If you've been holding out on buying a new system, Adobe says go ahead: All of the programs run as Universal apps for both PowerPC Macs and their Intel-based successors, with some significant speed improvement there. Adobe also says that you get a speed boost running CS3 on the latest Windows hardware.

Follow the jump to see CS3's new scary clown mascot plus some extra specs...

Crazy list of features:
•Experiment with, save, and apply color combinations quickly and intuitively using the new Live Color feature in Illustrator
•Perform image editing tasks such as selecting image areas, compositing images, and applying filters faster and more flexibly with Photoshop CS3 Extended
•Master Flash more easily thanks to its new Adobe-standard user interface
•Repurpose print content on the Web by exporting InDesign CS3 documents as XHTML and the modifying them in Dreamweaver CS3 using CSS
•Import native Photoshop and Illustrator files directly into Flash and Fireworks with full fidelity
•New Spry Framework for AJAX, a pre-built, cross-browser compatible library of widgets and effects that make it faster and easier to build rich, interactive websites
•Fireworks CS3 boasts new workflows for rapidly prototyping RIA layouts for websites and Web applications, intelligent Photoshop and Illustrator integration, and a library of common and customizable graphics assets
•Updated version of Adobe Bridge CS3, the hub of Adobe Creative Suite, which provides instant access to Version Cue CS3, Acrobat Connect and an expanded Adobe Stock Photos service
Click here for even more info. –Wilson Rothman

Adobe CS3 [Gizmodo]

On Amazon, pricing in full details of each version of the software is listed as follows: Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Web Premium will be $1599, Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Master Collection is $2499, Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Production Premium goes for $1199 and Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Design Premium will be $1599. Take a look at a table showing which bundle contains which applications, along with their gorgeous new boxes and Amazon's quoted ship dates, after the jump.

Of course, Adobe is trying to get you to buy all of its software together in huge boxes, but you'll still be able to pick up stand-alone versions of your favorites in CS3 trim such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro (to be available for Intel Mac), Illustrator, After Effects, and more.

Wandering around the Amazon leakage, you can see that most of these software bundles will be available April 20, but it looks like if you want the full boat Master Collection, or Premiere Pro, Soundbooth, or Encore, you'll have to wait until July 1.

Adobe says this is the largest software upgrade in its history, and the company even goes so far as to say it's the largest software rollout in the history of all software. Good gawd. Looking at the Master Collection, there are 21 software applications. We're just wondering what one person could actually use all 21 of those. – Charlie White

Amazon leaks Adobe CS3 pricing, availability dates, code split [Apple Insider]

Good news for potential Mac owners, as Adobe's announced that the Universal Binary version of CS3 Beta is going to be available tomorrow morning in the early PST hours. If you stay up late tonight, you can probably grab a copy before you go to bed. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Adobe - Thanks tomhut!]