There is one truth that governs all choices, one rule that must be understood — cost is everything. All dollars and pennies must be saved. You don’t have the luxury of excess. Instead you must be aware of every single expense and what it means. There must be a justification of all purchases, including software. And, when you’re wishing to find the ideal design programs, you know that more will be required than a solid reputation. You’ll instead be studying prices.
And this is why choosing the Adobe InDesign software package is perhaps not the wisest of choices — especially when Microsoft offers viable alternatives.
Those needing to generate graphic images and dynamic pages have forever relied on Adobe. The brand is synonymous with ease and its InDesign program has followed that tradition. No one can deny the value of its cross-media publishing tools, OpenType support and database access (complete with pre-generated codes and plug-ins). It works.
It is also, however, expensive.
The InDesign option, as of 2011, can easily surpass $300 for the basic package. And, for some, this is simply too much to spend on a single software package.
They must instead consider the alternatives — and Microsoft Publisher may prove to be ideal.
Providing similar features to InDesign (such as advanced editing tools, template directories and a style checker), Publisher is a fraction of the cost: demanding only $90. Those on a budget will find this far more appealing than Adobe — if only because no quality is sacrificed in the name of saving.
It should be noted that these programs, while similar, are not identical. The InDesign program does offer more in-depth applications and those seeking to form a graphic-based business may find it to be more helpful. Publisher is instead for the casual user and compensates through its price. Note your situation before making any software choices and only select what is truly applicable to you.