Adobe Unveils Creative Suite 3
Calling it the largest software release in the company's 25-year history, Adobe on Tuesday took the wraps off Creative Suite 3, an impressive catalog of 13 standalone applications available in six different configurations.
Adobe's latest release answers the call of many of its users who use the Mac OS X platform by making CS3 a Universal Binary - meaning it is compatible with Apple computers utilizing an Intel processor. In addition, the suite will take advantage of Windows Vista as well.
Five configurations will be available for a variety of uses, including Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium and Design Standard editions; Web Premium and Web Standard editions; and Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium.
A sixth configuration called Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection would include 12 of the applications in a single package, spanning Adobe's offerings across print, Web, interactive, mobile, video and film.
None of these packages will come cheap: Adobe CS3 Web Premium will set a user back $1,599 USD while Production Premium will retail for $1,699 USD. Higher yet is Design Premium at $1,799 USD, while the Master Collection carries a $2,499 USD price tag - more than twice the cost of today's typical PC.
"This release reflects the powerful integration between Adobe and Macromedia and how our products bridge the gap between designers and developers," Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen said.
In addition to the standard packages, Adobe will also make the individual applications available for purchase, it said.
CS3 Design Premium and Standard as well as Web Premium and Standard will begin shipping next month, with the rest shipping in the third quarter of this year.