I was thinking elements, I don't care about filters and all that - I just want to sharpen the pictures and enhance the colour and structure.
If you're only going to be using it for photo touch up, you are better off with Lightroom (or possibly Aperture, if you're on a Mac) than any version of Elements or CS. It's much leaner, and is designed as a photographers tool, rather than a designers tool.
A few bits of advice should be followed when investing in Photoshop software, whichever version you choose. First, buy the newest version you can reasonably get your hands on. Older Photoshop software is cheaper, but will have less compatibility with extensions and modern image formats. Second, seek bargains. Adobe occasionally drops their prices, and third-party stores will sometimes sell Photoshop software for cheap. A student version of Photoshop is available, and all higher education students are eligible to purchase it.
