I think you should get PER-Version!

Version 6 is almost to crappy, but it also works fine. Just more work on the colours and moods ...

I have Version 7. CS and CS2 all working on different hard drives, Brent is right, 7 can do near enough all you need and is slightly quicker, I use a combination of all 3 it depends what my idea is, CS2 is awesome if you are uber skilled though, but 7 should be fine for a standard talented user.

I have used Photoshop since version 3 and in my opinion anything below 7 is a little basic although 6 isnt too bad (but Adobe update to 7 faster than a whippit with a bum full of dynamite, I wonder why).

Also Photoshop Elements 1,2 and 3 are great for most simple tasks and you can get some great results too.

Basically though its up to you, I would plump for 7 overall.

Mods hiroshi spammed here too-
and honestly , don't you think this is a malicious account?

I agree with Deshone.

JUST for this thread i went and put
"Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0" on my machine.
I don't see where it would be a handicap--
I'd miss liquify but playing with smudge tools mode and strength you can do the same exact stuff.
And masking? Who needs that anyway?? Put the part you want safe on another layer.
IMHO Elements is so close to PS it's not something to waste money on unless your
trying to make money.

....OR if you are trying to WASTE money. ? !

HA!
I'm sure there's plenty it don't have,but I could hang with it.
MAYBE I'll notice the difference someday when I learn how to chop