iPhoto?, PSE4?, CS2?, CS3?

[mmf]

For those of you who have purchased, or have friends/forum buds who have recently purchased an intel Mac, are you:

a. happy with iPhoto only?
b. staying with whatever version of PS you were on?
c. using PSE4, and hoping PSE v5 for Macs is just around the corner?
d. going straight to PS CS3, and not looking back?
e. “other”?

I have searched the threads, but I just do not have a feel for what "hobbyist" iMac users are doing. Posting here may be self selecting, but I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank you.

[bnk1953]

Personally - I'm back in Elements 3 - waiting for 5. I haven't really done much with iphoto due to the fact that I have a system of backups and filing system where I can find pictures that I have on a large back-up hard drive (really 2 of them) and burned cd's or dvd's.
I know that some use both - iphoto for filing, etc. but I never got into that.
~bruce.

[ME100FINN]

I had PSE4 on the pc and got a platform change over to mac for the mere cost of shipping (call Adobe on this one).

a. iPhoto is fun for organizing and making slideshows and quick edits, but I quickly "outgrew" its fun.
b. I stayed with PSE4 - PSE5 seemed to cater to scrapbooking so I am not sad
c. not hoping for next version - will suspect to grow into CS3 in a year or so
d. dont want to make the jump yet into CS3, but plan to someday

I have a mac pro and it hums away great. Search the Apple Discussion boards and you'll find some help and ideas over there too. Hobbyists are doing all levels. Switching to the mac alone is a trip - gotta get a grip on that first and understand the OSX and you'll be buzzing along. I found my whole workflow has changed - and creativity has increased tenfold. I am usings PSE4 and Aperture 1.5.2.

Hope that helps.

[CarolLHB]

I use iPhoto exclusively because I don't really use it-sounds funny, but it's my organizer almost exclusively. I use it's editing rarely, but do use it's book, calendar, poster features quite a bit.

Moved to 4, waiting for 5-and someday hope to move up to CS3.

:)

[mmf]

Thanks for the feedback. It’s clear that there are many ways to go, and it is such a personal choice depending on many variables. Since I’m new to image editing I haven’t headed down any path yet. I picked up a copy of PS CS3 for Dummies this weekend and reading it cover to cover just to get a feel for what it does. It’s a great overview without getting into volumes of step-by-step detail. I might plunge right into PS CS3 and grow into the software.