What Editing Program

Hello,
I have been using iphoto and Photoshop elements 9 on my Mac but have just purchsed a Windows 7 based laptop and wondering what photo editing program would be best to get.

I haven't used photoshop much due to lack of time but I will be retiring in the next year and then hope to have more time to indulge myself and your advice and suggestions would be great to have, I see a lot of you use lightroom.

As I am a novice at this I would like something that is reasonably intuative, most of my photos are taken in jpeg but I want to use raw in the future.

Kind regards

Philip.

I would stick with Photoshop, not sure if you need a new PC version or whether your existing can be reloaded on the new computer.

My copy of Elements 9 came with the two versions on two separate disc's. I assume all you would have to do is make sure the Mac version is Deactivated, via the Help menu, before you install it on the PC. edit..Just note uninstall is not the same as deactivate

Photoshop Elements 9 comes with two cds - one for Mac and one for Windows, so why not stick to what you are used to and just load that?

You could add Lightroom at a later date, but Elements will do most of what you need.

Picasa is free, available for Windows, and sort of similar to iPhoto (in capabilities at least).

I would just go for Lightroom, to be honest.

Why when OP already has PSE9 which will work perfectly well on his new laptop?

Because I think Lightroom is better than Photoshop Elements? And the OP did say 'reasonably intuitive'. Hope that's okay with you

Or install a Linux dual boot, and use DarkTable. More work admittedly, but a lot less money - in fact none.

And sooner or later you'll be glad you have Linux if only to fix Windows

Lightroom is a very good addition to PSE, if you shoot RAW. As well as RAW processing it organises your pictures and allows you to sift through them etc. It's amazing, and very well thought out. But if you don't shoot RAW it's probably not worth the expense IMO.

This posted on the wrong subject earlier (thanks John)

As I've said elsewhere I use Serif of Nottingham's UK developed products for all my web, DTP and photo work.

Once a customer you get upgrade products sub £30 (and yes you can opt out of sales talk to buy more). I personally can't afford Adobe programs and won't pirate them from work or online as many seem to do. Some of the pro's on here should realise we don't all have money to throw at our beloved hobby!

http://www.serif.com/photoplus/ for the full spec of he Photo software.

By the way has anyone downloaded the Windows Live 2011 bundle? Surprising how much you can do within their Windows Live Photo Gallery software and it's free if you already have Windows.

The OP made no mention of Serif Photoplus...there seems to be a run today of posts that don't follow what went before! Boldly going no doubt....

Hi Tim,

I didn't ask for advice (not my thread) I was giving my low budget options to Philip the questioner.

Excuse me, I somehow mistook Bill for Phillip. Going to go soak my head now

That's OK, John rightly thinks we've all lost the plot on here today!

Thanks for all your help and advice and for the time being I will get into my loft and try and find the Photoshop discs and see if I have a windows version.

I think I may go for lightroom at a later date as it seems a popular program and I want to take more raw images in the future.

One of my work colleagues has suggested Gimp, has anyone tried this?

Best wishes

Philip