Free Beta Testing of Adobe Creative Suite and Photoshop

Investing in software is like putting a ring on the finger of technology you used to date. After a free download or testing on a friend's computer, an actual purchase or upgrade says you're ready to make a commitment. You're comfortable with its features and at some point you may walk down the aisle, using your new purchase to the exclusion of all others.

In return, the smart software doesn't rest on its laurels. Like i-Lighter, which continues to roll out new features and develop new partnerships, it periodically reinvents itself, adding new features and capabilities. It knows that growing stale in the face of brutal competition is like a kiss of  death. These days, competitors pop out of the woodwork like water bugs in a damp basement.

I was never one to invest in software, mainly because I only dabble in technology. For the most part, freeware does whatever I need, i-Lighter being a good example. So, when Adobe rolled out a free watered-down version of Photoshop, I decided to sign up for an account. The test drive version  provides only the most basic of basics, such as red eye removal, saturation, fill light, sketch, and distort, but when used in tandem with Paint (my existing freeware with top notch tutorials), the results look almost professional.

Recently, Adobe unveiled free downloads of its Creative Suite tools as well. Current owners of CS3 are asked to upgrade their existing accounts and provide feedback. Others can create new accounts to participate in beta testing for forty-eight hours. When the time expires, so does the free account.

Creative Suite 4 offers exciting new features for Dreamweaver, Soundbooth, and Fireworks. Frequent backups are advised.