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application bar takes too much space with mostly useless tools
UI is flat - harsh - harder to read
hard to hit pallet close box
pallets will not dock properly
screen redraw is a problem
why does hue "click on photo" adjustment not work? (it works in lightroom)
why does Ps not respect the dock anymore?
tool bar doesnt have any lines between icons - i can probably get used to that, but it looks odd
THE USE OF CAPITALS IS ANNOYING
no upgrade price from CS3 extended
bridge window is cluttered
when quickly flipping trough photos bridge stops momentarily to allow the thumbnail animation to catch up, WTF?
I want function, not cute animation!
some quotes I found on the web:
Wow, looks just like OS 8.5. Way to go Adobe. I guess they are feeling nostalgic for the 90's? All that dark, flat gray is dreary/depressing.
ACR looks different, bridge looks different, photoshop looks different, why not make it look like lightroom (which looks nice) or Apple's FCP
it's like adobe does not care anymore
since CS3 photoshop crashes ( i remember the days when photoshop would crash once or twice a year!), apps seem just unfinished, like bridge CS3
who is running this company? bean counters or engineers?

Sounds to me like it's not worth upgrading... there's simply no compelling reason to do so.

Ok, I need a definitive answer: If I'm buying CS4, would if be worthwhile to shell out for Lightroom 2.0? It sounds like between Ps, ACR, and Bridge, everything Lightroom has to offer has been taken care of, albeit in 3 separate programs. I mostly thought LR would help with quick photo edits, and I don't take enough pics (< 1000) to care about LR's organizing tools. Why did Adobe put all of the same tools into ACR and Ps CS4 that it put into the new Lightroom? That seems like dumb business to me, and definitely something that Adobe has carefully avoided doing in the past.

If you do not need image database beyond Bridge you do not need Lightroom.
But Photoshop... this application frame sounds bad. I really really really like freely movable windows and panels better. Also, all these toolbars (application, option, action) would serve better were they regular panels.

You should tell your writer to use the shipping software to write a review. The final version has the app frame off. She may also want to update the book she is trying to sell us at the same time.

If you are seriously considering upgrading, or you use photoshop for a living... go find the arstechnica Photoshop CS4 Extended review. this typical MacFluff review leaves out a lot of relevant information and criticism.

The system requirements for Photoshop CS4 extended say up to OS 10.5.4. We have 10.5.5 on our Macbook Pro - will this program still work?

This isn't a review. It's like reading an Adobe press release.
I agree with Ratbite, go read the arstechnica review for a proper critique.
And this Macworld review especially does not comment on the growing PC-like interface that is being inflicted on us. It may solve some of Windows' shortcomings but on a Mac it could have been done MUCH BETTER. It's shocking how a company as big as Adobe could be so ignorant about their core market.

That's exactly right simple text! It really solves windows shortcomings while cluttering the mac interface.

This review is so off-base that I am going to let my subscription (which I've had for 10+ years) lapse. How does software which makes your Mac "more PC-like" and fails to support 64 bit processing garnish a four-star rating? The last time I checked, the Windows OS is bad, two-four year out of date, copy of OSX. Why in the world would I want software that makes me feel like I'm on a PC? When Adobe pulled this garbage with PSE 6, I thought they were targeting former PC users with their consumer-grade software. Now I see that they are doing their best to emulate M$, in more ways than one. This review is fluff, and the reviewer is a shill for Adobe. Oh yeah, they also gave the Palm Pre four stars too - meaning they're giving it the same rating as the iPhone. This rag is a joke.