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 core varieties, there are three composite versions of Adobe Creative Suite 3. The first two offer a cross-media mix. CS3 Design Premium adds Dreamweaver and Flash to the four basic components of CS3 Design Standard.
CS3 Web Premium adds Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat to the four packages offered in CS3 Web Standard. The third composite is the CS3 Master Collection which includes all of the above, all 12 packages found in the other CS3 versions.
You will probably need to do some research before making a decision. Check out the Adobe web-site. It has tons of information on all their products and offers fully functional 30-day trial versions of all their software. So why not download some of it and try it for size.
Whether you are upgrading or buying for the first time, if your budget permits it, the best buy of all is definitely the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection.
The author is a trainer and developer with TrainingCompany.Com, a UK IT training company offering Adobe InDesign training courses in London and throughout the UK.
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This post was written by James Thomas on March 11, 2010










