EmailBest Reviewed
Desktop Publishing Software
- Best desktop publishing software for families Broderbund The Print Shop 23 Deluxe *Est. $35
- Small-business desktop publishing software Serif PagePlus X3 Publisher Professional *Est. $90
- Desktop publishing software for Mac Nova Print Explosion Deluxe 3.0 *Est. $45
- Professional desktop publishing software Adobe InDesign CS4 *Est. $700
- Free desktop publishing software Scribus *Est. $0
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Best desktop publishing software for families
- Price
- Lots of templates and graphics
- Good photo editing
- Makes PDF files
- Awkward interface
- Not robust enough for business use
- Poor technical support
- Mac version much less advanced
March 2009. For family fun -- including creating greeting cards, scrapbook pages and CD labels, reviews recommend The Print Shop 23 Deluxe. Reviewers praise the built-in photo-editing, video-editing and media-management tools, and praise the sheer quantity of templates and graphics that come with the software. The abilities to make PDF files and borderless prints are also advantages. Owners give The Print Shop 23 Deluxe mixed reviews, with about half complaining of major problems, and expert reviews note that technical support is the software's weak point. Experts also say the templates aren't suitable for business use. For small-business publishing and more sophisticated home use, consider Serif PagePlus X3 Publisher Professional (*est. $90).
We found the best reviews of the latest version of The Print Shop 23 Deluxe at Computer Shopper and at TopTenReviews.com. Owners review quite a few versions at Amazon.com, highlighting problems not noted elsewhere. Older versions of Print Shop Deluxe receive expert reviews at PC Magazine and CNet.com, with comments that are still useful.
Our Sources
The Print Shop 23 Deluxe earns a rating of 8.4 on a 10-point scale at Computer Shopper, based on a full review. The varied projects and huge number of templates earn praise, but the interface is still judged awkward and inefficient.
Review: The Print Shop 23 Deluxe, David English, Nov. 2008
The Print Shop 23 Deluxe gets top ranking among "print creativity" software for fun home projects and ranks second for greeting cards -- with high ratings on all counts: features, image tools, text tools, ease of use and support. The main drawback noted is that to use the excellent tutorials, you have to print them out, since you can't read them and play around with the software at the same time.
Review: The Print Shop 23 Deluxe, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
3. Amazon.com
Over two dozen users review The Print Shop 23 Deluxe here, giving it an average rating of three on a five-point scale. About half the users are satisfied, but some complain about a variety of problems with installation, slow printing and poor technical support. The less advanced Mac version earns the same mixed ratings.
Review: Broderbund The Print Shop 23Deluxe, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Mar. 2009
This much earlier version of Print Shop Deluxe earns an Editors' Choice award, based on comparisons with three other desktop publishing programs. The reviewer tests it by starting with a template, concluding that the built-in photo and video-editing software is excellent.
Review: The Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe, Version 15, Christina Wood, Feb. 2003
5. CNET
This expert review covers an even older version of Print Shop Deluxe, giving it an overall rating of 3.5 out of a possible five stars. The main criticism is that the templates aren't suitable for business use, but users rate it a bit higher -- saying it's fine for family fun once you learn to use it.
Review: Print Shop Deluxe 12.0, Gregg Keizer, Nov. 2001
Desktop Publishing Software Runners Up:
4 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
2 picks by top review sites.
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