Software collections (a bundle of software packages sold as a single product) have been around for a while. The most famous and widely-used collection on the planet is of course Microsoft Office. The Adobe Creative Suite is still a relative newcomer but it includes a dazzling array of products.
Adobe's acquisition of the Macromedia brand now means that CS3 also encompasses the original Macromedia software packages and to make room for them, Adobe have tried to offer different flavours of CS3 to suit all tastes and all requirements.
So which one is best for you? Well, if you don't have any Adobe products, it will be a question of asking yourself: "Which software do I most need and which packages can I live without?"
If you already have Adobe/Macromedia software then all you have to do is identify which bundle offers you the most advantageous upgrade path. Adobe software covers three main areas: desktop publish, web technology and video post production. The three key bundles they offer reflect these categories. Firstly, CS3 Design Standard (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat); secondly, CS3 Web Standard (Dreamweaver, Fireworks Flash, and Contribute) and, thirdly, CS3 Production Premium (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Soundbooth and Encore).
In addition to these three key bundles, there are three composite versions of Adobe CS3. The first two offer a mix of media. Firstly, CS3 Design Premium adds Flash and Dreamweaver to the four key components of Creative Suite 3 Design Standard.
CS3 Web Premium takes the four packages offered in CS3 Web Standard and adds Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat. The third composite is the biggie. It consists of all 12 packages found in the other CS3 versions. It is known as the CS3 Master Collection.
Homing in on a particular CS3 bundle will involve some research. Luckily, the Adobe web-site contains a huge amount of information on all Adobe products and, if you need to get a feel for one of their products, you can download a 30-day trial version and examine the features first hand.
And finally, whatever bundle you currently own, if your budget permits it, why not go the whole hog and opt for the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection.
Adobe's acquisition of the Macromedia brand now means that CS3 also encompasses the original Macromedia software packages and to make room for them, Adobe have tried to offer different flavours of CS3 to suit all tastes and all requirements.
So which one is best for you? Well, if you don't have any Adobe products, it will be a question of asking yourself: "Which software do I most need and which packages can I live without?"
If you already have Adobe/Macromedia software then all you have to do is identify which bundle offers you the most advantageous upgrade path. Adobe software covers three main areas: desktop publish, web technology and video post production. The three key bundles they offer reflect these categories. Firstly, CS3 Design Standard (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat); secondly, CS3 Web Standard (Dreamweaver, Fireworks Flash, and Contribute) and, thirdly, CS3 Production Premium (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Soundbooth and Encore).
In addition to these three key bundles, there are three composite versions of Adobe CS3. The first two offer a mix of media. Firstly, CS3 Design Premium adds Flash and Dreamweaver to the four key components of Creative Suite 3 Design Standard.
CS3 Web Premium takes the four packages offered in CS3 Web Standard and adds Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat. The third composite is the biggie. It consists of all 12 packages found in the other CS3 versions. It is known as the CS3 Master Collection.
Homing in on a particular CS3 bundle will involve some research. Luckily, the Adobe web-site contains a huge amount of information on all Adobe products and, if you need to get a feel for one of their products, you can download a 30-day trial version and examine the features first hand.
And finally, whatever bundle you currently own, if your budget permits it, why not go the whole hog and opt for the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection.
About the Author:
The author is a trainer and developer with TrainingCompany.Com, an independent computer training company offering Adobe InDesign Classes at their central London training centre.
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