Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Expert Reviews

Adobe CS4 Web Standard includes a game-changing update to Flash ; with spruced-up dynamic design shortcuts Dreamweaver in Fireworks, and improved integration among their similar interfaces

Adobe CS4 Web Standard doesn't include Photoshop and Illustrator ; heavy-duty applications take long to install, are hard to learn, and hog resources ; costly personal tech support

Adobe CS4 Web Standard serves interactive designers who don't have to edit images, but many will find Web Premium a better deal for bundling Photoshop and Illustrator for $500 more.

Adobe CS4 Design Standard includes InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat 9 at a discount compared with their individual sticker prices ; features improved integration among their similar interfaces

Updates to Photoshop and InDesign don't justify the upgrade for most users ; heavy-duty applications take long to install, are hard to learn, and hog resources ; costly personal technical support

Adobe CS4 Design Standard serves designers who edit digital images and layouts for print, but many will find Design Premium a better deal for bundling the interactive potential of Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks for $400 more.

Print and Web designers who don't need support for film work will find enhanced integration throughout these updates to InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, and more.

Adobe CS4 Web Premium includes a game-changing update to Flash ; spruced-up shortcuts for dynamic designs in Dreamweaver and Fireworks ; decent if unnecessary upgrades of Photoshop and Illustrator, Soundbooth and Acrobat 9, with improved integration ...

These heavy-duty applications take long to install, are hard to learn, and hog resources ; personal tech support can exceed the price of some applications

Adobe CS4 Web Premium is a good deal for interactive designers who don't need tools for video editing and sophisticated print layouts.

The dozen applications in the Adobe CS4 Master Collection sport streamlined interfaces and integration for designing and editing images, Web pages, mobile sites, desktop apps, animation, film, and print layouts, and support the latest digital formats

These costly, heavy-duty applications take long to install, are hard to learn, and hog resources ; personal tech support can exceed the price of some applications ; some apps, such as Photoshop, offer few compelling reasons for most users to upgrade

The CS4 Master Collection contains every application in the Adobe Creative Suite. Although priced for serious professionals, it's a relative bargain compared with buying each ingredient piecemeal.