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Need Advice For Abode Applications for New Mac-Mini

V

visvaldis

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 9, 2008
63
3
Sorry about the spelling in the thread title.
In December, 2013, I purchased a new Mac Mini with Mavericks 10.9.
I would like to install Adobe's InDesign and Photoshop. Illustrator I don't use, but it's always included in the Creative Suite package.
On my Mac G4 I have all three, the CS 3.0 versions. These cannot be installed on the Mac-Mini, the prompt says the Mac-Mini does not support PowerPC applications.
New Creative Suites are expensive, about 1,300 US Dollars.
What if I bought a used package? I don't necessarily need the latest version.
But if I bought an older version, it might be rejected by the Mac-Mini. So I'd like advice before buying something I can't use.
What is the minimum Adobe Creative Suite version that can be installed on a Mac-Mini with Mavericks 10.9?
I appreciate all advice. Thanks.
 
If you need more than one app it's worth while subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud. As an existing CS3 customer you get a 40% discount. This seems like a no-brainer to me unless you don't want a subscription. Personally I think it's good value for money, and no I don't work for Adobe.
 
Be VERY CAREFUL about Adobe's "Creative Cloud". They are calling it "ransom-ware". If you don't keep paying, you lose access to the Adobe apps, and also the content you've created with them (since you can't run the app, you can't open the files).

There has been an EXTENSIVE discussion about this over at macintouch.com.

I suggest that BEFORE you jump into the "creative cloudiness", that you take some time and start reading that discussion...
 
Fishrrman said:
Be VERY CAREFUL about Adobe's "Creative Cloud". They are calling it "ransom-ware".
Click to expand...

Agree with the many complaints, but their Photo pkg is priced right at 10 bucks a month. Too bad they don't offer something like that with other combos of the CC suite. Pick any 2, etc for 10.00.

40-50 is a bit much unless it's a business expense.
 
Just call Apple. Order Snow Leopard Server (20 bucks) and install it in Virtual Box. Your CS3 will run fine in there. And the 10 bucks Photoshop deal is only a teaser for the first year. Check the price after one year too!
 
Unless one absolutely has-to-have Adobe products for reasons of compatibility or business, there are alternatives out there that are far cheaper, and in many cases can do -almost- as much (I said "almost")...
 
I have the opportunity to buy CS4 Full Version for 250 US Dollars. I don't need the latest versions. The Mac system requirements are OS X 10.5 and 10.6.
The Mac-mini runs a 10.9.
I still have the OS X 10.5 disk. What if I installed the 10.5 on the Mini? I should be able to use the CS4.
 
visvaldis said:
I have the opportunity to buy CS4 Full Version for 250 US Dollars. I don't need the latest versions. The Mac system requirements are OS X 10.5 and 10.6.
The Mac-mini runs a 10.9.
I still have the OS X 10.5 disk. What if I installed the 10.5 on the Mini? I should be able to use the CS4.
Click to expand...

Your new Mini won't run 10.5. Others will point that out.

One potential hangup with PS4 (and 5, 5.5, and 6) is that you'll need to install a JRE (Java Runtime Environment) to get those versions to even run. I think those versions of PS need JRE SE 6, which might not be supported any longer. PS4 and PS5 wouldn't even run if the JRE wasn't installed (I ran into that headache with AI as well). I don't know if those versions of Adobe apps will run on the JRE SE 7 or 8 platforms, and you'll need an Oracle.com account to get the JRE SE 6 download - and good luck with that.

I moved on to CC, it's just too much of a headache dealing with the older software. If it's worth the headache to you, I recommend PS 5.5 - that was the sweet spot for PS IMO, and you can find it dirt cheap on Amazon.
 
I only have Photoshop CS3 but I was able to get it to run on my new Mini. I did have to install JRE but it works. I didn't get any issues saying it was Power PC only but maybe stand alone PS is different somehow?
 
Fishrrman said:
Be VERY CAREFUL about Adobe's "Creative Cloud". They are calling it "ransom-ware". If you don't keep paying, you lose access to the Adobe apps, and also the content you've created with them (since you can't run the app, you can't open the files).

There has been an EXTENSIVE discussion about this over at macintouch.com.

I suggest that BEFORE you jump into the "creative cloudiness", that you take some time and start reading that discussion...
Click to expand...

Yes and no. When you quit CC, you can still open your files in other applications, but it doesn't necessarily mean it'll open them perfectly, depending on what you used in Photoshop. Like say I have an image with a few adjustment layers, clipping masks, and layer effects. It'll open in GIMP no problem, but the image will end up looking weird because it doesn't have support for all those features I used on my image.

So you're not entirely locked out of you work. You still have access to anything and everything you've done. But you're not guaranteed to have it all port over perfectly to another program.
 
+1

campyguy said:
Your new Mini won't run 10.5. Others will point that out.

One potential hangup with PS4 (and 5, 5.5, and 6) is that you'll need to install a JRE (Java Runtime Environment) to get those versions to even run. I think those versions of PS need JRE SE 6, which might not be supported any longer. PS4 and PS5 wouldn't even run if the JRE wasn't installed (I ran into that headache with AI as well). I don't know if those versions of Adobe apps will run on the JRE SE 7 or 8 platforms, and you'll need an Oracle.com account to get the JRE SE 6 download - and good luck with that.

I moved on to CC, it's just too much of a headache dealing with the older software. If it's worth the headache to you, I recommend PS 5.5 - that was the sweet spot for PS IMO, and you can find it dirt cheap on Amazon.
Click to expand...

I'm running 5.5 on Mavericks now without a hitch. 2011 Mac Mini i7 8gb ram.
 
This sure is frustrating for me. Almost like buying a new car to keep in the garage. I bought the Mac-mini in December, 2013. Since then it sits on the desk, taking up space, nothing more. I sure didn't expect the complications for the software. I am certainly not interested in the Cloud.
I am now considering buying a used Mac-mini (on ebay or craigs list) that already has CS3 (or later version) installed. And either resell mine or use it as an extra hard drive.
One seller offers a 2011 Mini, 1 TB HD, with CS4, for 275 Dollars. Is that too good to be true?
 
Have you looked at Pixelmator? I uninstalled my CS suite once I got Pixelmator.

If you're a creative professional, the Adobe stuff is part of business expense, otherwise most of the rest of us don't ever really use all the features or plugins. The plugins is really why it cost so much. If you were subsisting on CS3, Pixelmator might be a step up.

The educational version of CS 6 is only around $100. Might still be a few copies around the local college that someone you know might be attending...

If you're not a creative professional, I don't know why you're frustrated, a mac does do other things beside being a machine for the CS suite.
 
visvaldis said:
This sure is frustrating for me. Almost like buying a new car to keep in the garage. I bought the Mac-mini in December, 2013. Since then it sits on the desk, taking up space, nothing more. I sure didn't expect the complications for the software. I am certainly not interested in the Cloud.
I am now considering buying a used Mac-mini (on ebay or craigs list) that already has CS3 (or later version) installed. And either resell mine or use it as an extra hard drive.
One seller offers a 2011 Mini, 1 TB HD, with CS4, for 275 Dollars. Is that too good to be true?
Click to expand...

If you've been using CS3 for this long, you obviously do not need Adobe products. CS3 is so obsolete at this point that almost any alternative program available today will blow it out of the water. As a creative professional who uses Photoshop for a living, I can tell you that Pixelmator does about 85% of what I use Photoshop CS6 for and it's $14.99 on the app store. It should be more than enough for the average user and will be a big upgrade from CS3. iStudio Publisher is 17.99 and, again, is a big a step up from InDesign CS3.

If you really MUST have the Adobe name on your software you're going to have to pay for it. CS5 and CS6 are probably the only two programs that will run on 10.9 (I haven't tried CS4 because I haven't owned a copy of it for half a decade) Outside of illegally cracked versions, you might be able to find a used copy of CS5/6 on eBay but you're going to pay a premium because people are snatching them up like crazy. The cheapest way to get an Adobe program on your computer would be a CC subscription where you'll pay $20 per program per month for the rest of your life. Or you could try the alternative programs that I mentioned above for less than one month of membership fees to Adobe's new club, it's up to you.
 
I'm running 5.5 on Mavericks now without a hitch. 2011 Mac Mini i7 8gb ram
Click to expand...

Interested to read that. I have the same Mac but still running Mountain Lion: was holding back on installing Mavericks as I'd read plenty about CS5 not working properly with it. Having said that, I'm not sure what advantages I'd gain having 10.9 over 10.8.5...
 
darkcoupon said:
If you've been using CS3 for this long, you obviously do not need Adobe products. CS3 is so obsolete at this point that almost any alternative program available today will blow it out of the water. As a creative professional who uses Photoshop for a living, I can tell you that Pixelmator does about 85% of what I use Photoshop CS6 for and it's $14.99 on the app store. It should be more than enough for the average user and will be a big upgrade from CS3. iStudio Publisher is 17.99 and, again, is a big a step up from InDesign CS3.

If you really MUST have the Adobe name on your software you're going to have to pay for it. CS5 and CS6 are probably the only two programs that will run on 10.9 (I haven't tried CS4 because I haven't owned a copy of it for half a decade) Outside of illegally cracked versions, you might be able to find a used copy of CS5/6 on eBay but you're going to pay a premium because people are snatching them up like crazy. The cheapest way to get an Adobe program on your computer would be a CC subscription where you'll pay $20 per program per month for the rest of your life. Or you could try the alternative programs that I mentioned above for less than one month of membership fees to Adobe's new club, it's up to you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, it's worth contemplating.
Years ago I worked in graphics (advertising agency) for a profession, but with Quark instead of InDesign. A little Photoshop (simple projects) and hardly any Illustrator. After 16 years I am no longer in that field.
I have since learned InDesign and made many personal projects with it.
I know CS3 is old and considered as obsolete, but for my purposes, it's fine, does everything I need to do. I still haven't utilized all Photoshop's capabilities. To pay $20 per month for non-professional work is too much. On an annual basis that is money I'll pay and get no compensation for it. My projects are personal only, not as services to others.
If I was to get Studio Publisher, could I convert all my InDesign documents without problems? They are not complex, mainly text and photos.
Can I adjust photos downloaded from my Canon Powershot on Pixelmator?
 
Last edited:
I made this suggestion to the OP before, and I'll make it again:

There is an EXTENSIVE discussion about Adobe's new marketing scheme, along with possible alternative apps, over at macintouch.com.

I strongly suggest you spend some time reading it.
 
visvaldis said:
If I was to get Studio Publisher, could I convert all my InDesign documents without problems? They are not complex, mainly text and photos.
Can I adjust photos downloaded from my Canon Powershot on Pixelmator?
Click to expand...

I don't believe iStudio publisher will open .indd files, but does support PDF and most image formats including .eps, .ai, and .psd so if you've saved your indesign projects as .indd you might want to convert them to another format before switching.

You can adjust any photo from any camera in Pixelmator as long as it's in JPEG or TIFF format. Pixelmator will open raw image files as long as the file type is supported by the OS (10.9 supports most raw formats, but if your camera's raw files aren't supported your computer will simply not recognize the file.) If you don't shoot raw, it shouldn't be a problem.

Check out the websites, watch tutorials, see what works for you:

http://www.pixelmator.com/
http://www.istudiopublisher.com/

Swift publisher is another desktop publishing software for the Mac, it's $19.99 on the app store.
http://www.belightsoft.com/products/swiftpublisher/overview.php
 
visvaldis said:
Sorry about the spelling in the thread title.
In December, 2013, I purchased a new Mac Mini with Mavericks 10.9.
I would like to install Adobe's InDesign and Photoshop. Illustrator I don't use, but it's always included in the Creative Suite package.
On my Mac G4 I have all three, the CS 3.0 versions. These cannot be installed on the Mac-Mini, the prompt says the Mac-Mini does not support PowerPC applications.
Click to expand...

Is it the installer or the application itself that's giving you the error? If it's the installer, you might just need to run the install from your old machine onto your new disk.

CS 3 is supposed to be Intel native.
 
iizmoo said:
Have you looked at Pixelmator? I uninstalled my CS suite once I got Pixelmator.

If you're a creative professional, the Adobe stuff is part of business expense, otherwise most of the rest of us don't ever really use all the features or plugins. The plugins is really why it cost so much. If you were subsisting on CS3, Pixelmator might be a step up.

The educational version of CS 6 is only around $100. Might still be a few copies around the local college that someone you know might be attending...

If you're not a creative professional, I don't know why you're frustrated, a mac does do other things beside being a machine for the CS suite.
Click to expand...

This is the right solution! I picked up Pixelmator for 15 bucks on sale a few days ago from the app store.
 
Wait, you are talking about CS or CS3 version? Because Adobe CS3 is the first version of Adobe products, to run native on intel hardware on Mac front.
 
Thanks to all replies.
For the last few days I've done some searching on Amazon and ebay. This has become a major project. I'm wary about buying software on ebay.
What I've found is that many full CS versions are not available. But many upgrades. Some are offered in an "open box", which might not provide the necessary serial numbers to install. So money thrown away for nothing.
On some I've encountered "upsell" versions. What is that? Is that like an upgrade?
I do have CS3 on my G4, but that came with the computer when I bought it. I don't have the disks or the key, whatever that is.
Maybe I should try to download all the contents from the G4's 80 GB Seagate Hard drive to the Mac-Mini using a SATA-USB adapter.
 
visvaldis said:
I do have CS3 on my G4, but that came with the computer when I bought it. I don't have the disks or the key, whatever that is.
Maybe I should try to download all the contents from the G4's 80 GB Seagate Hard drive to the Mac-Mini using a SATA-USB adapter.
Click to expand...

If you don't have the disks or the serial #'s you're pretty much SOL. You'll never be able to get your version of CS3 to work on your Mini without the disks. Cloning your G4 HDD or transferring it's contents to the Mini will give you the same result. It's not going to happen.
 
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