So i'm taking a class in photoshop i figured it would be an easy A since I have been using the program 4EVA lol (since version 3 i think maybe two it's been a long time that is what i am saying)
anyhow ...
if you aren't sure whether you want to upgrade to CS5 it is TOTALLY worth it.
new features like the smart spot healing brush .. while not perfect are absolutely cool. i mean before it would have taken at least ten minutes to erase an element from a picture with a busy background this tool does it print worthy in about 20 seconds.. again it isn't spotless but it sure speeds things up
The new realistic brush tips are so nice and i'm not sure if it is a new feature but i just discovered i can click the Shift+click to draw a straight line. drawing a straight line on a laptop has been an issue for me .. i can do it with a normal mouse and i could do it back when i had my pen tablet (stolen but on the mouse pad on my laptop it has been a nightmare.
other AWESOME things include .. a more streamlined version of adobe's internal browser now called bridge that no longer crashes your system. i've had some pretty nice computers over the years and have never had one that could handle the internal browser with out at the very least leaving me sitting for 3 or 4 minutes waiting for the darned thing to load. this thing pops up in seconds and is much pretty and friendlier to use.
Oh and don't get me started on masking . a tool i never used to use cuz it just wasn't very intuitive .. now it moves so neatly and cleanly that i look for excuses to use it.

ok i'll shut up now lol