When you are ready to purchase the most recent release of your graphic design or desktop publishing application to get the latest and greatest tools, make sure you know what you're paying for. We've taken a look at some of the most popular titles and provided a list of reviews from around the Web. Before you head off to the computer store, find out if the upgrade is worth the price or whether you might want to wait until the next version.
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Adobe Acrobat 9(designer-info.com)
VERDICT With its incorporation of Flash-based media handling and new integration with Acrobat.com, the Acrobat platform fully embraces the internet age – at last.
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Adobe Illustrator CS4(creativepro.com)
Adobe answers long-time requests with multiple artboards and transparent gradients, but it’s the added polish that makes Illustrator CS4 a compelling release.
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Adobe InDesign CS4(macworld.com)
Pleasant but middling update offers some compelling new tools but no must-have advances
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Adobe Photoshop CS4(cnet.com)
There's just enough that's better in the CS4 updates to Photoshop and Photoshop Extended--most notably, usability improvements for core features--that many people will find themselves sighing, biting the bullet, and upgrading.
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Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0(macworld.com)
Consumer image editor is a solid upgrade to a good program
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CorelDraw Graphics Suite 11.0(cnet.com)
CorelDraw Graphics Suite 11.0 has applications for professional-level illustration, image editing, and Web graphics.
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Macromedia Freehand MX(macworld.com)
Powerful new illustration tools and enhanced integration with other MX programs have earned FreeHand its MX moniker.
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Microsoft Office 11.0(cnet.com)
Microsoft has enhanced some of Office 2003's applications... but most Office enhancements benefit large-scale setups.
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Microsoft Office X for Mac(cnet.com)
If you've been waiting for a good reason to purchase Mac OS X, Office X is it.
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Microsoft Publisher 2003(designer-info.com)
New designs, projects and output options boost Publisher's office-based publishing.
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QuarkXPress 5.0(zdnet.com)
If you've used a previous version of Quark, you'll absolutely want this upgrade.
