All Graphics and publishing

The Bottom Line: If Apple irons out the kinks, MobileMe could be worthwhile for iLife and iPhone users who want to keep data on their Macs, handset, iPod Touch, as well as Outlook mail and calendars on the same page.

The Bottom Line: This update should be worthwhile for security-minded businesses and creative firms. With Acrobat 9, Adobe brings new Web relevance to print-ready PDFs by enabling embedded video and animation. Forms, security, and overall ease of use are also enhanced.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2 or later, 1.3 GHz, 9, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 1.3 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

The Bottom Line: This update should be worthwhile for security-minded businesses and creative firms. With Acrobat 9, Adobe brings new Web relevance to print-ready PDFs by enabling embedded video and animation. Forms, security, and overall ease of use are also enhanced.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2 or later, 1.3 GHz, 9, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 1.3 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

The Bottom Line: This update should be worthwhile for security-minded businesses and creative firms. With Acrobat 9, Adobe brings new Web relevance to print-ready PDFs by enabling embedded video and animation. Forms, security, and overall ease of use are also enhanced.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2 or later, 1.3 GHz, 9, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 1.3 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

The Bottom Line: Though there's a lot to like about Adobe's first stab at online photo editing and sharing, however, you probably want to wait until the company fixes a few problems with the beta before uploading scads of photographs to Adobe Photoshop Express.

The Bottom Line: Microsoft Expression Web is a solid Web site layout program that replaces FrontPage and offers tools for dynamic designs, although we'd like more help for newbies.

Specs: License, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later, Intel Pentium 700, 700 MHz, SVGA monitor, Intel Pentium 700, 700 MHz, Windows

The Bottom Line: Though it remains an excellent vector drawing tool, there's not a lot in Adobe Illustrator CS3 to compel CS2 users to upgrade.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, Internet connection, Windows, QuickTime 7.0 or later

The Bottom Line: Though it remains an excellent vector drawing tool, there's not a lot in Adobe Illustrator CS3 to compel CS2 users to upgrade.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, Internet connection, Windows, QuickTime 7.0 or later

The Bottom Line: Though it remains an excellent vector drawing tool, there's not a lot in Adobe Illustrator CS3 to compel CS2 users to upgrade.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, Internet connection, MacOS, QuickTime 7.0 or later

The Bottom Line: The professional's choice for image editing spawns Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended to appeal to select vertical markets, but it delivers mixed results.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Intel Pentium 4, Intel Xeon, Intel Core Duo, PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 64MB video memory, Intel Pentium 4, Intel Xeon, Intel Core Duo, PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Windows, QuickTime 7.0 or later