While I will address 64-bit processing in a future column, let me point you to an excellent Adobe white paper that can be found at This is to not argue one platform over another, but to say both operating systems are now in play with multimedia in ministry, and you need to know now how the current day Windows OS issues affect you before plunking down big bucks on a new computer or software.

In contrast, the latest Apple OS has offered unabated, stable firepower. Just a few months ago, 64-bit drivers were non-existent and most software was not even available for the 64-bit platform. The bad news, however, is that many of us got caught in the Windows OS flux, had to buy a new PC, and found ourselves in the Vista void. Many of the latest Adobe products take advantage of 64-bit processing which means twice the traditional processing capacity and the capabilities to install more RAM which is, of course, essential for running multiple applications or editing high definition video. Further, OnLocation, an application that allows video to be analyzed and captured directly to hard drive, is making its debut in the Mac world with CS4. For example, until the CS3 release, Premiere Pro was PC-only. That’s an important point because it has not always been that way.

The applications in the CS4 Master Collection are now available for Mac and PC. At the risk of sounding sappy, they have formed “loving sibling relationships” and are now quite the team. All these many years later, I could not be more pleased how my creative family members, assembled in the CS4 Master Collection, have matured and contributed so much. In fact, I fondly recall Version 1.0 of all of Adobe’s applications. I have even watched an adoption or two – when my favorite audio production software, Syntrillium’s Cool Edit Pro, became part of the Adobe family, taking on the name Adobe Audition, and Serious Magic’s DV Rack (a video recording and analysis tool) also joined the lineup as Adobe OnLocation. Later, I’d make room for Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe InDesign.

But my goodness, that’s been more than 20 years ago. It seems like only yesterday that I brought home Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe After Effects, some of my first creative bundles of joy. Like a father who watches his children come into the world, form personalities of their own, grow up and develop an impressive array of talent, I have witnessed the Adobe family of products come of age.

Adobe creative suite 4