Photo Editing Software for Netbook?

[cokids]

I have downloaded Picasa and have used it in a limited way. It's not bad, but it doesn't do a couple of things that I really need. I need to be able to interpolate images up to a larger size at 300 dpi for stock sales. I usually do this with PhotoShop, but since I do not have a cd drive on my netbook, I've been unable to install it. Any other programs out there, I could use to do this? Being downloadable from the net is the 'saver' without a drive!!

I've wondered if I could download a 'trial version' of PS CS4 from Adobe's site and then plug in my pass code from my purchased version. Would that work? Wonder how much real estate PS uses? I think it's a hefty program!

Beth

What specific brand and model of netbook (or any other computer are we talking about here) do you have? What OS are you using? If you have a typical netbook you might want to swap for something more robust for your editing. I have not actually used a netbook for larger graphic/video editing tasks so I don't personally know what works. Here is the Picasa tutorial.

You should look into a virtual DVD setup for your non-DVD computer. You make an .iso of what ever DVD you have, put the file on your hard drive or on a SD/flash card, and then mount it (follow instructions) and load it onto your hard drive just like using a DVD. I believe I use MagicDVD or MagicISO but I don't have my computer running right now to check. Chris is running a contest for NetDVD which uses a DVD on a separate computer. You win by tweeting. I read the words but I have no idea what that means.

Beth, CS4 PS is 814MBs. Here are the system requirements and download.

A single user license is good on two computers.

I don't know from actual experience if CS4 PS will allow the same key but likely it will.

Requirements:

· 1.8GHz or faster processor
· 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
· 1GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on flash-based storage devices)
· 1,024x768 display (1,280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card
· Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
· DVD-ROM drive
· QuickTime 7.2 software required for multimedia features
· Broadband Internet connection required for online services

I just put PS Elements on my netbook. I run CS3 Master Collection on my MacBook.

I read your train article and all of your blogs. Keep up the good work. I laughed out loud at the photo with all the people holding signs about health care. I watch the news and I see the mouths of the politicians move so you know what that means.

[cokids]

Thanks Mr. Junkie,

I'll check into the links you left. I have a few more weeks to work out my photo editing dilemma. We leave in September on an Amtak once again! Can't wait!

Thanks for all the reading! Wow! I'm impressed!

Beth

[ericinboston]

Originally Posted by cokids

I have downloaded Picasa and have used it in a limited way. It's not bad, but it doesn't do a couple of things that I really need. I need to be able to interpolate images up to a larger size at 300 dpi for stock sales. I usually do this with PhotoShop, but since I do not have a cd drive on my netbook, I've been unable to install it. Any other programs out there, I could use to do this? Being downloadable from the net is the 'saver' without a drive!!
Beth

I think you will not be able to do what you wish on today's netbook with current flavors of software...the machines are just underpowered for CPU and graphics cards.

My advice would be to try an OLD version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements...like 2-4 versions ago (so long as they have the tools you need). I find that most new versions of graphics software and office productivity are 90% the same as their predecessor yet eat much more ram and hard drive space...for example, MS Office, to me, has not changed in core functionality in over a decade. I still use MS Office 2000 and know plenty of people that use Office 97. Sure, they don't have all the bells and whistles and templates for DIEHARD users that live inside Office several hours a day...but for the average person creating a spreadsheet, Christmas card, or resume, they work just as well as Office 2007. And...the older versions should be much better on a netbook since back then the system requirements were much lower. Example 2: I use PSE very infrequently and lightly...I used 6.0 for awhile and then tried version 7...I think all they did in 7 was change the splash screen and told it to eat another gig of ram! Seriously! It was slower than my mom texting "hello". I went back to 6 and it was nice and speedy compared to 7.

So check into PSE 6 or earlier. And now that we're talking about all this stuff, I just may install Office 2000 on my netbook and see how well it runs.

-Eric

p.s. Speaking of MS Office, are you folks aware that you can install Microsoft's FREE "Office Viewers"? They are small downloads that allow you to open and read an MS Office document. But not write to it. Very handy for netbook users if all you have to do is review a doc and print it.

Originally Posted by ericinboston

My advice would be to try an OLD version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements...like 2-4 versions ago (so long as they have the tools you need).

EIB, this is actually a very good *solution* based post. I need to give you a thumbs up on this one. Try for more.

[ericinboston]

Originally Posted by netjunkie

EIB, this is actually a very good *solution* based post. I need to give you a thumbs up on this one. Try for more.

Thanks...it's an old trick/recommendation I tell people all the time...and another statement I always say is "why upgrade? why get the latest and greatest?...if it ain't broke, don't fix it...regardless of it's free or pay." I have software versions from almost 10 years ago that I use because of many reasons...some examples are: Winamp 2.x, AOL 5.9, Office 2003 or 2000, IE 6.x, Nero 7.x, Winzip 7, Winrar 2.x, iTunes 7.11, Norton Ghost 9.0.


What do you mean by your sentence, "Try for more?"

-Eric

[cokids]

Yup, I had thought of elements and the older versions are VERY inexpensive too! I looked into Open office and I understand that it'll run all the files produced on Office 7? I hope so cause I have a spreadsheet I will need to access. Gotta do all my downloading in the wee hour cause I have a limiting satellite connection that slows me down if I download more than my daily limit...200 GB. Awful!

Beth

[cokids]

I have a 'new' Wind U100 which came with PS 7 installed, so I have to agree w/ whomever suggested older versions of software. Nothing wrong with that! I can't wait to try editing on it! I know that the small screen will be a real drawback and color management may be a headache, but I'll love being able to edit on the fly when travelling for posting to my pbase galleries (Beth's Photo Galleries at pbase.com). I think this will be the answer I was looking for all of those months ago; Picnik not withstanding!

But DO check out Picnik too!

[KimMax]

Sorry to jump into this conversation so late.

I leave august 3rd for a year abroad and we are taking an asus eee pc. I am wondering if i will be able to run an older version of ps elements or just something like ps 7 with out the computer having a major breakdown.

any help or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

also we will be in places with limited internet access

[ericinboston]

Originally Posted by KimMax

Sorry to jump into this conversation so late.

I leave august 3rd for a year abroad and we are taking an asus eee pc. I am wondering if i will be able to run an older version of ps elements or just something like ps 7 with out the computer having a major breakdown.

any help or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

also we will be in places with limited internet access

I wouldn't recommend those relatively-new and very powerful photo editing titles. Do you really need all the power of Photoshop?

Try an older version of PSE like 6 or 5...or what about something that is not from Adobe at all?

If you must, you can probably run Photoshop...but it's going to be dog slow.