Design & Publishing Center . / .
Photoshop . / .
Tips & Tricks
Design & Publishing Center . / .
Photoshop . / .
Tips & Tricks
Tip #106
Not all is well with 5.0
On another front, I have been reading a lot of the news groups and AOL posts regarding PS 5.0. We've also had a number of letters from readers with 5.0 specific questions and problems. Why is it that we have to go through this every year. But as usual, the new upgrade is bringing its share of misery.
__ One of the biggest grumblings is with Adobe's new 'ready' product. It's a perfect example of what the Madison Avenue sharks call "line extension". Take part of a product and spin off another product. Then make all the existing customers feel they have to have it.
__ The shampoo industry has been doing it for years. Get the shampoo... now get the conditioner... now get the prep... now get the highlighter. Why settle for selling the unwary consumer just one bottle when you can clip'em for two or three. Same goop, different bottle.
__ In Adobe's case it's a killer move because we're not talking about $2.95 bottles with 10-cents of goop -- but a revenue generater of grand scale. As if selling a couple of million $12 upgrades at $179 wasn't enough, now the sharks are back for the second $200 helping. Think about it: were you a PS 1.0 owner? How much is Adobe already into you for? (My estimate is they've had at least four feedings on you already.)
__ The sad part of this story is Microfrontier brought out Wwwart two years ago for $19.95 -- with built in browser palettes, etc. -- which is all you needed for web art. They were unable to encroach on Adobe's Photoshop marketshare and make it a success, so now, you can just pay Adobe another couple-hundred bucks as opposed to $19.95 you should have spend back when we first told you about it. That is unless you opt not to purchase the product.
Here are some comments about 5.0
"This thing is so totally dangerous that I'm not even gonna touch it. From what I've gathered, all 4.0 workflows are invalid, all 4.0 sep tables are invalid, all 4.0 color conversions are invalid!"
"All the 4.0 and prior PS files will now be converted and data changed when opened AND saved in 5.0 to a state where they cannot be resurrected to their previous state, or version! Meaning non-backwards compatibility!"
"There is MAJOR dissent among the experts in this SIG, many of whom are Alpha and Beta testers. Their only point of agreement is that, if users of 5.0 are NOT color experts with a total comprehension of colorspace, sep table theory & generation and prepress, they are gonna be in for a rude awakening. They will have to have a number of separation films fail before they begin to understand how to set the PS Preferences."
"Call me a pussy, but I am very afraid of what's happening with 5.0. I think I'll just sit up here on the hill and watch Atlanta burn."
Well, you can bet we'll be watching and reporting as the new upgrade impacts the community. It's interesting to note here that a good percentage of our letters still request PS tips in version 3.5.
Will we have to continue to keep three full versions of Photoshop on the hard drive?
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