the package option & download + "optional components" are the exact same except with the package there's a SN in the manual while in the "optional components" there isn't & with download you get the key right away.

but it's two shortcut foldouts, one for Vegas & DVDA, a quickstart guide for both programs, a DVD, a shortcut to get some free stock video & an advert.

I paid the extra $15 with the download to get it. I'm happy. :)

OK, thanks. Yes, I've read other posts about this "equity" thing about the box thing here, so I asked Sony customer service specifically if one actually gets the bo with the above mentioned purchase choice.. They said yes.

I still have a bit more time to decide when/if to upgrade this time around. But is sure is tempting...

If you live in a sales tax state:

Buy the download - no sales tax due (in most states)

Buy Box - sales tax or use tax due

Buy download with anything tangible shipped (even if just a disk or even a keyboard shortcut piece of paper) - sales tax or use tax due

In California this can get outright painful, especially at 8.25% (and some locations are even higher than that now).

Sony is HQed in Madison, Wisconsin, I live in Los Angeles, California and so no sales tax applies :)

"so I asked Sony customer service specifically if one actually gets the bo with the above mentioned purchase choice.. They said yes.

Well blow me down, a lot of us have been diddled if that's the case.
I sure don't expect them to incur another Fedex charge just to send an empty box though :)

And I agree with Serena's sentiments about saving resources although the amount of crude oil that must get used up in all the DVD cases and disks and paper and ink that I go through annually makes one printed box seem insignificant.

Bob.

I ordered the "packaged" and did not receive a box. I also contacted Sony customer service afterwards, and they said no box. So what is it? Box or no? Is someone in the shipping department making a mistake? I just put some of the V8 stuff in my V7 box. So no big deal.

Yup, I knew that box issue would stir up some old wounds here.. :) I don't know what the deal with what is promised and what is delivered.

I will probably be a cheapskate and go for download anyway. Shortcuts are also pretty personal choices and I can always look one up in Vegas if I need it.

Though since I won't be dealing with HD footage for a while, I wonder if I really need to upgrade this time around from 6 or not. The only immediate reason would be because most users here will have VP8 and hence there would be that commonality.

I do hang out here quite a bit and so said commonality would be good.

In California this can get outright painful, especially at 8.25% (and some locations are even higher than that now).

Ha ha... in NY here I pay 8.75% :p.... wait... that's bad. ;) (actually, in the county I live in it's 8% but where the stores/utilities/etc come out of it's 8.75).

Packaged == No Box. Has been that way for several years now; I have received several Sound Forge upgrades that just consist of quick manual, disk and keyboard shorcut list.