Taking the (very little) bad with the good...
Like most large programs, CS2 does not do everything 100% perfect. There are a few areas where the function is provided, but is the performance is weak and best left to third-party plugins. Among these are noise reduction, sharpening, and in some cases image resizing. But once again, the included tools are more than serviceable for most users and most situations.
Bridge is an external application for managing your images.
Another feature I found missing was the ability to paste an item directly from the clipboard into a new image. Photoshop is smart enough to know there is image data in the clipboard and the New image dialog prefills in the sizing information based on that copied image. But then it is still a two-step process of creating a new image and then pasting the clipboard into that image. Everytime I have to do this, I get annoyed, but then it quickly passes once I'm immersed in the coolness of the application.
The major detriment to Photoshop CS2 for most hobbyist and semi-professional photographers is its hefty pricetag. It weighs in at about $650 for just PSCS2. You can pay more and get it as part of the entire Adobe CS2 Suite. Sadly this is the main reason Photoshop has been noted as one of the most pirated software packages ever. And while there is never a reason for stealing software, Photoshop CS2 offers quite a temptation and challenging test of integrity. Fortunately, Adobe has released most of the key Photoshop functions in the scaled down and affordable "Elements" series. But if you truly need the full features of CS2, especially for professional duties, the price tag is nothing compared to the benefits received.
Conclusion...
It should be noted that a few weeks from now, Photoshop CS3 will be released. No word has been made available on upgrade pricing of if there will be a window for free upgrades (purchases of CS2 after a certain date, yet before CS3 is released). But if you're in the market right now for a top of the line photo editor, your best bet is Adobe Photoshop CS2.
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Strengths
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Weaknesses
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- Customizable interface options.
- Attention to detail in user interface.
- Many unexpected and helpful features & tools.
- Industry standard, prompting large community support.
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- Some weak features, however supplemented by third-party plugins.
- High price tag prevents (legal) entry-level users.
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