It's easy to become blas about software companies' "point" releases; IT PRO receives dozens of press releases about minor upgrades to products every day. But just sometimes, it is worth scrolling through the emails, as companies can hide significant information below the list of new features.

So it is with Adobe's point release 5.5 to be precise of its flagship Creative Suite software. Creative Suite, or CS, is in fact a family of products, based around programs such as Photoshop, Premiere, Dreamweaver and InDesign, with different suites for print designers, web page developers, video producers and so on.

To be fair to Adobe, there are some useful new features in CS5.5, especially for businesses and design shops creating content for smartphones and tablets. But for IT professionals, the real significance comes with Adobe's announcement of a new, subscription-based, pricing option.

Adobe's professional software is not cheap. That is not to say it is poor value. In fact, I use an Adobe application almost every day and wouldn't be without them. But when any company makes something that makes Apple's offerings such as Final Cut Studio seem like a bargain, it is certainly not an impulse purchase.

Adobe's Production Premium suite, for video editors, costs 1,509 and its Master Collection, with all the toys, costs an eye-watering 2,303, according to Adobe's estimated prices.