Serif Home Creativity Suite (PC)

[spurslady]

I have seen this for sale on Amazon.co.uk is it any good or should I save my money?

[Buenchico]

Serif is an excellent software company. It does everything that Microsoft doesn't, i.e.:

1. Their software is genuinely user friendly;

2. Their software is always reasonably priced; and

3. Older (or ''special edition') versions of their software are usually given away free.

So you might think that I'd tell you to rush to buy their Home Creativity Suite, especially when Amazon are offering it at the very reasonable price of �11.97. However (much as I wish to see Serif prosper), it's the third point in that list above which forces me to suggest an alternative (at least in the short term).

The Home Creativity Suite includes version 9 of the excellent DTP program, PagePlus. However, if you don't need all of the 'bells and whistles' of the latest version, you can download the 'Special Edition' for free.

Similarly, the HCS includes version9 of the outstanding image manipulation program, PhotoPlus. Once again, however, you can download a more basic version (PhotoPlus 6.0) for free.

The HCS also includes the '100K Deluxe Graphics Pack' (which is not available for free download). I've got this (because I used to subscribe to Serif's equivalent of a book club). While it does contain a vast array of pictures and clip art, I still find it easier to search for what I want on the internet.

You also get PopArtPlus and MontagePlus when you register the HCS. While these are perfectly good pieces of software, just how often do you want to create Pop Art or montage images?

I suggest getting hold of the free versions of PagePlus and PhotoPlus. If you really like them (and want to upgrade), you can either buy the latest versions of the programs direct from Serif or purchase the HCS from Amazon.

You can download PagePlus SE, Photoplus 6.0 (together with other Serif programs) totally free of charge, here:
01:06 Tue 09th Jan 2007

[Buenchico]

Aagh! AB has done it's usual trick of cutting off the most important part of the post!

Here's the link:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

Chris

[spurslady]

Hi Chris thank you very much for your help and taking the time to reply it is very much appreciated. I will try the link. Thank you again
Aileen