Brush libraries and templates now can be used properly under Windows NT.
Accessing the preferences under Mac OS 8.5.x no longer causes random crashes.
EMF export from the Illustrator 8.0.1 Windows version to Microsoft Office has been improved for patterns and strokes.
Partially selected anchor points now can be moved by double-clicking the direct select tool.
Colorized 1-bit TIFFs now can be set to overprint correctly.
Large placed or linked EPS files do not retain memory after being deleted.
CMYK files exported in the Adobe Photoshop file format now maintain the CMYK color definitions.
DXF files now can be scaled correctly.
Hidden layers no longer revert to non-printing when saved with Illustrator 7 compatibility and reopened in Illustrator 8.0.x.
The overprint attribute is now retained for gradients when the object stack contains an object painted with process white.
The Illustrator Preferences file now can be saved on NTFS hard drives under Windows NT.
Save As PDF has been improved to ensure compatibility with Adobe Acrobat 4.0.
The Avenza MAPublisher 3.5 plug-in is supported.
Saving an EPS file as Illustrator 5.5J-compatible and placing the file in QuarkXPress to print no longer causes a PostScript error.
Adobe brought the price for Illustrator down a couple of hundred dollars for version 8, making it much more obtainable than previous versions. The lower price, coupled with the incredible array of new tools, makes Illustrator the hottest Illustration package out there. And you don't need the newest, most expensive machine to run it.
On Windows, you're only going to need the following:
Intel Pentium or faster processor
Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 or later
32MB of RAM (64 MB recommended)
50 MB of available hard-disk space (95 MB recommended)
CD-ROM drive
Video card that supports 800x600 monitor resolution
And for the Macintosh, the requirements are just:
Power PC processor
Apple System Software 7.5 or later (Mac OS 8 recommended)
32MB of RAM, with 20 MB available for Adobe Illustrator (64 MB recommended)
50 MB of available hard-disk space (95 MB recommended)
CD-ROM drive
800x600 monitor resolution
In summary, Adobe Illustrator is superior in almost every way. Whether you're a graphics guru or just starting out in Illustration, Adobe Illustrator is going to be your best bet. It's easier to use, it's cheaper, and it's more powerful. Adobe Illustrator stands out from the rest with features like the Pencil tool, Smart Guides, and Brush effects. With its lower price, more and more beginners are buying Adobe Illustrator, and that's where the power of the new tools and features really shine. Beginners can start out learning faster than with any of the previous versions of Illustrator, and seasoned users will save time as well as increase their productivity.
Adobe has a special offer for registered owners of Photoshop (Photoshop full version only), PageMaker, CorelDraw, or Macromedia FreeHand. Eligible users can purchase Illustrator 8.01 for $199.
Owners of Illustrator 8.0 can get the update to 8.01 here.
For those who live outside the US and Canada, see Adobe's web site for instructions on ordering from other countries.
