bit-tech Shopping: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Days

Strengths: Split screen when editing, basic editing options available on screen, print preview allows print size changes easily, rotate buttons on screen, auto redeye, open files thumbnails on screen

Weaknesses: Help didn't display topic (may be operator error!), seems to take a bit of time to perform autofix

Summary: Overall a number of good improvements over the previous version I had (2.0). I like the layout of the screen. Some of the most commonly used buttons are on screen vs. needing to use a pull down menu. It is much more convenient to work with open files since they are at the bottom of the screen as thumbnails. I am still checking out the other options but so far, I like it!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 10 Days

Strengths: The capability one has in editing photos such as cropping, enhancing, color change and revising...is marvelous.

Weaknesses: I can't think of any right now.

Summary: So glad that Photoshop came up with an alternative for us photographers who wish to use their software for the very best editing of photos. Now, one does not have to purchase the Adobe Photoshop package, pay big bucks and use only a quarter of the program.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1 Week

Strengths: Powerful, broad-based digial image program.

Weaknesses: Does not come with a good product manual. Somewhat difficult to use. Much trial and error. Can be user-UNfriendly.

Summary: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 may be one of the best digital imaging programs I've ever purchased for my computer. Anyone who is halfway computer savvy will not have a problem with this program. If you only purchase it for the organizational tools it would be money well spent. You can make pictures that are drown out by the flash look very nice with little effort. When you download pictures you can have it remove red-eye while it's acquire them from you camera, it takes a little longer, and it's not perfect but still nice. I haven't even scratched the surface of what this program is capable. However if you're not halfway computer savvy or have little patience for learning something that is relatively complex you may want to look elsewhere, as you will waste money by not utilizing this program to its fullest potential.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Days

Strengths: Most of the needed features at a fraction of the full-scale Photoshop programs.

Weaknesses: Somewhat slow to start up.

Summary: I upgraded from version 2.0, which I did not find to be too terribly easy to use in Quick Fix mode. The software has some great advanced features, such as the ability to read an ICC profile (which is produced for a specific printer, and you can then overlay the image on your screen to see the exact color which will be reproduced). Look around for a sale, and you can pick up the program for a pretty cheap price (especially if you are upgrading from an older version or competitive product). There are also tons of books available to help you get the most out of the program, as well as some very nice online tutorials.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Lots of great editing features

Weaknesses: Steep learning curve; Auto red eye fix not very effective

Summary: I upgraded from a simpler Adobe product and am thrilled with the expanded range of editing functions available in this product. Definitely a steep learning curve, but worth it when you can use things like the "clone" feature to fill in for obscured elements. Haven't used the photo organization features because Windows Vista works fine for that. In fact Windows Vista's red eye fix is far superior as well. Looking forward to learning more and using this for cleaning up family photos.