The beta version's most prominent shortcomings—sluggish response and erratic JavaScript implementation—have been corrected. While Fireworks still carries fairly hefty system requirements (a 604/120MHz processor is suggested for Power Macs, with 24MB of free RAM and 60-100MB of free disk space; a Pentium 166 with MMX is recommended for Windows, with 32-40MB of RAM), the shipping version is considerably more responsive than the beta. And Fireworks now generates rollovers flawlessly.

As previously noted, Fireworks is a somewhat more ambitious program than ImageReady—in addition to its JavaScript capability, the program can also apply text effects (glows and drop shadows) that remain editable through every stage of production. This is because Fireworks is a vector-based program, unlike ImageReady (or Photoshop). The program's additional scope is reflected in its catalog and retail pricing, which is very close to the $299 list—ImageReady is available for under $200.

Web developers still need Photoshop, which has far more image creation and editing prowess than either of these new programs. (Neither Fireworks nor ImageReady is particularly adept at opening large files, for example.) But Photoshop, regrettably, lacks the superior compression technology of the newer software. We think developers will therefore need to add one or the other of these programs to their arsenals, and while ImageReady is a fine effort, we'd give the nod to Fireworks.

(Reviewed June 4, 1998)

Note: as this column was being published, we received news of the U.S. Court of Appeals decision favoring Microsoft in the browser-integration case. We regard this decision—which apparently frees Microsoft to bundle Internet Explorer without restraint—as a setback for consumers and developers alike, and we hope it will not affect the Justice Department's larger case. More to come.