GreenieBeanie, I tried the .Mac service and was actually very disappointed in it - but that is a completely personal observation here. On June 18th I instead registered the domain name http://www.myblogpix.com (aptly named) and use it for hosting all my blog pix on my blogs (I maintain three blogs at present). For $11.95 a month I have 2 Gig's of storage, 25 Gigs a month in transfer allocated, and can have up to 25 email addresses that will hold 2 Gigs each. It works for me. I love iPhoto too BTW. It has been my primary means of keeping my photos organized on my Mac. Since I moved to Louisiana on March 15th of this year I've taken over 2,200 photos! Yes, that's a lot, but I figure a digital camera is such a wonderful thing and years from now the photos will still be in pristine condition - no fading, cracking or crumbling. And of course - I make regular backups to DVD to insure I never have to worry about losing my precious photo collection. A few days ago I started writing a Mac Software blog. I plan to add a brief review and link regularly to some kind of useful Mac application I run across. While some may be commercial (shareware) I am planning to try and cover only freeware applications as a rule of thumb. I'm finding my passion for gardening and my passion for computing work so well together it's as though that's how it all was meant to be from the get-go. I am Borg. You will be assimilated... Here is a link that might be useful: My New Mac Software Blog

I use Irfanview more than anything, especially to size wallpaper. I found the instructions lacking for some things like cropping. I still have Roxio and will continue with it for "fixing" photos until it is no longer supported. Then I will go with Irfanview for everything. I don't do a lot of pictures anymore, there is no one who shows an interest in them besides me. I don't even take a camera with me on trips anymore.

I never installed Elements, gave it to my granddaughter so she could get a copy of PS CS2 for $299. I think it's probably ok, just not as fully functional as CS2. If that version of PSP works on your system (some people had trouble with it, can't remember what that was about), it should do pretty much what you need until you know which direction you want to go. I think for people who are serious about post processing photographs, Photoshop has better filters, features and nice plugins. I love my plugin Velvia Vision which I had to purchase for somewhere around $25. Since I shoot RAW now and follow more discussions about that, most people in that circle are using CS2, DPP, RSE, some Picasa2 (free, but don't know if it handles RAW files), don't know what else, think the Nikonians have some proprietary software, also some use Bibble. I tried DPP and RSE but prefer CS2. You end up there doing final adjustments anyway if you have it, why not start there (I'm talking for people like me)? If you can get a copy of Elements that is upgradeable, I'd go that route and get PS CS2 for $299. The offer is supposed to be good until November. Otherwise, stick with PSP. It served me well until I felt I outgrew it.

Hi slim, I am going through the same dilema in that the laptop I want is a Vista 64 Bit system and am worried my photo programs will not work on it. Looks like we are getting shoved into 64 bit OS now whether we want it or not? Wished the one I want would be a 32 bit or at least a choice like the Toshiba ones offer. Hope you have good luck in finding a program to use.