Summary: Outstanding Graphics Software
Comment: Upgraded from version 8. New features, some of which first appeared on versions later than 8 are very useful and easy to use. My primary tool is Draw which I use for my work but I enjoy playing with PhotoPaint as well.
I have an older computer with a Pentium II 266 mhz chip so it's not quite up to handling version 11 but I was forewarned so I expected an occasional crash. When I upgrade my computer that issue will be resolved.
I am constantly amazed at the scope and capability of this program. I doubt that there is anything graphically that can't be done with it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: CorelDRAW kicks Illustrator ...any day!
Comment: Keith W. states: "These other two reviews are almost certainly not legitimate consumer opinions."
As a 12 year veteran of this program, I most certainly am a legitimate consumer and this is my opinion:
In 1990, I took a computer certificate program and one of the applications I learned was CorelDRAW [ver. 1] -- a new vector drawing program made by a little Canadian company that set out to show that the graphics industry didn't need to revolve around Adobe or MACs.
I have successfully used CorelDRAW on a daily basis in commercial print shops and more. I have sent my projects to third party printers with no production problems because CorelDRAW is able to save to so many "acceptable" file formats to satisfy anyone.
I have seen CorelDRAW grow and mature from version 1 to version 11 and I still say it beats Illustrator hands down, not only for its ease of learning and intuitive interface, but for value of dollar. Many features that Illustrator has only recently introduced in its Version 10, CorelDRAW had already implemented several versions earlier.
No, I'm not a Corel Corp employee. I'm simply a consumer that loves CorelDRAW, has used it professionally for over 10 years with consistent, high quality results and has shown others the value of this remarkable program.
If I was stranded on a deserted island with a laptop and my choice of one program, CorelDRAW would be my choice.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Easier to learn, to me.
Comment: This is my fifth version of Corel Draw, I started using it at version 7. I always thought of it as being difficult, so I saved up enough money to purchase Adobe Illustrator, because I had seen some work that was done with Illustrator, so I thought maybe it would be a lot easier to use. After trying to use it I ended up reverting to Corel Draw. I consider DRAW to be much easier in terms of its intuitiveness and simple accessible GUI. Adobe tries too much to uniform all of the GUI's in their apps, making it difficult to have access to "certain" features. I have created flyers, Newsletters, post cards and other types of content creation with DRAW, I do not recommend you use it for page layout though it's not as lenient as other dedicated DTP programs, but it does get the job. Don't get me wrong though about Illustrator, its a great app, but for people who are already comfortable in the Corel Draw environment and are using the program for years now I recommend you stick with it. PhotoPaint is not what it says, forget about it and buy the master of them all, Adobe Photoshop, especially version 7, the power of that program and the capabilities it has for editing photos is amazing. RAVE, is no different from version one but I guess it would have seemed odd if they had not included it in version 11, I would also suggest you stick to Macromedia Flash or Flash MX.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Buy It
Comment: It is far better than it has ever been, and I have been a "legitimate customer" since release version 2. I was forced to switch to Illustrator at one point, and I could not wait to leave that behind. CorelDraw has it all, and is far more intuitive and user friendly than any Adobe package.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't believe it!
Comment: Corel is still the slowest most inefficient "Drawing/Illustration" software out there. These other two reviews are almost certainly not legitimate consumer opinions.
If you want a half-baked but "feature Packed" package to play with, knock yourself out, if you are a professional avoid at all costs or at least bring a book to read so you can keep yourself awake while waiting for Corel to sort itself after ever minor function. Horrible stuff.