I'm looking to put $350 down for a copy of Photoshop CS2, primarily so I can work with RAW files.. Does CS2 include camera raw as a basic feature, or is it an plugin/upgrade?

Also, is SoftwareSurplus.com a reputable company? They offer PS CS2 at $300 less than the MSRP..and when a deal seems too good to be true....

Camera raw is supplied with Photoshop elements. If you are new to digital imaging this will do 95% of what you need. It is considerably less, generally around $100

Camera Raw is a plugin that comes with PS CS2 (and Elements but with fewer features).

If SoftwareSurplus.com is offering CS2 as "OEM" or as a brand new full license, then it is in fact a plagiarized copy. It could be legit if it is reselling a used copy (such as from a bankrupt company) but such things are rare.

Check out SoftwareSurplus.com on the following website (which is useful for checking on a great many sellers):

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller9533.html

If it looks too good to be true, it is...

Lisa

From softwaresurplus.com's Product Page for Photoshop CS2:

"Full Version - Educational Package for Windows"

If you ain't a student or intructor, this is a bogus sale. From the SellerRatings.com site, I would not expect that softwaresurplus.com a reliable reseller of legit products...