Buying a software design course book: where to start
If you are taking a software design course focused on Adobe tools, the Web Collection series is a familiar textbook name. The four listings here cover different generations: Dreamweaver CS4, Flash CS4, Fireworks CS4, Photoshop CS4, Adobe CS5, and Adobe CS6. Listed prices run from $14.87 to $29.99, so the right pick depends on which software version your course expects, how much you want to spend, and whether you prefer a hardcover or a paperback.
Quick take
- Need a brand-new hardcover CS4 guide with Dreamweaver and Fireworks? Look at The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition.
- Need a lower-priced CS4 hardcover that adds Photoshop and can tolerate wear? The Web Collection Revealed has an Acceptable-condition copy.
- Want a never-used CS5 paperback with the Course Mate component named in the title? The Web Collection Premium Edition CS5 is a new trade paperback.
- Want the CS6 edition at the lowest listed price and can accept some cover wear? Adobe Cs6 Web Tools: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash Illustrated is the paperback to consider.
Listed-price comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Edition & Format | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition | USD 29.99 | CS4, Hardcover | Brand New | |
| The Web Collection Revealed: Adobe Flash CS4 Dreamweaver CS4 & Photoshop | USD 19.99 | CS4, Hardcover | Acceptable | |
| The Web Collection Premium Edition Adobe CS5 & Cengage Learning Course Mate | USD 29.99 | CS5, Trade Paperback | Brand New | |
| Adobe Cs6 Web Tools: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash Illustrated with | USD 14.87 | CS6, Trade Paperback | Very Good |
Decision matrix
- Choose The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition when you want the hardcover CS4 set in brand-new condition and like that it includes the Fireworks portion in addition to Dreamweaver and Flash.
- Choose The Web Collection Revealed when you want a CS4 hardcover at a lower listed price and you are comfortable with an Acceptable-condition copy that may show wear, marks, and prior-owner names.
- Choose The Web Collection Premium Edition CS5 when the CS5 generation is your target and you want a never-used paperback with the Cengage Learning Course Mate component called out in the title.
- Choose Adobe Cs6 Web Tools when the CS6 generation matters most and you prefer the lowest listed price in this group, provided that limited cover writing and unmarked interior pages are acceptable.
Product notes
The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition
This hardcover, listed at the top of the price range, is a brand-new copy of The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition: Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, Adobe Flash CS4, and Adobe Fireworks CS4. The author team is Barbara M. Waxer, Sherry Bishop, and James E. Shuman, with ISBN 9781435482661. If your software design course centers on the CS4 generation and you want a sturdy hardcover that includes Fireworks CS4, this is the cleanest option of the four. The limitation is the price: it sits at the higher end of the lineup, and it does not carry the newer CS5 or CS6 materials found in the other two titles.
The Web Collection Revealed: Adobe Flash CS4 Dreamweaver CS4 & Photoshop
This CS4 hardcover is listed in the middle of the price range and has an Acceptable condition rating. The author lineup switches to Sherry Bishop, James E. Shuman, and Elizabeth Eisner Reding, with ISBN 9781435482647. It covers Flash CS4, Dreamweaver CS4, and Photoshop CS4, which makes it the only listed copy that pairs Photoshop with the CS4 generation. The limitation is condition: the description notes possible creases, surface wear, interior stains or marks, prior-owner names, and some copies may not include supplemental items like CDs or access codes. If you want a readable CS4 reference with Photoshop coverage, this one works, but expect a well-used book.
The Web Collection Premium Edition Adobe CS5 & Cengage Learning Course Mate
This trade paperback is listed at the top of the price range and is described as brand new and never used, despite a tear in the shrink-wrap. It is identified as The Web Collection Premium Edition Adobe CS5 & Cengage Learning Course Mate, with authors Sherry Bishop, James E. Shuman, and Elizabeth Eisner Reding, ISBN 9781111130732. It covers the CS5 generation of Dreamweaver, Flash, and Photoshop from Delmar Cengage Learning, with roughly 832 pages. The limitation: it is a paperback rather than a hardcover, the shrink-wrap is torn, and the price matches the higher-priced CS4 standard edition. If you prefer CS5 and want an unused copy, this is your match.
Adobe Cs6 Web Tools: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash Illustrated with
This trade paperback is the lowest-listed-price option in the group and covers the CS6 generation. The title references Adobe Cs6 Web Tools: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash Illustrated with Online Creative Cloud Updates; the authors are Barbara Waxer, Sherry Bishop, and Chris Botello, with ISBN 9781133629740. Condition is Very Good, and the description points to limited writing on cover pages while the interior pages remain unmarked. If you want the most recent Adobe edition in this lineup and prefer the lowest price, this is the practical choice. The limitation is the cover: it may show limited writing from a previous owner, so it is not a pristine display copy.
Final recommendation by use case
- For the cleanest CS4 hardcover with Fireworks: The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition.
- For a mid-priced CS4 hardcover with Photoshop: The Web Collection Revealed: Adobe Flash CS4 Dreamweaver CS4 & Photoshop.
- For a never-used CS5 paperback with the Course Mate component: The Web Collection Premium Edition Adobe CS5 & Cengage Learning Course Mate.
- For the CS6 edition at the lowest listed price: Adobe Cs6 Web Tools: Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash Illustrated with.
