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Photoshop Elements 6 (PC)
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Adobe Systems Inc.;
Windows XPWindows Vista
2007-10-02;
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Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon: £56.98
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 Product Description
Easily tell great stories with your photos. Powerful yet easy-to-use Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6 software helps you make your photos look their best with step-by-step editing assistance and amazing compositing capabilities. Share your stories in imagin -
Customer Reviews
INFURIATING, 03 Oct 2008
This is perhaps the most infuriating software I've ever used. Having had problems with earlier editions, I checked out the available books and bought the top choice with the software. I wish I hadn't bothered. Photoshop crashes most times I use it, throws up all sorts of error messages, despite installing it no less than three times. When it does work, the editor takes about five minutes to load, and the whole package is to me totally counter-intuitive. I'm going straight back to Picasa.
Good, 06 Sep 2008
My photo editor "history" goes like this:
Elements (original - awful, slugged my PC into the ground)
PSP (very good)
PhotoImpact 12 (quite excellent)
I set out to update PhotoImpact to the latest version only to find there isn't one as Corel bought Ulead and have clearly ditched it (nutters!), leaving PSP and Elements as the two mainstream editors. So I decided to become a drone and buy Elements.
What a pleasant surprise, much better than its original version, nice interface, and not much to relearn over the previous one. The Organiser stuff is pretty much bloatware - I think you're much better just having a neat folder system of your own...
Simply fantastic, 27 Aug 2008
If you want to acheive fantastic results with your pictures, Photoshop Elements 6 is for you. At a fairly low price it has fantastic features for making banners, buttons, posters, collages and many more projects. It installed in no time and was easy to register. The only problem that I have is when going from my picture catalogue to the editor, it can take a little longer than expected, but it is still quite quick.
In two words - simply fantastic!
Perfection!, 15 Aug 2008
This software is excellent. I have Windows Vista and this exciting software works just fine. I couldn't be happier with this product. Easy and intuitive and you can pick it up without a manual within minutes.
Wonderful!
adobe 6!, 23 Jul 2008
Bought this a few months ago very difficult to master.
Wanted to transfer raw camera data dynax 5d to tiff or jpeg
wouldn`t transfer to tiff so tried jpeg but there was a problem,the jpeg files were exclusively for web use only so the pics were tiny..
Why cant i buy a simple programme to transfer raw to tiff or jpeg without all these complications?
if u r like me this could prove a dissapoitment!
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Customer Reviews
INFURIATING, 03 Oct 2008
This is perhaps the most infuriating software I've ever used. Having had problems with earlier editions, I checked out the available books and bought the top choice with the software. I wish I hadn't bothered. Photoshop crashes most times I use it, throws up all sorts of error messages, despite installing it no less than three times. When it does work, the editor takes about five minutes to load, and the whole package is to me totally counter-intuitive. I'm going straight back to Picasa.
Good, 06 Sep 2008
My photo editor "history" goes like this:
Elements (original - awful, slugged my PC into the ground)
PSP (very good)
PhotoImpact 12 (quite excellent)
I set out to update PhotoImpact to the latest version only to find there isn't one as Corel bought Ulead and have clearly ditched it (nutters!), leaving PSP and Elements as the two mainstream editors. So I decided to become a drone and buy Elements.
What a pleasant surprise, much better than its original version, nice interface, and not much to relearn over the previous one. The Organiser stuff is pretty much bloatware - I think you're much better just having a neat folder system of your own...
Simply fantastic, 27 Aug 2008
If you want to acheive fantastic results with your pictures, Photoshop Elements 6 is for you. At a fairly low price it has fantastic features for making banners, buttons, posters, collages and many more projects. It installed in no time and was easy to register. The only problem that I have is when going from my picture catalogue to the editor, it can take a little longer than expected, but it is still quite quick.
In two words - simply fantastic!
Perfection!, 15 Aug 2008
This software is excellent. I have Windows Vista and this exciting software works just fine. I couldn't be happier with this product. Easy and intuitive and you can pick it up without a manual within minutes.
Wonderful!
adobe 6!, 23 Jul 2008
Bought this a few months ago very difficult to master.
Wanted to transfer raw camera data dynax 5d to tiff or jpeg
wouldn`t transfer to tiff so tried jpeg but there was a problem,the jpeg files were exclusively for web use only so the pics were tiny..
Why cant i buy a simple programme to transfer raw to tiff or jpeg without all these complications?
if u r like me this could prove a dissapoitment!
A great photo editing package for home users, 06 Sep 2008
Presently on PcPro's `A-List', Adobe Elements is a cut down version of Adobe's £500+ Photoshop/Photoshop Extended CS3, and costs considerably less while still having a lot of useful photo editing capabilities. Photoshop CS3 has a steep learning curve, but not so Photoshop elements. Elements is far more home-user friendly and a lot of the program is geared towards image storage and management of the photos on your hard drive. It also helps you with emailing, web output and scrapbooks of your images. The program auto-downloads your images from the camera to folders, set up using the date, and can even process the images, say automatically removing red-eye, while it does it. Using stacks you can set up image databases [smart albums] using keywords like names, places, events, etc.., and you can even search using visual tags within the image. That said, I shun the image database options offered by Photoshop Elements and Extended, preferring the simplicity of logical folder names instead. Also, like PhotoShop, the image database side isn't seamlessly integrated into the image editing side [to the point where it's actually annoying].
Version 7 of Adobe Photoshop Elements [and the sister video editing Adobe Premiere Elements 7] has now arrived. Elements 7 has a new Quick Fix tool to soften surfaces while keeping the edge and detail sharp. Plus there's a new Scene Cleaner tool that can brush away undesirable objects from a photo [so you can ditch that car or tourists from the view] and there's now a Smart Brush which lets you instantly apply effects to a selected area of the image. Plus Element's 7 sports a new single step `whiten teeth' and `make the sky blue' tool.
Also new in Element's 7 will be a free subscription to Photoshop.com, a special service Adobe has devised to bring friends together by providing quick access to on-line backup, storage, and sharing capabilities. You get 2GB of on-line storage, `enough for up to 1,500 photos', so you can view your photos from virtually anywhere. Thus Photoshop Elements goes `Facebook', allowing you to share your photos `in fun, interactive ways via invitation-only'. For these `Online Albums' you will get new templates delivered to Elements on a regular basis. There will also be a Photoshop.com ` Plus' membership offering 20 Gb [15,000 photos] of on-line photo storage, but that will require you paying an annual fee. The first year's 20 Gb subscription is included in Adobe's `Elements 7 Plus' [but not this standard version].
All the old Elements tools are there as well. For editing you have a set of 'quickfix' options or you can load the full image editor for greater manual control: such as adjust sharpness, correct camera distortion, levels, hue and skin colour. Naturally you have standard tools like crop and adjust image size (pixels) as well. You can now do things like brush away wrinkles with the spot healing/healing brush, use clone overlays, make improved B&W images, add image vibrance and clarity, make composite pictures, copy and even blend parts from different images (to say swap faces from a series of photo's so that all your kids are smiling at the camera in one image). You also get a layers palette for composites, shapes, text effects and frames. Plus there are step-through guides [guided edit] to help you get there. The software will also integrate with scanners twain interfaces if you are into scanning film, and the Fill Light [shadow/highlight] tool is pretty essential for bringing out detail in shadows from any slide/negative scan. Plus Elements can handle RAW camera images, although I use TIFF/jpg (Elements can save in any common image format).
System requirements are quite high: CD drive, 1Gb system RAM, XP or Vista, 2GHz processor, and a Direct-X 9 graphics card [and Adobe installers can reject systems that don't meet the spec]. Elements 7 perhaps isn't a crucial upgrade from Elements 6, but for new home users, or those with older versions, it's very powerful photo editing and image database software from the market leaders. Adobe Elements 7 has only two real competitors at the price: Paint Shop Pro X2 and Serif PhotoPlus X2. Both these programs are also excellent and worthy of consideration, with PhotoPlus's strength being it's about as powerful but rather cheaper to buy and upgrade. Professional users will still head towards Adobe PhotoShop Darkroom 10 and the fantastically expensive Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, although even at work we have Adobe Elements on a few imaging workstations for casual users, where the high cost of PhotoShop CS3 Extended simply isn't justified. That said experienced Photoshop CS3 users will find Elements 7 lacking in a few features they are used to.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 is also available to buy as a cheaper double pack with the new Adobe Premiere Elements 7 video editing software, which may well be better value than this upgrade. Plus this double pack qualifies for a large educational discount for non-commercial use if you, or a child in the house, are in full time education [from primary school to college]. Similar large educational discounts apply to much of Adobes software.
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Product Description
" The UK's BEST SELLING Driving Test Software* Essential training software to help you pass first time "The best and most comprehensive learner driver product on the market." Approved Driving Instructor News NEW THEORY TEST Contains the complete NEW OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test question bank for all tests taken from the 1st September 2008 onwards.
For learner car drivers, motorcyclists and ADIs in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sit unlimited mock tests under realistic exam conditions.
Detailed progress monitor to see if you're ready for the real test.
Focus on your weakest questions and improve your skills. HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST Hundreds of interactive video clips to practice and review as many times as you like.
Review each clip to improve your skills.
Sit unlimited mock tests simulating exam conditions.
Includes the 10 OFFICIAL DSA Hazard Perception sample video clips and OFFICIAL introduction video.
Detailed progress monitor. PRACTICAL TEST Over 60 high quality video tutorials covering everything you may be asked to perform in your Practical Driving Test.
Expert driving instructors teach you how to perform essential manoeuvres using multiple camera angles. Are you a safe driver?
It's important to remember that learning to drive is not just about passing the test; it's also about the safety of you, your passengers and other road users. Take the Safe Driver Test and discover the importance of introducing responsible driving habits early on in your driving career, making you more likely to pass your test and enjoy a lifetime of safe driving. Official Highway Code
Read, search and print the latest edition of The OFFICIAL Highway Code. Show Me, Tell Me
Contains the 13 OFFICIAL DSA test questions plus 16 step-by-step video tutorials. Mock Driving Test
Watch a full length mock Practical Driving Test and find out what the examiner is looking for. Road Signs Test
Test your knowledge of every road sign that you may come across in your theory exam. Learn on the Go
Practice OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test questions using your iPod or other portable media player. Theory Test Book
Printable Theory Test book to revise the OFFICIAL question bank away from your PC. Advice Centre
Essential information about all three tests and how to ensure you pass first time! Learn the way that suits you.
Short of time? Always on the go? Revise anywhere with printable Theory Test and Highway Code books, or Learn on the Go using our audio Theory Test for your MP3 compatible mobile device. No matter where you are, ALL TESTS fits in with your busy lifestyle. Pass Your Theory Test - For all learner car drivers and motorcyclists!
Practice every OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test question, valid for tests taken from 1st September 2008 onwards. Revising with ALL TESTS is just like taking the real test. In fact we're so confident that it will help you pass your Theory Test that we offer a money back PASS GUARANTEE†! Safe Driving for Life - Are you a safe driver, or a risk to others?
Discover the importance of introducing responsible driving habits early on in your driving career, making you more likely to pass your test and enjoy a lifetime of safe, accident-free driving. Safe Driver Test - which of your own individual attitudes and behaviours make you more likely to take risks and cause an accident? Take the test and find out hoe to become a safer driver.
Commentary Driving - sit alongside a fully qualified traffic police driver as he demonstrates the gold standard of observation, awareness and hazard perception.
New Licence Holder's Survival Guide - how to survive your first year as a licence holder with your life and no-claims bonus intact! FACT Did you know?
Official statistics show you are more likely to have an accident in the first two years of passing your driving test, than at any other time in your life. Also includes discount vouchers worth over £300 Discount vouchers from leading companies
Low cost car insurance from Endsleigh for new drivers THEORY FEATURES Contains EVERY question and answer from the entire OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test Question Bank, with over 1,200 questions for learner car drivers and motorcyclists.
Sit UNLIMITED mock tests with different questions every time.
Essential advice and detailed video tutorial for the Theory Test.
View hints for each question and detailed explanations of every answer.
Monitor your progress to make sure you've covered all questions.
Customise your questions from 17 OFFICIAL DSA categories.
Practice questions based on their level of difficulty.
Over 20 carefully designed mock theory tests.
Practice a mock test focusing on your weakest questions.
Printable exam papers allow you to revise away from the computer.††
Professional voiceover for all questions and answers.
Practice OFFICIAL toad sign questions.
Download OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test audio questions and answers, complete with professional voiceover, onto your iPod® or other portable media player.
Printable Theory Test question book to revise away from the computer.
The latest OFFICIAL DSA Theory Test Question Bank for ADIs, plus progress monitor for ALL pupils. Pass Your Hazard Perception Test - Improve your skills and pass with confidence!
Get the best possible practice for the Hazard Perception part of your Theory test using hundreds of interactive video clips that accurately simulate the test. ALL TESTS teaches you how to recognise potential dangers in a wide variety of different hazard situations, giving you invaluable "road sense." Learn how to spot developing hazards on our roads
Review each Hazard Perception clip to improve your skills HAZARD FEATURES Hundreds of interactive video clips shot from outside the car just like the real test.
Watch the 10 OFFICIAL DSA sample clips and test introduction video.
70 bonus video clips shot from inside the car, to prepare you for actual driving with real distractions.
Review each video clip to see where the hazard began and where the maximum score could have been achieved.
Create virtually unlimited mock tests to prepare you for the exam.
15 carefully designed pre-set mock test simulations.
Exam Hints and Tips to maximise your chance of passing the test.
Monitor your progress to see if you are ready for your exam. Pass Your Practical Test - Safely revise essential driving skills and manoeuvres!
With over 60 video lessons you can revise and refresh the essential driving skills taught to you by your Approved Driving Instructor, before and after lessons. Includes Practical Driving Test routes for every test centre in the UK?! Plus! Mock Practical Test shows you what to expect on the big day! Watch over 60 video lessons with multiple camera angles
16 video tutorials for the Show Me, Tell Me part of the test Practical Features: Pre-drive safety checks.
MSM and POM routines.
Use of mirrors.
Moving off at different angles.
Stopping safely.
Roundabouts, crossroads, junctions and one-way streets.
Responding to road signs and markings.
Four reverse manoeuvres.
Controlled emergency stop.
Encountering various hazards and pedestrian crossings.
Driving in poor weather conditions.
Joining and exiting dual-carriageways.
Motorway driving.
Applying the Two Second Rule.
Printable forms for ADIs, including Progress Record, Diary, Mock test and Show Me, Tell Me forms. "
Customer Reviews
INFURIATING, 03 Oct 2008
This is perhaps the most infuriating software I've ever used. Having had problems with earlier editions, I checked out the available books and bought the top choice with the software. I wish I hadn't bothered. Photoshop crashes most times I use it, throws up all sorts of error messages, despite installing it no less than three times. When it does work, the editor takes about five minutes to load, and the whole package is to me totally counter-intuitive. I'm going straight back to Picasa.
Good, 06 Sep 2008
My photo editor "history" goes like this:
Elements (original - awful, slugged my PC into the ground)
PSP (very good)
PhotoImpact 12 (quite excellent)
I set out to update PhotoImpact to the latest version only to find there isn't one as Corel bought Ulead and have clearly ditched it (nutters!), leaving PSP and Elements as the two mainstream editors. So I decided to become a drone and buy Elements.
What a pleasant surprise, much better than its original version, nice interface, and not much to relearn over the previous one. The Organiser stuff is pretty much bloatware - I think you're much better just having a neat folder system of your own...
Simply fantastic, 27 Aug 2008
If you want to acheive fantastic results with your pictures, Photoshop Elements 6 is for you. At a fairly low price it has fantastic features for making banners, buttons, posters, collages and many more projects. It installed in no time and was easy to register. The only problem that I have is when going from my picture catalogue to the editor, it can take a little longer than expected, but it is still quite quick.
In two words - simply fantastic!
Perfection!, 15 Aug 2008
This software is excellent. I have Windows Vista and this exciting software works just fine. I couldn't be happier with this product. Easy and intuitive and you can pick it up without a manual within minutes.
Wonderful!
adobe 6!, 23 Jul 2008
Bought this a few months ago very difficult to master.
Wanted to transfer raw camera data dynax 5d to tiff or jpeg
wouldn`t transfer to tiff so tried jpeg but there was a problem,the jpeg files were exclusively for web use only so the pics were tiny..
Why cant i buy a simple programme to transfer raw to tiff or jpeg without all these complications?
if u r like me this could prove a dissapoitment!
A great photo editing package for home users, 06 Sep 2008
Presently on PcPro's `A-List', Adobe Elements is a cut down version of Adobe's £500+ Photoshop/Photoshop Extended CS3, and costs considerably less while still having a lot of useful photo editing capabilities. Photoshop CS3 has a steep learning curve, but not so Photoshop elements. Elements is far more home-user friendly and a lot of the program is geared towards image storage and management of the photos on your hard drive. It also helps you with emailing, web output and scrapbooks of your images. The program auto-downloads your images from the camera to folders, set up using the date, and can even process the images, say automatically removing red-eye, while it does it. Using stacks you can set up image databases [smart albums] using keywords like names, places, events, etc.., and you can even search using visual tags within the image. That said, I shun the image database options offered by Photoshop Elements and Extended, preferring the simplicity of logical folder names instead. Also, like PhotoShop, the image database side isn't seamlessly integrated into the image editing side [to the point where it's actually annoying].
Version 7 of Adobe Photoshop Elements [and the sister video editing Adobe Premiere Elements 7] has now arrived. Elements 7 has a new Quick Fix tool to soften surfaces while keeping the edge and detail sharp. Plus there's a new Scene Cleaner tool that can brush away undesirable objects from a photo [so you can ditch that car or tourists from the view] and there's now a Smart Brush which lets you instantly apply effects to a selected area of the image. Plus Element's 7 sports a new single step `whiten teeth' and `make the sky blue' tool.
Also new in Element's 7 will be a free subscription to Photoshop.com, a special service Adobe has devised to bring friends together by providing quick access to on-line backup, storage, and sharing capabilities. You get 2GB of on-line storage, `enough for up to 1,500 photos', so you can view your photos from virtually anywhere. Thus Photoshop Elements goes `Facebook', allowing you to share your photos `in fun, interactive ways via invitation-only'. For these `Online Albums' you will get new templates delivered to Elements on a regular basis. There will also be a Photoshop.com ` Plus' membership offering 20 Gb [15,000 photos] of on-line photo storage, but that will require you paying an annual fee. The first year's 20 Gb subscription is included in Adobe's `Elements 7 Plus' [but not this standard version].
All the old Elements tools are there as well. For editing you have a set of 'quickfix' options or you can load the full image editor for greater manual control: such as adjust sharpness, correct camera distortion, levels, hue and skin colour. Naturally you have standard tools like crop and adjust image size (pixels) as well. You can now do things like brush away wrinkles with the spot healing/healing brush, use clone overlays, make improved B&W images, add image vibrance and clarity, make composite pictures, copy and even blend parts from different images (to say swap faces from a series of photo's so that all your kids are smiling at the camera in one image). You also get a layers palette for composites, shapes, text effects and frames. Plus there are step-through guides [guided edit] to help you get there. The software will also integrate with scanners twain interfaces if you are into scanning film, and the Fill Light [shadow/highlight] tool is pretty essential for bringing out detail in shadows from any slide/negative scan. Plus Elements can handle RAW camera images, although I use TIFF/jpg (Elements can save in any common image format).
System requirements are quite high: CD drive, 1Gb system RAM, XP or Vista, 2GHz processor, and a Direct-X 9 graphics card [and Adobe installers can reject systems that don't meet the spec]. Elements 7 perhaps isn't a crucial upgrade from Elements 6, but for new home users, or those with older versions, it's very powerful photo editing and image database software from the market leaders. Adobe Elements 7 has only two real competitors at the price: Paint Shop Pro X2 and Serif PhotoPlus X2. Both these programs are also excellent and worthy of consideration, with PhotoPlus's strength being it's about as powerful but rather cheaper to buy and upgrade. Professional users will still head towards Adobe PhotoShop Darkroom 10 and the fantastically expensive Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, although even at work we have Adobe Elements on a few imaging workstations for casual users, where the high cost of PhotoShop CS3 Extended simply isn't justified. That said experienced Photoshop CS3 users will find Elements 7 lacking in a few features they are used to.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 is also available to buy as a cheaper double pack with the new Adobe Premiere Elements 7 video editing software, which may well be better value than this upgrade. Plus this double pack qualifies for a large educational discount for non-commercial use if you, or a child in the house, are in full time education [from primary school to college]. Similar large educational discounts apply to much of Adobes software.
Does what it says on the cover - and it's still relevant if you have passed your test, 28 Sep 2008
This is the new 2008/9 edition. The program says it was 'last updated May 2008' and the content talks of 2007, but it's likely the information is really up to date, as laws change relatively slowly - besides the software can update itself via the internet anyway. Put in the DVD and the program installs quickly and runs perfectly on our Vista & XP gaming PCs, plus there are a few video options that can be set to ensure it all runs smoothly [useful as the training is very video based].
Start it up, and there's a great intro video outlining the reasons to drive safely: 95% of accidents are caused by human factors, seventeen under 25s die every week on the roads in the UK, a learner driver is 7x more likely to have an accident in his first 250 miles on the road. This video mentions research on why under 25s are so at risk, it's because they rely on their good reaction skills too heavily so that they become more aggressive in their attitude. This coupled with their inexperience on the road [hazard perception] is the cause of their notorious high accident rates [particularly among young males]. Whether any young man running this software will take much note of this is debateable, but at least the software might give them a few hazard perception skills and it will certainly help them pass the theory test [this is 'guaranteed' for users of this program] and the main driving test. For older 'safer' experienced drivers there's still much to gain from playing with this software, with it's prime message that "having the right attitude is the key to safe driving". As you would expect, it is very UK orientated, even the English voice-overs.
Once past the important intro, there's Theory test help [for the new DSA test], with training and then mock exams. You get similar help with the hazard perception test [which is the main cause of failure prior to the actual driving test]. The hazard perception test includes ten official sample clips [and many more of the same standard]. And finally there's the practical driving test, where you can view 60 video lessons, and there's show me/tell me questions plus a full mock driving test. Even more helpfully there's a lot of text/pictures that includes a Theory test book, all the roads signs you might be asked about, the official highway code, and 'safe driving for life'. There are options for learning when you are on the go, with things like printing out info and putting test/answers on your portable music player. The only downside is that the hazard perception videos are a bit blocky to the point that a distant hazard can be very tricky to perceive - not that you are marked down for it though provided you notice it as it comes nearer [click on it].
All for under a tenner, this is important software for any driver, and pretty essential viewing if your teenage kid is learning to drive. It will be well worth viewing this software yourself if you are teaching your kids to drive [so that you can ram home those safety points]. Great software.
Driving Along, 27 Sep 2008
This is a comprehensive and weel presented programme aimed at those learning to drive. It is user friendly due to the fact that all of the sections of the test are categorised and there are self assesment oppertunities which allow you to see the progress that you're making. It is all well presented with instructional videos and a very interesting hazard perception simulation. A lot of the questions are challenging and very relevant and there is enough visual stimulation to keep things interesting and dynamic. The videos explaining how to change a tyre and check for oil are very comprehensive so will be helpful to people who have no experience and there is a lot of information on specific signs, laws and rules.
It is overall a very sturdy and entertaining way to ohelp pass your driving test - suitable for all ages.
very useful, 25 Sep 2008
This is useful for learners and also for people who have been driving for years! We found it quite humbling as to how many questions we couldn't answer and we have been driving for over 20 years!
Very nicely presented and easy to use.
Rather brilliant PC-ROM helping you to pass the Driving Test the first time., 18 Sep 2008
Rather brilliant new product from this well known software brand, this is a complete guide to taking your first driving test, and is fully inclusive of the latest developments in all of the new tests involved, such as Theory, Hazard Perception, and Practical Driving.
This is an exciting user friendly CD-ROM with actual real time footage and realistic scenes geared to develop the knowledge needed to pass the new tests in the most coveted position of all: The First Time.
It includes a full printable copy of the latest edition of The Highway code, records your scores and tests results, and can gear your future tests to cover any areas of weakness revealed.
And, rather brilliantly, it can be used as an application on your iPod, Blackberry or mobile phone in addition to being able to print tests out to take with you in places where the use of these devices is frowned upon.
The only downside that I have been able to find with this product, and have encountered after many enjoyable hours of brushing up on my motoring skills is that it is not suitable for use on a Mac.
As, however, it run's on every edition of Windows from 'Dinosaur to Vista this seems like a small price to pay.
Might be worth checking out though if this is meant as a gift for a loved one.
Makes retaining the pre drive important aspects easy, 17 Sep 2008
I have long been a fan of the written driving test introduced some years ago, having taken advanced courses myself in previous years, all classroom and text book based, prior to hands on instruction. This DVD is a great way to get younger drivers "interested" with it's easy interactive features, and very comprehensive Q&A database, including ALL from the DSA question bank. Using a computer, seeing the information and a well defined user interface means this is far less laborious than wading through DSA guide books. With multiple unlimited "mock" exams to take, it's easy to retain everything you need to know to succesfully pass the written test. But I also believe it's more than that and helps build a foundation of good road sense prior to driving. At some point you have to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and put theory into practice. Even so, the core safety guidelines and good driving "habits" should leave any potential student (who has used this software to it's potential and not just played with it) with a lot less to think about when the practical test is taken. Now all we need is a DVD to help get over driving test nerves! Great package, great price. 5 Stars
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Customer Reviews
INFURIATING, 03 Oct 2008
This is perhaps the most infuriating software I've ever used. Having had problems with earlier editions, I checked out the available books and bought the top choice with the software. I wish I hadn't bothered. Photoshop crashes most times I use it, throws up all sorts of error messages, despite installing it no less than three times. When it does work, the editor takes about five minutes to load, and the whole package is to me totally counter-intuitive. I'm going straight back to Picasa.
Good, 06 Sep 2008
My photo editor "history" goes like this:
Elements (original - awful, slugged my PC into the ground)
PSP (very good)
PhotoImpact 12 (quite excellent)
I set out to update PhotoImpact to the latest version only to find there isn't one as Corel bought Ulead and have clearly ditched it (nutters!), leaving PSP and Elements as the two mainstream editors. So I decided to become a drone and buy Elements.
What a pleasant surprise, much better than its original version, nice interface, and not much to relearn over the previous one. The Organiser stuff is pretty much bloatware - I think you're much better just having a neat folder system of your own...
Simply fantastic, 27 Aug 2008
If you want to acheive fantastic results with your pictures, Photoshop Elements 6 is for you. At a fairly low price it has fantastic features for making banners, buttons, posters, collages and many more projects. It installed in no time and was easy to register. The only problem that I have is when going from my picture catalogue to the editor, it can take a little longer than expected, but it is still quite quick.
In two words - simply fantastic!
Perfection!, 15 Aug 2008
This software is excellent. I have Windows Vista and this exciting software works just fine. I couldn't be happier with this product. Easy and intuitive and you can pick it up without a manual within minutes.
Wonderful!
adobe 6!, 23 Jul 2008
Bought this a few months ago very difficult to master.
Wanted to transfer raw camera data dynax 5d to tiff or jpeg
wouldn`t transfer to tiff so tried jpeg but there was a problem,the jpeg files were exclusively for web use only so the pics were tiny..
Why cant i buy a simple programme to transfer raw to tiff or jpeg without all these complications?
if u r like me this could prove a dissapoitment!
A great photo editing package for home users, 06 Sep 2008
Presently on PcPro's `A-List', Adobe Elements is a cut down version of Adobe's £500+ Photoshop/Photoshop Extended CS3, and costs considerably less while still having a lot of useful photo editing capabilities. Photoshop CS3 has a steep learning curve, but not so Photoshop elements. Elements is far more home-user friendly and a lot of the program is geared towards image storage and management of the photos on your hard drive. It also helps you with emailing, web output and scrapbooks of your images. The program auto-downloads your images from the camera to folders, set up using the date, and can even process the images, say automatically removing red-eye, while it does it. Using stacks you can set up image databases [smart albums] using keywords like names, places, events, etc.., and you can even search using visual tags within the image. That said, I shun the image database options offered by Photoshop Elements and Extended, preferring the simplicity of logical folder names instead. Also, like PhotoShop, the image database side isn't seamlessly integrated into the image editing side [to the point where it's actually annoying].
Version 7 of Adobe Photoshop Elements [and the sister video editing Adobe Premiere Elements 7] has now arrived. Elements 7 has a new Quick Fix tool to soften surfaces while keeping the edge and detail sharp. Plus there's a new Scene Cleaner tool that can brush away undesirable objects from a photo [so you can ditch that car or tourists from the view] and there's now a Smart Brush which lets you instantly apply effects to a selected area of the image. Plus Element's 7 sports a new single step `whiten teeth' and `make the sky blue' tool.
Also new in Element's 7 will be a free subscription to Photoshop.com, a special service Adobe has devised to bring friends together by providing quick access to on-line backup, storage, and sharing capabilities. You get 2GB of on-line storage, `enough for up to 1,500 photos', so you can view your photos from virtually anywhere. Thus Photoshop Elements goes `Facebook', allowing you to share your photos `in fun, interactive ways via invitation-only'. For these `Online Albums' you will get new templates delivered to Elements on a regular basis. There will also be a Photoshop.com ` Plus' membership offering 20 Gb [15,000 photos] of on-line photo storage, but that will require you paying an annual fee. The first year's 20 Gb subscription is included in Adobe's `Elements 7 Plus' [but not this standard version].
All the old Elements tools are there as well. For editing you have a set of 'quickfix' options or you can load the full image editor for greater manual control: such as adjust sharpness, correct camera distortion, levels, hue and skin colour. Naturally you have standard tools like crop and adjust image size (pixels) as well. You can now do things like brush away wrinkles with the spot healing/healing brush, use clone overlays, make improved B&W images, add image vibrance and clarity, make composite pictures, copy and even blend parts from different images (to say swap faces from a series of photo's so that all your kids are smiling at the camera in one image). You also get a layers palette for composites, shapes, text effects and frames. Plus there are step-through guides [guided edit] to help you get there. The software will also integrate with scanners twain interfaces if you are into scanning film, and the Fill Light [shadow/highlight] tool is pretty essential for bringing out detail in shadows from any slide/negative scan. Plus Elements can handle RAW camera images, although I use TIFF/jpg (Elements can save in any common image format).
System requirements are quite high: CD drive, 1Gb system RAM, XP or Vista, 2GHz processor, and a Direct-X 9 graphics card [and Adobe installers can reject systems that don't meet the spec]. Elements 7 perhaps isn't a crucial upgrade from Elements 6, but for new home users, or those with older versions, it's very powerful photo editing and image database software from the market leaders. Adobe Elements 7 has only two real competitors at the price: Paint Shop Pro X2 and Serif PhotoPlus X2. Both these programs are also excellent and worthy of consideration, with PhotoPlus's strength being it's about as powerful but rather cheaper to buy and upgrade. Professional users will still head towards Adobe PhotoShop Darkroom 10 and the fantastically expensive Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, although even at work we have Adobe Elements on a few imaging workstations for casual users, where the high cost of PhotoShop CS3 Extended simply isn't justified. That said experienced Photoshop CS3 users will find Elements 7 lacking in a few features they are used to.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 is also available to buy as a cheaper double pack with the new Adobe Premiere Elements 7 video editing software, which may well be better value than this upgrade. Plus this double pack qualifies for a large educational discount for non-commercial use if you, or a child in the house, are in full time education [from primary school to college]. Similar large educational discounts apply to much of Adobes software.
Does what it says on the cover - and it's still relevant if you have passed your test, 28 Sep 2008
This is the new 2008/9 edition. The program says it was 'last updated May 2008' and the content talks of 2007, but it's likely the information is really up to date, as laws change relatively slowly - besides the software can update itself via the internet anyway. Put in the DVD and the program installs quickly and runs perfectly on our Vista & XP gaming PCs, plus there are a few video options that can be set to ensure it all runs smoothly [useful as the training is very video based].
Start it up, and there's a great intro video outlining the reasons to drive safely: 95% of accidents are caused by human factors, seventeen under 25s die every week on the roads in the UK, a learner driver is 7x more likely to have an accident in his first 250 miles on the road. This video mentions research on why under 25s are so at risk, it's because they rely on their good reaction skills too heavily so that they become more aggressive in their attitude. This coupled with their inexperience on the road [hazard perception] is the cause of their notorious high accident rates [particularly among young males]. Whether any young man running this software will take much note of this is debateable, but at least the software might give them a few hazard perception skills and it will certainly help them pass the theory test [this is 'guaranteed' for users of this program] and the main driving test. For older 'safer' experienced drivers there's still much to gain from playing with this software, with it's prime message that "having the right attitude is the key to safe driving". As you would expect, it is very UK orientated, even the English voice-overs.
Once past the important intro, there's Theory test help [for the new DSA test], with training and then mock exams. You get similar help with the hazard perception test [which is the main cause of failure prior to the actual driving test]. The hazard perception test includes ten official sample clips [and many more of the same standard]. And finally there's the practical driving test, where you can view 60 video lessons, and there's show me/tell me questions plus a full mock driving test. Even more helpfully there's a lot of text/pictures that includes a Theory test book, all the roads signs you might be asked about, the official highway code, and 'safe driving for life'. There are options for learning when you are on the go, with things like printing out info and putting test/answers on your portable music player. The only downside is that the hazard perception videos are a bit blocky to the point that a distant hazard can be very tricky to perceive - not that you are marked down for it though provided you notice it as it comes nearer [click on it].
All for under a tenner, this is important software for any driver, and pretty essential viewing if your teenage kid is learning to drive. It will be well worth viewing this software yourself if you are teaching your kids to drive [so that you can ram home those safety points]. Great software.
Driving Along, 27 Sep 2008
This is a comprehensive and weel presented programme aimed at those learning to drive. It is user friendly due to the fact that all of the sections of the test are categorised and there are self assesment oppertunities which allow you to see the progress that you're making. It is all well presented with instructional videos and a very interesting hazard perception simulation. A lot of the questions are challenging and very relevant and there is enough visual stimulation to keep things interesting and dynamic. The videos explaining how to change a tyre and check for oil are very comprehensive so will be helpful to people who have no experience and there is a lot of information on specific signs, laws and rules.
It is overall a very sturdy and entertaining way to ohelp pass your driving test - suitable for all ages.
very useful, 25 Sep 2008
This is useful for learners and also for people who have been driving for years! We found it quite humbling as to how many questions we couldn't answer and we have been driving for over 20 years!
Very nicely presented and easy to use.
Rather brilliant PC-ROM helping you to pass the Driving Test the first time., 18 Sep 2008
Rather brilliant new product from this well known software brand, this is a complete guide to taking your first driving test, and is fully inclusive of the latest developments in all of the new tests involved, such as Theory, Hazard Perception, and Practical Driving.
This is an exciting user friendly CD-ROM with actual real time footage and realistic scenes geared to develop the knowledge needed to pass the new tests in the most coveted position of all: The First Time.
It includes a full printable copy of the latest edition of The Highway code, records your scores and tests results, and can gear your future tests to cover any areas of weakness revealed.
And, rather brilliantly, it can be used as an application on your iPod, Blackberry or mobile phone in addition to being able to print tests out to take with you in places where the use of these devices is frowned upon.
The only downside that I have been able to find with this product, and have encountered after many enjoyable hours of brushing up on my motoring skills is that it is not suitable for use on a Mac.
As, however, it run's on every edition of Windows from 'Dinosaur to Vista this seems like a small price to pay.
Might be worth checking out though if this is meant as a gift for a loved one.
Makes retaining the pre drive important aspects easy, 17 Sep 2008
I have long been a fan of the written driving test introduced some years ago, having taken advanced courses myself in previous years, all classroom and text book based, prior to hands on instruction. This DVD is a great way to get younger drivers "interested" with it's easy interactive features, and very comprehensive Q&A database, including ALL from the DSA question bank. Using a computer, seeing the information and a well defined user interface means this is far less laborious than wading through DSA guide books. With multiple unlimited "mock" exams to take, it's easy to retain everything you need to know to succesfully pass the written test. But I also believe it's more than that and helps build a foundation of good road sense prior to driving. At some point you have to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and put theory into practice. Even so, the core safety guidelines and good driving "habits" should leave any potential student (who has used this software to it's potential and not just played with it) with a lot less to think about when the practical test is taken. Now all we need is a DVD to help get over driving test nerves! Great package, great price. 5 Stars
Good upgrade, but maybe not so compelling, 23 Sep 2008
I've used Photoshop for years, and although Adobe are pushing this as their biggest update yet, I don't agree. From beta testing reviews, there are some gorgeous new features, like GPU acceleration for some things, and context-sensitive resizing, but I gather most of the update has happened behind the scenes and the user won't see as much new as they may be expecting.
I would shop around, too. Photoshop Extended CS4 is only £887.12 (full, not upgrade) from Adobe's own UK store, and Amazon are trying to sell it for almost a grand!
If you have an old copy, you would do well on the upgrade pricing.
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