Pablo 6x8 Graphics Tablet: Internet Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Since Pablo is geared toward graphic artists, web designers and the like, it is largely being mismarketed! It's ergonomic design enables you to surf the web with a PEN...so leave the mouse behind!
I happen to be a web designer and use this tablet for many things. Using the mouse for extended periods of time causes my wrist to ache! Now, with my Pablo, I don't have to stop working to ease the pain.
The tablet area (6x8) represents your screen (to scale)! Not like the mouse where you sometimes have to move it around to find the pointer.With Pablo, the "START" button is always in the lower left corner...just place the pen over that area and push!
While it's a little unorthodox at first...if you know how to write with a pen you'll be comfortable with it in no time at all!
Adding the software can be as easy as inserting the CD-ROM and plugging it in!(**See my comment below about this!) There's only one cord to connect...the USB Port! There aren't any lengthy installations.
More perks! I comes with over $200.00 worth of bundled software, including Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE, Adobe PageMill 3.0 and WebPainter 3.0!
FOR GRAPHIC ARTISTS AND WEB DESIGNERS: Have you ever tried to draw with a mouse! The accuracy stinks...especially if your mouse is sensitive to movement (which is the whole point of a mouse). This pen and tablet combo allows you the freedom to freehand without the hassle of having to UNDO 7 times before it looks right!
So you're probably wondering if there are any "CONS" to this product...here they are in a nutshell!
1. No REAL user's manual that suggests tips and maybe a tutorial to allow the user to explore the full capability of this product. Although it IS pretty straight forward. My only question about use brings me to "CON" #2.
2. When I am drawing in an image editing program, it may continue to draw after I've finished applying pressure with the pen. Why? How do I prevent this from happening?
**3. I happened to encounter a small problem installing the software because the user's manual (term used lightly) does not tell you to install the software first and then plug in your gadget. For some this may be common knowledge but for those of you anxious to check it out (not knowing or paying attention) doing this in any order may cause you trouble. The good news is that KB GEAR (makers of the Pablo) has a troubleshooting section on their website that walked me through some CRAZY stuff (stuff I didn't know I had) and had me up and running in about 10 minutes! I was very impressed. Not like some companies where you're on the phone for 45 mins. with tech support (usually LONG DISTANCE)!
All in all, there is a long list of benefits...like the $20.00 manufacturer's rebate inside the box! This is the ONLY tablet of it's kind for this price! A similar product by WACOM is almost twice the price!
And in case you're wondering...it DOES work with Paint Shop Pro 6.0! An all-around GREAT buy!

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Pablo 6x8 Graphics Tablet: Internet Edition is the total graphics solution for designing, animating, and photo editing on the Web, with pen and tablet technology that makes drawing on a computer as easy as on paper. Pablo comes with a graphics suite of software, valued at over $100, that includes Adobe Photoshop 5.0 Limited Edition, Adobe Page Mill 3.0, and WebPainter 3.0 from Totally Hip Software.
Adobe PageMill 3.0 provides the easiest way to get your business or family on the World Wide Web. Easily create Web pages by simply dropping in text, links, images, or content from your favorite programs.
Adobe Photoshop 5.0 Limited Edition provides all the tools needed for graphic design. It's packed with features that help you turn your artistic impulses into striking imagery.
WebPainter 3.0 from Totally Hip Software helps you create professional Web animation and graphics with ease.

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CorelDRAW 10.0 Review

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(More customer reviews)I work with Corel Draw since verson 4, and it has steadily improved ever since!
RAVE ----------------------- When I heard about version 10 I was excited and couldn't wait to get it, especially RAVE. Since I work with Flash 4 and 5 and don't like the interface, I had to have a look at RAVE, which produces Flash, and it was suberb! Soomth, simple interface, fast outputs and errorfree exports. Awesome!
Photopaint ---------------------------- I am laso using Photoshop 5 and got rid of Corel's Photopaint earlier this year - why? Because it's not worth it. The quality of Photopaint is so poor and it is totally useless because the grids and the rulers are no help to produce webgraphic slices and mouseOnOver effects. Photoshop is the only program I use to make web graphics and it is perfect! I do not like Photopaint, because the output quality is totally discouraging and the typography is so terrible I once had to throw away all my graphics. I then did the whole work again with Photoshop and it was perfect!
Draw ---------------------- Corel 9 was somewhat my favorite so far, because coming to a useful graphics was very simple, because of the redesign. Corel 10 has a new interface and it is even easier to drop shadows and alter shades and forms.
All in all it is ver ystable and a little faster than 9. If you used Corel 9 intensively and need suberb vector graphics for printing and desktop publishing, go for it. But forget Photopaint. RAVE is definitely an alternative to Macromedia's, thoughit does not offer command-line ActionScript and is not as complex as Macromedia's Flash program, it can produce simple animations easily.

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Add a new dimension to your creativity with CorelDRAW 10 Graphics Suite.Backed by a decade of award-winning creative power, it delivers vector-illustration, layout, bitmap-creation, image-editing, painting, and animation software, all in one package. The enhanced interface, improved customization features, professional output capabilities, and support for text in multiple languages simplify the design process--whether you're creating for print or the Web. And with Corel R.A.V.E., a powerful new animation application, you can change live effects over time, generate a timeline of edited work, create rollover graphics, and convert images to Macromedia Flash SWF format. CorelDRAW 10 Graphics Suite equals true creative power.

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Flash MX Review

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(More customer reviews)Since this is a upgrade version let me talk for experienced flash users - Macromedia seems to have taken a few right steps in integrating Flash MX with its other products like Dreamweaver Ultradev and Cold Fusion Server MX (acquired from Allaire). Even though Cold Fusion MX is at a beta 3 stage right now, its easy to see some of the powerful multimedia features being integrated into the Macromedia products based on that.
Some of the best new changes in Flash MX that warrant an upgrade are:
1. ActionScript, the scripting language that powers Flash interactivity, is now easier to write and analyze. Flash MX has a fully functional script editor with features similar to those found in its other programs like Dreamweaver, Cold Fusion Studio, and HomeSite. The editor helps both experienced and beginning programmers write valid ActionScript by providing code-hinting, auto-formatting, and search-and-replace functions. Flash MX also contains a complete debugger.
2. For the first time Flash is offering a collection of templates to simplify the production of standard Web documents such as ads, slide shows, and tutorials. In addition, the templates are smart; for example, a photo album template includes all the programming necessary for a photo slideshow.
3. A lot of UI components, like scroll bars, check boxes, and list boxes, that previously had to be laboriously created, are now included in Flash MX. The appropriate behaviors are built into these objects, so adding functional interface elements to an application is a simple drag-and-drop operation.
3. One of the biggest changes in Flash MX is the integration of video. The integrated video support, provided by the Sorenson Spark codec, can import standard video formats, such as AVI, MPEG, or QuickTime, and convert them to a streaming format that is displayed natively by the Flash MX player. The import filter can also resize the video or sync the frame rate to the Flash movie when converting a file.
4. Flash MX also provides a powerful tool to modify vector shapes. Flash's Free Transform tool is similar to the Free Transform tools found in standard illustration programs like FreeHand and Illustrator. The program lets you rotate, size, skew, and distort objects. A special bounding box-called an envelope-lets you manipulate an object's shape using control points and tangent handles. This kind of makes me wonder what it'll do to the already overpriced Macromedia Freehand software.
5. A lot of changes have been made to animation processes to make it more efficient. The import filter for Fireworks PNG files now intelligently preserves text and vector shapes which will make life a lot easier! Headline animations are easier to update, because Flash now maintains individual characters as editable text rather than as nontext vector shapes.
6. Some changes have changed the visual appearance of Flash MX workspace. Now you can dock and collapse palettes, and you have the ability to define and switch between different palette configurations like developer, designer etc. to optimize the workspace for design or coding. Layers can be organized into folders. The new Properties Inspector offers an easy way to change an object's basic attributes quickly.
7. The Library function has also been improved by allowing sharing of symbols between documents. Flash automatically tracks the original location of each symbol and auto-updates all instances in all documents if the original is modified!
As I mentioned, Macromedia seems to be moving towards integrating their other products. As a result, some powerful new features in Flash MX await the development of other products in the MX line. Macromedia has already announced Flash Server Solutions, which will consist of a gateway and a communications server. The latter will allow developers to add real-time messaging as well as two-way audio and video to Flash applications.
I think upgrading to the new version is not even a question!

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With Macromedia Flash MX, you now have the power and tools you need to create rich content, motion graphics, and data-driven applications. Reach the widest possible audience and deliver the best user experiance, on the web or across multiple devices and platforms.

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Amorphium Pro 1.1 Review

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(More customer reviews)Being proficient at Photoshop and Illustrator for 4 years soon wasn't enough. I found the need to break into 3-D modeling. My first attempt was to teach myself 3D Studio Max. I know, I know: Good luck, buddy. I gave up. But by advice I purchased Amorphium Pro. It is great for beginners. Don't be fooled because you still have to practice at it and work your rear off to get better. But Amorphium is the best step for 3-D beginners. It is like modeling electronic clay. My best software purchase ever!

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Bryce 6 Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a professional multimedia artist, and have been using Bryce and Poser since they were first released in the early 90's.
Bryce was the first affordable 3D landscape and rendering tool available to the masses. I played around with it and was most impressed by the interface. As I design user interfaces for software applications, I know quite a bit on the topic. Bryce, in my opinion, still has one of the best interfaces of any 3D software I have ever used. Newbie's and pros alike will enjoy the simple and elegant interface. Once you get used to it, you will be slightly annoyed that others have not followed it's design.
With the release of version 4.0, Bryce became more than an interesting 3D tool, it became a serious contender among 3D applications. It must be said that Bryce is not a 3D modeling tool, per se, I have seen amazing things modeled in Bryce, by extremely patient people who fully utilize the Boolean functionality. I do my modeling in other programs and then import them into Bryce for rendering. Many 3D artists use multiple tools to get the job done and Bryce is a excellent addition to anyone's 3D toolset. Most notable in 4.0 was the addition of animation.
With the release of version 6.0, two major things have happened, the rendering engine has improved dramatically, making render times much better and now it is seamlessly integrated with DAZ Studio, which could eliminate the need for preparatory work in Poser, as DAZ Studio is free! Now you can prep your figures in DAZ Studio and simply click on the Bryce icon to switch over to Bryce!
I can't say enough about this program, I use it for 95% of all my 3D projects, for rendering and animations. See my website for dozens of examples.
I have rendered scenes ranging from forests and deserts to space... the only limit with Bryce is your imagination. There are other landscape software packages like VUE, that can do some things much better, but for the price, versatility and ease of use, Bryce is still a heavy contender.
For my part, Bryce will always have a place among my 3D arsenal.

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Bryce 6 is the ideal 3D software addition to your image-editing toolbox. It gives creators the ability to work faster and create more realistic environments than ever before. Place your characters directly into your Bryce 6 scenes and have them walk and talk right before your very eyes. Choose at what point you want the imported animations to begin with the freedom to go back to DAZ|Studio to make any necessary adjustments to make them perfect. Then simply re-import those animations back into your Bryce 6 scene. Whether you are a professional designer or a 3D graphics enthusiast Bryce 6 provides you with the tools to literally create a world of your own. Fully compatible with Intel-based Mac computersAnimate your favorite DAZ 3D figures animals and accessories with DAZ Studio -- import them into your Bryce 6 sceneImage-based Brushes and Terrain Editor for custom looks to your terrains; share them with others as you build a library of your favoritesNew Boolean mesh conversion tool combines custom Bryce elements -- take Bryce creations into other 3D applications in your project workflow Format: WIN 98ME2000XPVISTA/MAC 10.3.8 OR LATER Genre:PRODUCTIVITY UPC:689076468169 Manufacturer No:689076468169

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Adobe Photoshop CS (Mac) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's all about control. Now you have the photo editing control power in your hands with Adobe Photoshop CS.
Raw format allows photographers greater latitude in how they want their pictures to appear. Open the camera raw image files. Next, quickly apply adjustments such as exposure compensation or tonal adjustments without compressing the image or losing any of the original image data.
Shoot photos in your digital camera's raw format when image quality is the most important factor. Raw format saves all related image data with no in-camera processing.
Photoshop CS allows photographers to:
Control their raw camera images
View live histograms as they work
Create lens blur effects
Simulate photo filter effects
Easily correct exposure problems
Quickly replace color
Automatically crop and straighten photos and Create Adobe Photoshop CS panoramas
The 'Inner Core' of Adobe Photoshop CS
Most of my Photoshop CS work is done in the Browser. I single-click the photos that I need for my Photoshop CS project. Now I have a group of highlighted photos that can be used in the Browser's Automated menu.
The inner core of the Photoshop CS Browser's Automated menu contains: Batch, PDF Presentation, Contact Sheet II and Online Services. Also, Automated menu contains Photomerge, Picture Package and Web Photo Gallery. Running these automated menu tasks from the File Browser saves me a lot of time. I can avoid opening each photo file separately in Photoshop CS.
The Photoshop CS Browser has Sort capabilities that contains the Filename, Flag, Rank, Width and Height. Also, Sort capabilities that contains File Size, Resolution, File Type and Color Profile. Finally, the Photoshop Browser's Sort contains Date Created, Date Modified, Copyright and Custom. You can sort them in ascending or descending order.
Photoshop CS Photomerge and PDF Presentations
In Photomerge, I can make a collage of photos and move them in any order. Also, I can take several sections photos of a large bridge using a tripod. I then take the section photos and join them together with Photoshop CS' Photomerge. I still have to edit the new Photomerge photo for length, size and contrast.
In PDF Presentation, I can turn my photos into Acrobat PDFs and stitch them together. The fun is turning my new creation into a slideshow with various transitions. The PDF Presentation is cross-platform that can be used on a Mac and Windows computers.
The 'Outer Core' of Adobe Photoshop CS
The epiphany moment for me was using Adobe Photoshop Toolbar's one-key letter shortcuts. During an SIG (Special Interest Group) meeting on how to use Adobe Photoshop, the SIG teacher showed the club members the basic one-key letter shortcuts.
Keyboard Commands
The one-key letter shortcuts that I use quite often is M for Marquee, V for Moving objects, T for Text,  I for Eyedropper and C for Crop. There is a multitude of Toolbox one-key letter shortcuts that you can use or change.
Toolbox uses the Shift bar to get to related tools on the same pop-out menu. For example, to cycle through the Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, and Magnetic Lasso tools, hold down Shift bar and keep pressing "L" key.
Change Keyboard Commands in Photoshop CS
This means that missing Photoshop CS Menu keyboard commands can now be added. For example, I am constantly making changes to my images by changing the photos' contrast and brightness.
Now without using the computer mouse, I use the Command, Control, and C keys in unison. Like a piano chord, I can now change the contrast and brightness in my digital photographs. I use Command, Control, and letter keys for adding keyboard commands. This works well within the menus and plugin filters that I use in Photoshop CS.
Pro Reaction
Photoshop CS offers flexibility and nondestructive editing. Photoshop's Welcome screen and improved Help ease the learning curve for new users. The Help menu is changeable. I find Photoshop CS' Help menu an excellent way to learn the various functions of Photoshop program. Photoshop CS comes with a paper, hardcopy paper manual.
Con Reaction
You have to read and work with hardcopy paper manual. Photoshop CS is not compatible with older Mac OS. Photoshop CS requires Mac OS X 10.2.4 or greater.
Final Words
Photoshop is the industry standard for professional photo editing, graphic design, and digital imaging. Adobe Photoshop is considered the industry standard. Photoshop skills are required for employment in the graphic design field. 
Digital photographers will benefit from Adobe Photoshop with its strong digital-camera raw workflow. Adobe Photoshop is made for Jaguar (Mac OS 10.2) and Panther (Mac OS 10.3).

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Photoshop CS combines the professional standard in desktop image production with new features for Web designers and video professionals.Design your own typography by placing text on a path or within a shape Customize keyboard shortcuts to keep your favorite features at your fingertips Full support for Flash(.swf) files -- create them in ImageReady, along with vector art & variable text

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Disney's Classic Animated Story Book Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)We have had an older Pooh storybook for years. Both my kids loved it. There was a lot to see and do -- songs, funny things that happened if you clicked on the picture, and nice graphics. So when that storybook finally died, I ordered this one. We were so disappointed! The graphics are simplistic, the storyline choppy, there are no songs, and very few fun things happen when you click on different parts of the picture. When you click out of the story, you have to endure a slow listing of options before you can get back to where you were. This seems to have been put together quickly and cheaply and is not worth the money. Even my Pooh-crazy 2 year old was bored silly and disappointed.

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Super Value! 3 Great Classic Disney Titles in 1Collection!Product InformationThe Disney/Pixar Toy StoryCollection is sure to be a hit with Toy Story, Winniethe Pooh and Dalmatian fans. Build all kinds of reading and problem-solving skills as you play alongside Tigger, Pooh and all theirfriends in Winnie the Pooh & Tigger Too AnimatedStorybook. Read along or listen to this classic story as Tigger discovers his friends have tired of his bouncing ways.Learning is what Tiggers like best!101 Dalmatians Animated Story Book is an interactive reading adventurewith fun new ways to improve your reading, vocabulary, and problem solving skills.Enter a wacky 3-D world where toys come alivein Toy Story Animated Storybook. As you read along, it's up to you to help Woody and Buzz escape bad-boySid, catch the moving van, and become best buddies. Every page is packed with fun surprises, plus music and 3-D graphics just like the movie.A classiccollection to be enjoyed by all ages!Products Included
Disney's Winnie The Pooh & Tigger Too Animated Storybook
Disney's 101 Dalmatians Animated Storybook
Disney Pixar Toy Story Animated Storybook

Disney's WinnieThe Pooh & Tigger TooHoo, hoo, hoo, hoo! Learning is what Tiggers like best! And now you can buildall kinds of reading and problem-solving skills as you play alongside Tigger,Pooh and all their friends. Read along or listento this classic story as Tiggerdiscovers his friends have tired of his bouncing ways. You're sure to feel arumbly in your brain as you play the fun skill-building games - and learn thetrue meaning of friendship.

Features:

Build vocabulary and word recognition
Imp

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