it ends up being corrupted or missing plug-in effects, etc....

I have an $8,000 computer which I don't even allow internet access to! If I were to steal the Adobe suite products I'd have to download the software individually (because you'll never find a functioning complete suite in a single torrent) and then go through the painstaking process of determining whether or not each application is a functioning version. Then, once I have a functioning version I'd have to transfer the install files to my editing workstation and install. This is totally not worth the hassle.

I think it's best to get the student/teacher discount and not have any worries! If you're serious about the work you're doing, why in the hell would you steal the software? I could understand if it was 3ds max or something, because that is very expensive software, but the Adobe software isn't that expensive.

If you've never used the software before and you're curious, I guess going through the agonizing process of stealing it is probably worth the couple hundred bucks you'll save. But, still, who wants to deal with the viruses and corrupted downloads? Why not just download the free 30 day trial versions of the software from Adobe.com? Then when the trial runs out, make a new email account and redownload the software until you are fortunate enough to kind a serial key.