Photoshop Elements 6.0 vs. 5.0 vs. 4.0 vs. 3.0 vs. 2.0 vs. 1.0

If you have not made your choice yet, you may want to know more about the differences between Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. In the author's opinion, the most significant limitations in Photoshop Elements are:

Version	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Comments
File Browser	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	That's where most innovations in fresh versions appear. In PSE 5 and 6, the Organizer is a powerful all-in-one (rather heavy and a bit slow) multimedia combine. However if you only need a simple browser, even PSE2's is enough (The only problem is: it can't see Camera Raw photos).
Quick Fix	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	Almost useless in PSE 2, the feature becomes rather helpful in PSE 3.0 and later. Now you can accomplish basic photo editing tasks in a minute or two.
Camera Raw plugin	-	-	+	+	+	+	+	It allows to change digital camera settings before opening an image in Photoshop Elements. Users of the 1st and 2nd versions have to import RAW files through their camera maker's utility (see example). Since PSE 6, the plugin can open JPEG and TIFF files as well.
Healing Brush Tool	-	-	+	+	+	+	+	Very cute retouching tool (more about ). However, in the most cases you can achieve the same result with the Clone Stamp Tool
Selection Brush Tool	-	-	-	+	+	+	+	Just paint to select an area. Similar to Quick Mask mode in Photoshop.
Quick Selection Tool	-	-	-	-	-	+	+	A smart and easy alternative to the Magic Wand Tool
Straighten Tool	-	-	-	+	+	+	+	Analog of the "Crop & Straighten" command in Photoshop intended for levelling off the crooked images.
Correct Camera Distortion filter	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	The same as the "Lens Correction " filter in Photoshop. Very handy tool for fixing "barrel" effect, "vignettes", and perspective distortions.
Adjust Color Curves command	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	Semi-automatic tool for color and tonal corrections. Substitute for the missing Curves dialog. However, adjusting curves manually - in Photoshop way - is not possible.
Convert Black & White command	-	-	-	-	+	+	+	Semi-automatic tool for converting color pictures to B&W.
Smart Brash	-	-	-	-	-	-	+	Semi-automatic selecting and adjusting tool