Photoshop purchase help - *got it !*

I am upgrading to CS4. I am currently using CS. The only time I actually purchased PS software was for Elements 2 and 3. Let's just say I got CS "from a friend". Is my best bet to purchase it from Adobes website? After purchase do you just do a download from the site or do they actually send you a physical CD to download? I apologize if this sounds like kindergarden but this is new for me. Looking at Adobes site there are about 6-7 different CS4s. I am assuming the one I would want is the one that sells for around $669 or whatever it was. It says its for pro photographers and serious amateurs. Just not sure which one is best. Thanks for your help.

The version of CS4 that you want is regular CS4 for $699.
Amazon has it for sale for $640.

The least expensive legal way to go would be to buy a copy of PS Elements (v.4 or up), install it on your computer, and then use this link at the Adobe Store to upgrade to CS4 for only $299. Older versions of Elements can be found cheaply online. Several folks here have gone this route.

Although you can download CS4, I prefer having the physical DVD on hand, although with postage that's just a bit more expensive.

Thanks very much John, you answered all my questions.

I upgraded from CS to CS4 for something less than $200. I bought the installation CD from Amazon.com because it was cheaper than buying directly from Adobe. I've always bought the CDs and it has come in handy. For instance, when I upgraded the upgrade package checked for installation of a previous version. That would normally be ok, but I was upgrading because my old computer died. I had to install CS (which isn't even considered compatible with Vista) before installing the upgrade.

I made the mistake of installing a demo version (via download) while waiting for my disk to arrive. It took quite a while for me to clean up the remnants of the demo installation. After much pain and many phone calls, I got the install to work. Now CS4 is installed and running fine. I suppose it's futile to hope they never upgrade it.

Pete D.

Pamela,

If you are in the education field or have a child going to school I have heard that you can purchase the software at good prices from http://www.creationengine.com/html/default.html

Looking at their website the prices appear to be good. I have never purchasrd from them so I do not know their track record.

Pamela, if your CS version is registered with Adobe, the upgrade is $199 list, and sells for a few bucks cheaper at Amazon. You don't even need to have the old version installed. I bought the CS4 Production Premium Upgrade and installed it on a clean PC with no other Adobe software, and when the CS4 installation processed asked for my email address for registration, it found my qualifying product in my Adobe account over the web, and continued with the installation. I never needed to punch in the old key. Just my $.02!

Thanks everyone for your help. I went ahead and ordered from Amazon and I will NOW have the ability to upgrade at a reasonable price when CS5 etc are released. Hubby got me a laptop + the CS4 for our 35 wedding anniversary. It will be so nice to travel with it and download as I go.

Thanks everyone for your help. I went ahead and ordered from Amazon and I will NOW have the ability to upgrade at a reasonable price when CS5 etc are released. Hubby got me a laptop + the CS4 for our 35 wedding anniversary. It will be so nice to travel with it and download as I go.

Got it loaded in on Friday and all is running smoothly Now I have to mount this steep learning curve. Quite a few new things for me, especially the bridge. Not asure what this is. Seems like a way to have DPP (and other desktop items) open without opening it separately. Time to study the help manual or have Nate C. move in for a few days