[Sampster]

I'm about to head off to college, and I'm going to get a new computer (a mac) before I leave. Apple is having a sale through the summer that will give me a discount on CS3 if I buy a mac, combining that with my student discount i could get a $1800 CS3 suite for $350.

The reasons I have for not buying it are: I already have Corel Painter IX, and the University I'm going to might have CS3 for use on their computers. Right now I'm not in any art classes though (I need to have declared an art major to get in), and I expect the regular computers might have Photoshop elements, but I doubt they'd have CS3.

On the other hand I'd really like to be able to try my hand at simple flash or flash animation. I'd love having CS3 with me, a copy that was mine wherever I went (and when further iterations come out I should be eligible for the upgrade price since I bought the full version... I think). I want to be able to paint with texture the way you can in CS3, and I'd like to start a website for myself.

So would it be smart for me to take advantage of this opportunity to get CS3, or should I bank on find CS3 for free on college computers (I guess I'd have to install my tablet drivers on whichever one I wanted to use.)
If I did buy it would it be worth my time to try to learn to use the web-building software and make my own site, or would I be better off paying someone to do something simple for me?

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

[Affected]

Do you intend to make any money with your CS3 work in the mid-to-near future? If yes, buy it since you're getting it cheap. The university computers will likely have academic licenses, so the apps are not to be used for commercial work.

[Drew]

If the issue of whether or not the school's computers have cs3 is that important to you, give them a call and find out. It might make you decision a whole lot easier.

[Gort]

The big issue here to me seems to be that you have decisions to make regarding what you want to do with your career. Design? Illustration? Site development? Flash? Motion graphics? All of these require intensive dedication, especially if you want to hit the streets making a living when it's all said and done. Being multi-disciplined will mean a lot of multi-tasking on your part. Example: I learned HTML the hard way using Notepad back in 1995; it was a two week slam during the Christmas holidays between semesters, because my academic schedule at the time just didn't leave me the time to try and learn, so I had to improvise.

There is so much out there to learn, but think about where you're going, I'd say. A lot of design agencies will require only design from their creatives - not development; you'll design a site or UI but hand it off to developers for slicing and publishing (but web dev and publishing is good to know). Also some agencies hire only flash specific designers without a care whether you can draw or draft. Moxie Interactive here in Atlanta is one; you go in there and without a college degree but with a kick ass book/reel of flash work, and they're likely to make you an offer on the spot.

Adobe's CS Web Bundle will provide you the design tools for moving into online, UI centric design work, but it also has tools for illustration, drafting, etc, if that's where you want to go. The academic version of the web bundle is also very affordable (about $500 for full versions of everything in the bundle). Adobe also has a CS3 "Master Collecton" that has all the web stuff bundled Premier Pro, Encore (DVD authoring) and After Effects, but its expensive - even the academic version (around $1100 I think).
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[med]

...torrent...? maybe?

[Drew]

Yeah, software developers don't need to be paid any more than artists do.

[med]

just saying...I've always used torrents and such...

Why not use a torrent just to see if you like the program? If you still want to purchase the program for a "legal" copy, go ahead and do so. But a test-drive wouldn't hurt

[Gort]

Well that's what "trial versions" are for - to try and see if you like it.
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield