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Whats everyones take on CS3, is it better than CS2 worth getting???
How heavy is it on the computer compared with CS2

trinh writes...

Whats everyones take on CS3, is it better than CS2 worth getting???

Well I haven't really tried the final release, but only the beta which expired after two days, was pretty much the same as CS2 with a few extra fixes and features.

I've tried CS3 and in the little bit i've tried it, it's well worth it if you get it at the right price :) Apparently the education version is a lot cheaper and it's still the full versions with no limitations. You just need to find someone that will sell you the education version.

www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/faq.html

City Software for example has the entire CS3 Master Collection education version for only $699. If I can find someone that will sell me a copy I'll be going down that route.

Incidently, Australian retailers are clearly ripping off consumers. Eg. Many retailers are selling the Full CS3 Master Collection for roughly $3000 yet, you can order it from Adobe's website for $999 us dollars which at todays exchange rate is $1,211.46 AUD, so even if you have to wait for it and pay a little in freight, you're still saving like around $2000-3000..

Case in point.. Harris Technology is selling it for $4,599.00.. what the hell!

I'm pretty sure you'll find in the T&C that you are not allowed to make profit from educational versions. Otherwise, I might actually consider buying it.

I've tried the beta and the full version, the full is a bit more taxing on the PC, but nothing major, and I haven't disabled all the little add-ons that I don't use like in my version of CS2. The new features look really useful, I haven't used all of them yet. The interface is much better, and the 'magic select' thingo is a real time saver. Probably not worth the upgrade if you already own CS2, but a substantial upgrade none the less.

Its not worth the money but I will definitely be paying for my copy. I can't wait to fork out the cash. I would never think of pirating a copy nor even discussing it because it is very naughty!

I bought adobe CS2 suite (not just photoshop) student for $235, and it includes free upgrade to CS3 - bargain!

Photoshop CS3 is worth it just for the new selection tool, which works like a charm, plus much improved merging and blending (think panoramas).

Only thing that annoys me is the stacking tool which is in the extended version - seems to me it naturally belongs with the photo stuff, not the 3D/video enhancements.

BTW, despite what they say in their upgrade policy, they have an upgrade from Elements which is about $160 cheaper than the full version - OK, OK - it's still 860 bucks or so but then nothing Adobe puts out is cheap, but then in this world you gets what you pays for .........

trinh writes...

How heavy is it on the computer compared with CS2

Haven't noticed any difference really, on a 2gig machine, with a dedicated 400gig scratch drive .........

So, overall, CS3 gets my vote - worth the upgrade.

Geoff Leff writes...

Incidently, Australian retailers are clearly ripping off consumers. Eg. Many retailers are selling the Full CS3 Master Collection for roughly $3000 yet, you can order it from Adobe's website for $999 us dollars which at todays exchange rate is $1,211.46 AUD, so even if you have to wait for it and pay a little in freight, you're still saving like around $2000-3000..


It's not just retailers.

I just purchased Adobe Lightroom 1.0 and the Adobe US Store had it for US$199 (AUD$265) for the download version whereas Adobe Aust sold the EXACT SAME stream of 1's and 0's for AUD$315. The boxed versions were even worse value in Aust. I ended up buying the boxed version online, delivered from USA, for cheaper than Adobe Aust were charging for the download version.

I think that the full Photoshop is clearly out of reach for any sane person not using it to make a living. I'm not a student. I don't have a previous version. So the MINIMUM I can pay to get CS3 is around AUD$1800. That's a high price to join the club. Even the upgrade is $600 !!!

lochness writes...

AUD$1800.

It's not an unreasonable price considering the application's potential to make an income for you through graphic design etc.

If you're simply going to use it for elementary photo touch ups, then it's a complete waste. Stick with Elements.

It's not an unreasonable price considering the application's potential to make an income for you through graphic design etc.

I agree. For people using it to put food on the table, it's the price you pay to do business.

If you're simply going to use it for elementary photo touch ups, then it's a complete waste. Stick with Elements.

I own Elements 5 and Premier Elements 3. For "simple" photo editing Elements is plenty. I'm just saying that for a non-money making enthusiast who's advanced beyond that basic level, it's a fair STEP up to the cost of professional level tools.

Adobe... let me buy just CS3 on it's own for say $600,eve $800 first time, then $200 upgrades. But instead they bundle it with a heap of other design stuff that people wanting to do just photo editing will never use. I don't need Acrobat or any of that other guff. I just want a photo editing tool that will support 16bit files and actions, and LAB mode etc... Choices from Adobe - Elements $150 then CS3 Suite $1800.

Anyway, I'm hoping Lightroom will negate the need for much PS work at all beyond the occasional cloning repairs. Hopefully Adobe will evolve Lightroom into the PHOTOshop for photographers. And leave the other Photoshop for the graphic designers.

lochness writes...

Adobe... let me buy just CS3 on it's own for say $600,eve $800 first time

lol. I'm sure enthusiasts would love the prospect of $20 Adobe Software, but it will never happen.

Adobe has profit interests to serve and you really can't blame them. Personally, the entire Adobe CS3 suite is fabulous so I plan to upgrade as soon as possible.

BonoVox writes...

I bought adobe CS2 suite (not just photoshop) student for $235, and it includes free upgrade to CS3 - bargain!

I was just looking at the Harris Technology website and it states the following about the student version.. Is it just a load of crap? How can you prove your a student to the software in order to install it?

Student Edition" Products will be sold in a "Mini-Box" package which will not contain manuals.

What is a "qualified student"?
* Students enrolled at an accredited public or private primary or secondary school providing full-time instruction
* Full or part time students enrolled at Higher Education establishments defined as accredited public or private university or college that grants degrees requiring not less than the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time study

1. The Adobe Student Editions are only for eligible students, NOT teachers or lecturers. Teachers and lecturers can continue to buy Adobe Education box products.
2. Customers will only be able to register one copy of each product in a 12 month period.
3. This product is for personal use ONLY. This product may not be used for commercial gain.

Students will be required to provide proof of their current student status to install the products. Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at an acceptable Education Institution (being a bona fide university or college - including community, junior and vocational colleges or other further education colleges - that grants degrees requiring not less than the equivalent of two (2) years of full time study) OR Students must be enrolled at an accredited public or private primary or secondary school providing full-time instruction.

Product licenses are limited to one per customer. This license may only be used on a privately-owned computer. The product may not be used for commercial purposes.

Full details of the process for submitting proof of status can be found in the box.

~vaio writes...

lol. I'm sure enthusiasts would love the prospect of $20 Adobe Software, but it will never happen.

Dude... $20 is ridiculous.

I wasn't suggesting that. I was suggesting an "entry price" of $600-$800 for first time buyers. Still very expensive for non commercial enthusiast photographers, but not twice the price of a new PC.

Adobe do not admit it, but secretly they are quite happy for people to sample the full versions of Photoshop and become entrenched in the industry standard and then when the time comes and they are using it to make a living, they WILL purchase a full license. That's HOW they became the de-facto standard. Same for M$

I'm just saying that maybe there is room in there for an in-between stepping stone license for non-commercial people who are beyond the basic Elements tools, but not quite ready to fork out $2K.... yet. As they saying goes.. never give the customer a reason to look elsewhere.

lochness writes...

Hopefully Adobe will evolve Lightroom into the PHOTOshop for photographers. And leave the other Photoshop for the graphic designers.

This seems to be the way they're moving by splitting off the Extended version which is clearly targeted at the graphic designers. So hopefully they do - LR is much more in tune with the way photographers work - an integrated LR/PS package would make a lot of sense.

And I find myself using LR more and more - it really is a great tool to quickly smarten up a lot of images. So my workflow is now RAW -> LR -> PSD 16bit -> PS -> JPEG (although if I don't need to do any touch up work in PS - layer masks, etc - I go straight from LR to JPEG).

what the? so i can order the full adobe suite MASTERS from US$999 and save myself 2grand from buying it here?? will they be willing to post the item overseas to australia?????

Can you pls give the me the link so i can look it up and perhaps get ready to order it when it becomes available?

CPC6128 writes...

so i can order the full adobe suite MASTERS from US$999 and save myself 2grand

Check out the Adobe webite - from the US online store, Masters Collection is quoted at USD1,399 upgrade, USD2,499 full ........

Oz store has it at AUD2,495 upgrade, AUD4,455 full (I guess these are all the boxed versions).

So, at today's rate of around 0.82, we are paying nearly 50% more in Oz ............

Geoff Leff writes...

states the following about the student version.. Is it just a load of crap?

Mine arrived in the normal box with manuals, but could not be activated until i had sent proof of my student status - eg. academic transcript (as per the conditions you quote), and i had to wait a couple of days to receive the product key.

BonoVox writes...

until i had sent proof of my student status - eg. academic transcript (as per the conditions you quote), and i had to wait a couple of days to receive the product key.

So you couldn't send it off earlier so that they arrived at roughly the same time or you had to wait? I just purchased the full version, for what I do, I couldn't really notice great difference between cs2 and cs3, although it did feel like it loaded up quicker, but could just be because I was excited and time goes quicker when your having fun. :P

Troz

Trozza writes...

So you couldn't send it off earlier so that they arrived at roughly the same time or you had to wait?

Nope - it has to get sent to adobe (not the reseller), and must include a form that comes in the adobe box.

10 best new things about CS3: www.pcworld.ca//news/col...819a665­ 5/pg0.htm

Zeruel writes...

10 best new things about CS3: www.pcworld.ca//news/col...819a665­ 5/pg0.htm

Pretty much agree with this assessment, except for Bridge - I reckon it's pretty much a dead loss.

I much prefer the database approach, as in Photoshop Elements Organiser - so much better. But not a problem, because PS CS3 works well with Organiser anyway .....

apologies to those who have worked out Adobe's pricing schemes - I'm going to buy CS3 soon and I'm trying to work out what is the best(cheapest) way for me to do it.

Online Adobe Australia full download version ~AUD$1000
Online Adobe US full download version ~AUD$ 750

Harris Tech boxed ~AUD$1050
Harvey Norman's boxed ~AUD$1200

So clearly the US download version is the cheapest. Has anyone here (Australian) purchased the full doanload version from the US site yet? Did the US site allow the purchase to go through, any extra charges?

cheers

-edit-
oh and what is in the boxed version (other than the dvd) - it's a small box nowadays and doesn't seem that heavy.

Geoff Leff writes...

Many retailers are selling the Full CS3 Master Collection for roughly $3000 yet, you can order it from Adobe's website for $999 us dollars

Has price gone up? adobe.com says $2499 USD download or boxed.