photoshop 7.0 versus photoshop elements 6.0

[Gre2eneyes]

Hello,
I have the opportunity to get photoshop 7.0 but have a couple questions if anyone can answer I would appreciate it.
I am not by any means an experienced user of photoshop elements. I have just recently decided to dive into it (altho I have had elements 4.0 for a couple years and now 6.0 since last fall) and really try to learn how to do editing. I AM an avid photographer. ANyway, I really want to keep my elements 6.0 on my computer as right now I am getting comfortable with it and what I am doing. However, I want to also learn photoshop 7.0 but I think it will take a lot more time and work and concentration..etc etc. I have an external hard drive that I bought for my photo editing and extra storage. Will it be ok for me to put Photoshop 7.0 on there and keep elements on my laptop???
Also, Photoshop 7.0 came out in 2002, will it be up to par with all the advancements that have been made in the computer world in the part 5 years?? Am I better off just keeping and using the photoshop elements even though its not the full version??
thanks
Judy

[Hankw]

Judy:

I have thinking about upgrading to full phototshop also, but PSE is doing all the things that I need on my photos. If I get to the point that I really need some of the tools in Photoshop, then I will upgrade. As it stands right now PSE is a challenge for me as it is.... But I enjoy it

Someone will be along shortly concerning Photoshop 7. The only thing I see in the posts here is that there is a lot of changes in CS4 since Ver.7 came out.

[Jeff Perry]

Judy, there should be no problem with having PSE6 and Photoshop 7 installed on the same computer as they coexist quite well. I have CS3 and PSE6 and in fact they share all of the compatible plug-is from a single Plug-in folder (except when I have one that doesn't know how to play nice with Elements, then it resides in CS#'s plug-in folder).

You will be way ahead of the PS7 learning curve having cut your teeth on Elements, and honestly, you may like the uncluttered way of life in PS7. It was the first version I learned on, and frankly I think it's the best one. I'm patiently waiting for CS4, because it is being billed as the next generation of photo editors, making good use of the hardware technology advances of recent years. PS has, since 7, become "bloated" with so many new features in each successive iteration (CS4 will be version 11), it is pretty sluggish on lower-end hardware.

You should really give it shot.

Good luck.

Jeff

[elwoodsusanm]

May be a dumb question but what do you get in CS4 that isn't in Elements? I have PSE5 :) Am I better sticking with Elements or upgrading to CS4?

[Jeff Perry]

elwoodsusanm, are you happy with PSE5, does it do everything you need it to do? Are you heavily reliant on Organizer? If so, PSE5 is where I would stay, I wouldn't even upgrade to 6/7.

On the other hand, do you find your self wanting more...of everything? More control, more features, more stability (fewer bugs)? Tighter integration with other CS apps. Actions (you can actually record them!), movable guides!, full implementation of Adobe Camera Raw (e.g, save as JPG without going to PSE,CS3), and the list goes on.

CS3/4 is a heavyweight app, and PSE is a sibling with some of the same features that has been customized to be more user friendly (is it?). If you are happy with PSE, and it fulfills your every demand, by no means should feel compelled to upgrade.

Then on the other hand, download a trial copy and test drive it and make up your own mind.

Jeff

[elwoodsusanm]

Thank you Jeff, will give it some serious thought :)
Sue

[Gre2eneyes]

thanks everyone,
I do like elements and it has a lot of user friendly stuff in it and maybe I will prefer that to PS7 but I am going to give it a shot and see how I like it. Thanks for all the advice and comments. I really think that CS3..4 etc.. are just way above and beyond what I will ever need. I looked at what it contains and there are programs that come with it that I just don't even know what they are or what they would be used for. Too advanced for what I want I guess...so I will stick to PSE6 and PS7.
thanks again
Judy