The primary applications for professional design carry hefty price tags and steep learning curves. Weigh carefully the upgrade costs of time and money against the new features and benefits. Your investment of time is especially important when considering a competitive upgrade. You'll be learning a new program and converting existing materials to the new format.
Version Upgrade
The major desktop publishing software publishers upgrade — often annually. Each new version brings improvements to existing tools and added features. Carefully look at what enhancements you are purchasing to ensure they are things you need. Not all upgrades are essential. You may save time and money by waiting for the next incremental or full upgrade.
Competitive Upgrades
Software publishers entice users to switch to their software by offering special, sometimes limited time pricing offers. When considering a competitive upgrade, remember that you will be learning a new application and may have a substantial amount of work that needs to be converted to a new format. The ease with which the new program handles that conversion is an important consideration.
Upgrades from Academic Versions
Although academic versions are normally upgradeable, you may be limited to upgrading only to another academic version (with proof of eligibility and the subsequent restrictions of that license) or have to pay extra for a less restrictive upgrade. Check the license before you buy.
