When you are ready to purchase the most recent release of your graphic design or desktop publishing application to get the latest and greatest tools, make sure you know what you're paying for. We've taken a look at some of the most popular titles and provided a list of reviews from around the Web. Before you head off to the computer store, find out if the upgrade is worth the price or whether you might want to wait until the next version.

• Adobe Illustrator CS4 (creativepro.com)

  Better gradient transparencies, multiple artboards, improved appearance and styles.

• Adobe InDesign CS4 (designertoday.com)

  InDesign's newest version comes to the forefront as the best page layout program in the design industry.

• Adobe Photoshop CS4 (reviews.cnet.com)

  Improved tools and brushes, streamlined interface, the industry standard for photographic manipulation and adjustment.

• Adobe Acrobat 9 (reviews.cnet.com)

  A major overhaul of the creation and review of PDF files and new high-end design capabilities add to Acrobat's existing strengths.

• QuarkXPress 8 (creativepro.com)

  New Interface offers simplified and improved ease-of-use, with better file support with Adobe Illustrator documents.

• Macromedia Freehand MX (macworld.com)

  Powerful new illustration tools and enhanced integration with other MX programs have earned FreeHand its MX moniker.

• CorelDraw X4 (pcworld.com)

  CorelDraw Graphics Suite X4 has applications for professional-level illustration comparable to Adobe Illustrator, but image editing lags behind Photoshop.

• Microsoft Office 11.0 (cnet.com)

  Microsoft has enhanced some of Office 2003's applications... but most Office enhancements benefit large-scale setups.

• Microsoft Office X for Mac (cnet.com)

  If you've been waiting for a good reason to purchase Mac OS X, Office X is it.

• Microsoft Publisher 2003 (designer-info.com)

  New designs, projects and output options boost Publisher's office-based publishing.