GIMP vs Photoshop

[Eliootz]

I'm thinking of dumping Window for Linux Ubuntu the only thing that's keeping me from going ahead with this change... is GIMP as good as Photoshop. I realize that Photoshop probably does a lot more but I'm not looking to do major special effects. I'm basically looking for something that would allow me to reproduce what I was able to do in the darkroom.

[AcadieLibre]

Yes GIMP is as good as PS and some Linux fanboys claim it is even better. The best thing to if your doing a Linux switch is try dual booting both Windows and Linux and test drive Linux before making the jump at once. Then you can see if GIMP is for you and if Linux is. I liked Linux but much more work than a Windows OS but far more stable. I disliked both enough a while back and went to OSX (Mac) and could not be happier. Another option is to use a Live Linux distro such as Knoppix. That way you don't have to even install Linux to try it out and it has GIMP pre-installed. It is not Ubuntu but I find most Linux Distros close in how they work. You burn Knoppix to a DVD or you can get a CD copy and make you computer boot from CD/DVD and when you start up with the Knoppix disk in your CD/DVD drive it runs off of the CD/DVD. Then you can see if you like GIMP or even Linux. Linux is not windows, so I do suggest a test drive first before you make the commitment. If you like it then you can install Ubuntu. If you want I can PM you a Canadian Computer forum with some very helpful Linux users and Ubuntu is the Linux Flavour of the month for now. I will be out all day so I may not get back to you until late tonight or tomorrow morning.