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(More customer reviews)I read many reviews for software. I always read the worst reviews first and take what people say with a grain of salt. In reading reviews for Photoshop Elements, I see many people giving this program lackluster reviews. Not based on the software's capability, but based on its lack of additional features over previous installments or the program's speed. I hope to address what others have said and help you make a decision on whether to buy this program based on its attributes and your needs.
Let me make it clear by saying that Elements is an excellent, if not the best photo editor in its price range. Although the price and features in this program may be more than the average person with a digital camera may need, I feel this program is an excellent choice for all types of users. Be advised, this program has a steeper learning curve than many other photo editors. In addition to that, expect to spend $30-$40 for a book to learn how to use many editing features in Elements if you are not already familiar with it.
Adobe has included it's excellent Photo Organizer in Elements 3 & 4. What's important to realize is that the organizer is a nice way to keep track of and view all your photos, but it's not what you would want to use for quickly viewing an occasional photo here and there. (When I double click an image file I want it open within a second or two.) It takes approximately 10-15 seconds for the elements organizer to load on my laptop if it's not resident in the computers memory. (Longer or shorter based on computer's hardware of course, but probably not too much shorter.) This is why many people complain about the speed of the program and the reason I don't recommend associating elements with many of your image file types. Use a viewer to view and elements to organize and edit! I don't have an issue with loading time because I only use it to organize and edit. When I open elements I am usually in there for awhile.
I have noticed some version 2 reviewers disappointed about versions 3 and 4 taking longer to load. Another major reason of some poor reviews from Elements 2 users, is the facelift given to version 3 to look more like it's big brother Photoshop. Change is usually not welcome when people are already familiar with the program's interface.
As far as whether to UPGRADE from elements 3, I recommend saving your money unless there is a certain feature in version 4 you must have. I really can't believe Adobe added so little over version 3. The magic extractor and selection brush do work very well and are convenient on tougher selections but they are not the universal answer. The additional features in 4 are nice but not worth the $60-$80 price of the program. I own Photoshop Elements 3 and 4. The worst part is, I bought version 3 about two months before version 4 came out. Am I upset about that? Yes. However, I still went ahead and purchased the new Elements/Premier bundle when it released from Amazon since I did not have Premier Elements. I read some reviews stating that version 4 was slower than version 3. I have both installed on this laptop and would say that 4 is a little faster. I can also say I have no problems with the program crashing or conflicting with anything else on my computers.
Some cons of Elements 4 are the removal of the file browser and many 3rd party tools and add-ons that worked in version 3, do not necessarily work in 4.
If you do not own this program and are looking for an excellent organizer/editor and are up to the challenge of learning many of the editing features this program offers then take the plunge. The creativity options are endless. You will be amazed at what this program can do if you know how to use it.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0
Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 software combines power and simplicity to help you do it all: Edit and enhance your photos, easily find and view them, and show off your creativity in countless ways. Fix common flaws instantly or use advanced options for more control. Keep every photo at your fingertips with flexible tagging, searching, and viewing options. And wow your family and friends with entertaining slide shows, photo mail, online photo albums, and much more.
Click here for more information about Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0
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