All Illustration

The Bottom Line: While Adobe Illustrator CS4's most compelling new feature--pseudo-multipage support--can be frustrating to use, overall it makes CS4 a worthwhile upgrade for current users.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 2 GHz or faster (Windows), PowerPC G4 1 GHz, PowerPC G5, Intel multicore (Mac), DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 2 GHz or faster (Windows), PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel multicore (Mac), 1 GHz, Windows

The Bottom Line: Best for coding and design pros, Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 is perhaps the sharpest, swiftest tool for developing and editing dynamic Web sites.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, 1 GHz or faster (Windows), Intel Multicore 1 GHz, PowerPC G5 (Mac), DVD-ROM, Internet connection, 1280 x 800 monitor resolution, 1 GHz or faster (Windows), Intel Multicore, PowerPC G5 (Mac), 1 GHz, Windows

The Bottom Line: CorelDraw Graphics Suite X3 is a powerful and feature-rich bundle appropriate for home, business, and professional graphics.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, 600 MHz, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, 600 MHz, Windows

The Bottom Line: InDesign CS2 speeds the creation of complex pages, further challenging market leader QuarkXPress. Translating a print page design directly to a Web format is always problematic, but InDesign CS2 can get you close.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.2.8 - 10.3.8, CD-ROM, Internet connection, MacOS, QuickTime 6.0

The Bottom Line: If you're interested in digital artistry, you need Painter, though you'll pay a lot for this upgrade.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 500 MHz, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 500 MHz, MacOS, Windows

The Bottom Line: Mid- to high-level graphics professionals will like this package, but it's overkill for just touching up photos and drawing organizational charts.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, 200 MHz, 12, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 200 MHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or later, 20 MB, Intel 486 or higher, 16 MB, 3.0, CD-ROM, Intel 486 or higher, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 125 MB, Intel Pentium, 64 MB, 6.0, CD-ROM, Intel Pentium, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS 8.5 or later, 125 MB, 64 MB, 6.0, CD-ROM