Photoshop CS6 etc.

Will you be purchasing any of Adobe's CS6 products?
I am contemplating it but bought CS5 then cried because I could of got a much better DSLR than my current one for half the price of CS5, so I may just torrent this one.

Them's the breaks, Joe, when you are a student. When you get job you will be able to buy CS whatever and a decent camera and a new skateboard. But be cautious. If you turn out to be an IT software developer working for Adobe creating wonderful stuff for us photographers, the freebies could make you redundant.
If finance is a struggle, try Gimp or Elements. In addition, are you aware that Adobe give a massive student discount for their goods? Somewhere in the order of 60% off RRP. Even old blokes like me can afford that.
Regards
Tom

I won't be purchasing CS 6.

Cs 4 does everything that I need, together with the plug-ins that I have purchased; and therein lies the problem. In order to get, with CS 6, all that I have now, I will need to update all the plug-ins, at a cost.

I could get the Nikon 500mm lens for the same price that CS 6 and all the peripherals would cost.

Thanks for the advice.

You're either paying $8000 for cs6 or $1500 for the lens which in either case seems a bit of a stretch. Excuse me if I seems a bit miffed but why is it that people spend a heap on their gear and then happily skimp on the rest. I can understand if you don't have the cash but surely photography is a package not just the camera.sure buy what you need but there's not much point in suggesting the software is too expensive when you just invested a couple of grand on a camera.
How much did you spend on your computer, or the car to get you around so you can take the pictures or the holiday you went on where you see your camera?
Be cheap but dont compare apples with bananas.

Cheers
Tom

It's personal choices Tom, I think this: Says it all really

I think if you shoot a lot of wild life, motor sport, air shows then a 500mm lens that will last you for years is more important purchase than buying each years new incarnation of software.

I'm not saying that software is unimportant, as you say, it is part of the package.

So what does CS 6 do that CS 4 doesn't?

I would use CS 6, should I get it, in exactly that same way I would use CS 4. Remember, I am an amateur, not a professional. The new features that CS 6 boast do not interest me and won't be used. A Nikon 500mm lens with a X2 converter, however, will get plenty of use.

To get what I have now in 64 bit would cost in the region £1,150; the 500mm lens and converter would cost £950.

As for the computer and car - I do have a life outside photography, which is why the computer and car were bought.

So I repeat, CS 6 is not for me.

CS4 does everything I need too

I don't know why Adobe insist in their high price tags, perhaps because they think companies will pay it and those that torrent will torrent anyway :/

It always bugs me how much more we pay for Adobe software here in the UK compared to the USA

Yes, I will, as I like to keep CS updated, am running the Beta version of CS6, and when that runs out will be purchasing.