You know all the usual reasons software makers give to register your software – to receive tech support, news, updates, offers, bugfixes, etc. Now Adobe is adding another reason – to get free gifts. They’re called “complimentary benefits.”

For example, if you register your CS4 product, you can choose from one of these bonuses: 30 days of free training at Lynda.com, free or discounted books or magazines, or access to download 16 free fonts.

Doing the same for Acrobat gets you similar choices, or a 5% discount coupon for anything at the Adobe store. CS3 users can qualify for benefits as well.

Note that to get these gifts you need to use “in-product” registration (the easiest)… Typically this is offered at the time of installation of the application, when a screen prompts you to register by completing just a few fields. Or, if your software is already installed, you can register at any time by selecting Help > Registration from your application’s menu toolbar.

Also BTW, with any product registration, you also get on the list to receive invitations to Adobe events. Just another reasonable benefit.

(It should be noted that complimentary benefits do vary by region and product and are subject to availability.)

Adobe has just started a new program of giving away full versions of some of its premium development tools ($699 – $1,299 value) absolutely free if you qualify…

If you are an educational customer or an unemployed developer, Adobe would like to lend a hend. Simply certify you are a student, faculty or staff of an eligible education institution, or currently out of work – and the software is yours to download for non-commercial use.

Get your free products here.

Not all are aware, but Adobe is now offering free trials of virtually any product that works without restriction for up to thirty days… The best part is you can immediately download the software for most products and have it up and running on your computer within minutes!

For the larger packages such as the suites, Adobe will send you software DVDs for a nominal charge of $10-15 (UPDATE, February 2010 – new policy – you can now directly download any of the suites too if you desire, for free, including the top-of-the-line Master Collection). In any event, all products and all suites remain fully functional for up to a month (no “demo mode”), and the trials can be installed on multiple or successive systems if desired.

In all cases you can test drive whatever you like, or get the work you need to get done for the duration of the period. And if and when you are ready to buy, you can easily convert your product trial for permanent unrestricted use without reinstalling the software in most cases.

Lastly, you can download as many individual CS4 apps as you want, including Photoshop, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Contribute, Elements, etc.

Here’s a great one. How would you like a huge menu of absolutely free video training, tips, and tricks for most all of Adobe’s major products?

A large selection of helpful segments from the experts you can run and view at any time from the comfort of your home or office, covering everything from “getting started” tutorials for beginners to advanced “how-to” guides for thirty different products…

Well, it’s here – check it out and learn all you want at the new “Adobe TV.”