Home > Consumer Reviews > Adobe Photoshop CS Upgrade (Windows)

I'm awarding 2 stars on the strength of the negative reviews in this space and that Adobe has adopted the use of "activation".

* I've been searching hard for an honest-gosh 48 bit graphics program, but Photoshop --even "CS", appears to be 24 bits with 48 bit features. I can get by with the basic 48 bit histogram editing capability of Photoshop-5, after which I convert to selected 24 bit content and switch to another brand (Jasc PSP-8 or Mgfx PPub in versions 3.1 and 8). It would be nice to be able to do it all in one program, however, converting to 24 bits at the end (if needed for the output).

Check it out: Picture Man 5 from "Stoik" sounds great, but I don't want to risk my credit card or depend on an outfit in Moscow (Russia) for support. (My e-mail to them bounced.)


Craig

I purchased the upgrade specifically for the RAW import feature. After installation, I was not able to import files from my Nikon D70 camera (.nef files), although the website claims to support this camera.

I could not find any help on the Adobe website, so I finally called support. The representive was not helpful (in fact rude) and wanted to charge me to get my program working as advertised.

Make sure you have an expert friend before buying- Adobe will not help you.

For the big companies you can expect activation to be part of the package. Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia all do it now. They have a lot to lose and if this is one way to get more folks to pay instead of passing one paid for disk around, well, it works.

As for the product, I have loaded the 30 day trial and in about 15 days will purchase the upgrade. I like what I have played with so far and the filters are nice. I made some posterized pics out of a bad photo to check it out and was truly amazed.

Don't let activation be the stopping point. If you need the program, get it.

I am a professional photographer, and, though I came to this page planning on buying PS-8/CS I just bought PS-7 instead ( I am currently using PS-6.5).

Having used PS since V2 I have found that getting every other upgrade has been the most satisfactory way to go. Until V4 the real strength and utility of PS was in its ability to make excellent color separations (for ultimate printing on a press). It has never been a state of the art image editor, and until V4, was not even a decent one.

PS-6 was the first version I was happy with both for editing, and for pre-press. PS-7 did not add much, so was going to skip it for PS-8.

Instead of PS-8 we get PS-CS which has valuable new tools in it (I wanted it for the "patch tool" alone!), but which has more problems than new features.

As do many of the other commenters, I do not like software activation. Computers are fragile, MS-Windows even more so - but, unfortunately - the only new, fast, and affordable programs are written for Windows. So, if you are counting on a Windows system, you better have a backup system (or two). I have four computers that I am actively using at the moment (3 desktops and a portable) - but, as I only use one at a time, I certainly do not feel that I am violating any of my software licenses by having a program installed on all four (though, with PS, I actually have different versions installed on each of the computers).

I also do not like WinXP (It was recently installed at my office). Of my personal computers one runs W2K, two W98, and one Linux/Lindows. Software written for any WinVer except for XP will run on Lindows (albeit more slowly) and it is ever so much more stable - Though W2K/NT3("5") - is actually quite good. My feeling is that is one of the main reasons the new versions of Adobe products are written to XP (yes, I do think there is a close relationship between Adobe & MS).

But. Having said all that, I would have bought XP just so that I could run PS-CS except for the deal breaker: Plug-In incompatibility.

Years ago I was trying to decide which 35mm camera system to go with. I had pretty well decided on Canon when they announced what was to be their THIRD lens mount system in 8 years: the old lenses would not work (or would not autofocus) on the new system. So, I went with Nikon - virtually any Nikkor lens made will work with the newest Nikon camera. When you've spent tens of thousands of dollars on lenses, the cost of a camera body is insignificant: you just want some assurance that you can use your existing lenses!!

Likewise with Plug-Ins. I have spent thousands of dollars on PS Plug-Ins. Why? Well, some make repetitive actions (such as repairing damaged jpgs, creased photos) quick and easy; others do things that are very difficult or impossible to do by "hand" (converting an image to only black and white - not the greyscale of B&W photos - with an acceptable loss of image quality); some are just fun (like adding crepuscular rays of light, or mist).

So. To "upgrade" to PS-CS would mean 1) a new OS (with all the attendant driver problems and incompatibilities, and weeks spent getting the system stabilized and working again); 2) at least $2000 to replace my existing Plug-Ins (IF they still exist).

Not a good deal for me, I can afford neither the time nor the money. So I bought a used PS-7 from a (poorly rated) Amazon Partner instead. I know it will be my last PS update ever - unless Adobe has an interest in retaining old customers ...

"I wonder what kind of jerk-around the people at Adobe will give me when I try to do this and re-activate the software"

None, as your license (you did read the EULA didn't you?) allows for two installations, one on a dekstop and one on a notebook. As long as you don't use them at the same time you'll be fine.