All version come with a free demo, just download and try it first.

If you're new to photoshop and just want to do some basic work elements is fine.

Your probably better of getting a entry level tablet like the Wacom Bamboo, which will come with a copy of (although it's version 7) Elements for $99.
Bamboo Pen & Touch
This way you have a good tool to do the work with and a the software.

of note: if you are just going to use this software to process pictures, lightroom 3 is a great resource. it's not quite the heavy lifter that CS5 is but for 99.9% of most people, especially ones just getting into photography it's more than enough for a lot less than a copy of photoshop. bear in mind photoshop started life as a graphic design app that slowly incorporated more and more photo editing tools. lightroom was built from the ground up to only handle photos and is in some ways more efficient because of it

definitely agree with this. When lightroom came out, i slowly started doing more work in lr than in cs...now, i spend about 90% of the time in lr and cs is only busted out when i need to do actual editing (taking something out, patching, etc). its a heck of a lot easier in lr as well :)

yea i've got LR2 (need to find 3 sometime i guess) but i hardly ever use it. i need to more because i'm getting to the point in photography where most of what i do is composed how i want it right out of the camera and i generally just convert the raw, sharpen and save. i could do that much easier, and faster, in LR

LR for quick fixes, vignettes, color and tint changes.

Photoshop for bigger touch-up jobs and finer control.

I'm learning my way around LR3 right now. Found an active key online. :tup: Plus Adobe has a number of good video clips online for beginners.

Aperture 3.0 is another option for any Mac owners out there. I would say it's closer to LR than Photoshop. Comes in real handy for light editing and easy to get around. Easy to work with .raw images too, which comes in real handy.

I know Mark Galer who lives in Australia and is part of the official Adobe testing team. He told me that if you know the work-arounds and the free additions on line you can do in Adobe Elements 95% of what you can do in the full version of Photoshop. Compare the prices and really unless you have money to burn .. Photoshop elements is the way to go..Check any bookstore and you can read his books on this very subject. Save your money for something really essential...like a new lens or audio system..or tires..