InDesign as a stand alone app?
 

Pending blurb's jumping into the ebook arena, I'm hoping to work on the large (true) coffee table edition of my book. A friend suggested I do the layout using indesign (blurb supports this). Ouch! talk about spendy software bundles!

Anyone who works with this kind of stuff know if any versions of InDesign were stand alone purchases?

Dunno, but here's an idea: sign up for a class that teaches InDesign at a local junior college and use your student discount to purchase the software.

(I'd suggest doing your book work in a computer lab using the school's software, but that'd just be wrong ;))

InDesign CS5 can be purchased as a stand-alone app. On Adobe's site, it is $699 (and much less on eBay) where as the CS5 Design Standard package (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) runs $1,299.

However, talking to our people here, CS5 InDesign is running a little buggy right now. I would stick with an older version, which you can probably pick up relatively cheap on eBay (though I would stick with V3 or higher).

I really love using the CS4 InDesign. I feel that it does more than the CS3... don't know if it's available on it's own.

As for taking a class, I'd say it's mostly necessary for the discount alone. InDesign is fairly simple to use and I could make myself available for any coaching. I don't know everything, but I've been able to work and create some awesome layouts. Only a working knowledge of Adobe products is necessary.

Thanks Goonie, Kevy and Blueerica.

I'm watching the link for the CS5 on ebay Kevy. That's a dynamite price for it.

BE, I will take you up on a coaching session once I get rolling, if needed!:D