The new InDesign CS will hold its own as the document-layout anchor of Creative Suite and as a standalone DTP package, but as a product update, there's little to write home about.Only one of InDesign's enhancements boasts universal appeal, but it's a biggie: nested styles. For example, you can now define a style format that carries format info for both the paragraph's initial cap and the body text. That can be a big time-saver, especially for layouts intended for multiple targets, such as print and online. Adobe also claims to have improved performance.
Although important in their various contexts, the rest of InDesign's mostly subtle updates will likely appeal to only niche segments of its users -- those with output intended for offset printers or XML documents.
Even if Adobe had left InDesign untouched and QuarkXPress hadn't rolled over and died, InDesign would still be the winner for complex desktop-publishing tasks. So when it ships at the end of this year, even the full AU$1,599 price tag won't seem unreasonable. However, justifying the AU$349 upgrade might prove difficult.
InDesign CS
Company: Adobe
Price: AU$1,599 (upgrade AU$349)
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 550 205
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