Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0

Reviews say Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 is not a substitute for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (*est. $620) as a photo-editing software, it is a supplement that solves workflow problems for busy photographers using PCs or Macs. Lightroom lacks some of CS3's heavy manipulation tools, so as one reviewer says, "You won't be uninstalling (standard) Photoshop, but you may be seeing less of it." The emphasis is on easing the input, organizing, editing and outputting of photos – although some say it is not as adept at multi-monitor use as the Mac-only Aperture (*est. $230), and it's less simple for web use than it ought to be. On the plus side, there is non-destructive editing of more than 140 RAW formats, so you'll always have an original to go back to.

PC Magazine and CNet.com offer the best reviews, published three days apart and both recommending Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0. PC World's review is short and a bit cranky, decrying the need to purchase both Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 1 for a total outlay of about $900. We found about 70 user reviews at Amazon.com. More than two-thirds like Lightroom, and negative reviews are all over the map, citing various bugs.