Choosing an Adobe Flash text for a software design course comes down to version, condition, and price. These four titles cover CS3, CS4, and CS6, and their listed prices span a wide range. That spread means you can easily overpay for coverage you don't need, or grab an older edition that won't match your syllabus. Each book is a used textbook, so the condition is just as important as the version. Here's how to sort through the options and land on the right one for your class.
Quick take: If you need CS6 coverage, the CS6 Introductory book is the only one here that has it. If you want a comprehensive CS4 book in Like New condition, the CS4 Professional Comprehensive is a strong match. If you prefer a hardcover with a different author's approach, the CS4 Revealed hardcover sits in the middle of the price range. If your main concern is keeping the cost down, the CS3 Comprehensive is the lowest-priced title.
Listed Price Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| New Perspectives on Adobe Flash Professional CS6, Introductory | $157.49 | |
| New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS4 Professional: Comprehensive | $142.95 | |
| HC - Adobe Flash CS4 Revealed | $99.49 | |
| New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS3, Comprehensive | $23.95 |
Decision Matrix
- Need CS6 coverage in a New Perspectives text? Choose the CS6 Introductory book, but keep in mind it's the top-priced title here.
- Want a comprehensive CS4 text in Like New condition? The CS4 Professional Comprehensive is the pick.
- Prefer a hardcover CS4 guide from a different author? HC - Adobe Flash CS4 Revealed gives you that.
- Need the lowest-cost way into the New Perspectives series? The CS3 Comprehensive gets you a full-length text with Good-condition wear.
Product Notes
Here's a closer look at each title and what it brings to the table.
#### New Perspectives on Adobe Flash Professional CS6, Introductory
At $157.49, this is the highest-priced title in the group, and it's the only one covering Adobe Flash CS6. It's a New Edition with 416 pages, and it follows the familiar New Perspectives structure in Trade Paperback form. The condition is Good, so expect wear-possibly underlining, highlighting, or writing-and supplemental items such as discs or access codes may not be included. Choose it if your course requires CS6 and you want the highest version number in this lineup. The trade-off is paying the top price while receiving a Good-condition book. If your syllabus explicitly calls out CS6, this is the title to match.
#### New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS4 Professional: Comprehensive
This $142.95 Trade Paperback has one important distinction: its condition is Like New, the closest to Mint in this group. It also has the largest page count at 544 pages, and it covers Adobe Flash CS4 in a comprehensive manner. The author list includes Luis A. Lopez and Robin M. Romer, so it presents the material from a collaborative perspective. The larger page count means more exercises and examples to work through. Choose it if you want a near-mint copy of a comprehensive CS4 book. The limitation is the price: you're still getting a CS4 edition rather than CS6, and it's close to the top-priced title.
#### HC - Adobe Flash CS4 Revealed
This hardcover by James E. Shuman is a different kind of CS4 resource. Instead of coming from the New Perspectives series, it's part of the Revealed line, and the hardcover binding gives you a sturdier reference that's easier to keep open on a desk. The price is $99.49, putting it in the middle of the spread. It's in Good condition, so expect the same potential for wear and markings as the CS6 book. It measures 9 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches, making it a larger-format text. Choose it if you prefer a hardcover CS4 guide or want an author's approach that differs from the New Perspectives books. The limitation is that you still get CS4 content, not CS6, and the condition is Good rather than Like New.
#### New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS3, Comprehensive
At $23.95, this is the most affordable title in the comparison. It's a Trade Paperback from the New Perspectives series, covering Adobe Flash CS3 with a comprehensive approach across 520 pages. The condition is Good, so there's a realistic chance of underlining, highlighting, or writing inside, and supplemental items such as discs or access codes may not be included. If your software design course is working with CS3, or you simply want the full New Perspectives treatment at the lowest listed price, this is the one to pick. The trade-off is the version: CS3 is the oldest version number here, so it won't help if your coursework expects CS4 or CS6.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
No single book is right for everyone, but each of these has a clear use case. Use this as your shortcut: If your class is built around CS6, the CS6 Introductory book is the only option that matches, despite its price. If you want a comprehensive CS4 book in like-new condition, the CS4 Professional Comprehensive is the one to choose. If you want a hardcover CS4 reference that is not part of the New Perspectives series, the Revealed hardcover fits. If your priority is keeping the purchase price as low as possible while still getting a comprehensive New Perspectives text, the CS3 Comprehensive is the one to choose.
