Goodbye Adobe

I did the same today. I've been a user since 1993/4. I absolutely hate the subscription model they now use and the pricing associated. The software is old fashioned in comparison to Affinity and the service is rubbish. It was time to leave.

I understand your frustration. It happened to me, too.

You are on a deadline and something doesn't work.

My tips to check your system (I'm on a Mac, too)

1. What's your operating system? If you are still using a very old OS X version like Snow Leopard, you are prone to run into problems.

2. Take your computer to the Apple store and check the RAM. I remember once having bad RAM on one of my systems. Also, I once had a malfunctioning graphics card.

3. Generally check if you installed all of the updates (Apple and Adobe)

4. If you are having a particular problem that hinders your work, I suggest you describe what's happening, and include your system info (OS version, RAM, computer type, etc.)

I also think that the subscription model is a temptation for Adobe to slacken off - as the payment comes in anyway each month. I hope they get a hold on that temptation, and include smaller updates that take care of the bugs.

System stability and reliability is much more important than new features (who has the time to study new features anyway - here's the tip to Adobe to include a section where they have workshops that introduce the new features in detail - I wouldn't mind getting an email to tell me about it, as long as it doesn't include a sales pitch).

Would you consider using CS6 instead of Creative Cloud?

I feel your pain.  I've used Photoshop for many years and Lightroom for about 1.5 years now.  A couple months ago I took the plunge with the Creative Cloud version and while I like some of the new features like Dehaze in Lightroom, the performance has been terrible. The latest update that I installed 3 days ago has made the situation much worse.   It is sucking down 74 - 95% of the memory, pretty much locking up my PC.  I cannot get any work done.   Seems to launch a number of CEPHtmlEngine processes that are taking up this memory.  Also, I've noticed when I close lightroom lightroom.exe still remains in the processes sucking down 2 million K of memory.  And it won't die if I try to kill it in task manager.   I have to reboot to get rid of it.  Insanity.  I'm not a fan of cloud applications and this one makes me even less of a fan.  Never had these kinds of problems with the non-cloud versions.

Since I find the prior post pertinent and finding that this forum is without any place to actually ask a question - "just spend a few MORE hours browsing irrelevant issues and forget about ever stumbling across a text box which is labeled 'ask your question here'," here's my reply -

I purchased the original CS(1) in 2002 and used it for many years. When I attempted to either do a Windows System Restore, or to upgrade Adobe Acrobat, about 2009, all my CS applications became inactivated. I contacted Adobe & I was offered a copy of CS2 as an internet download. I successfully downloaded CS2 and until recently used it. (Mainly Photoshop) I have now had computer hardware problems & it appears that my hard drive will have to be wiped clean, or replaced and all programs reinstalled. The Adobe forums state that old authorization codes will no longer work. I am interested in the old versions of Adobe Photoshop & I would like to know if a license may be purchased to activate CS2 (with no tech support needed)? I see numerous CS2 software collections listed on eBay. I purchased a license for CS(1). Has this expired? Or can I use CS2? Or do these Software collections expire? I would be happy to purchase a CS2 Collection and even to pay Adobe for a license to use this software (legally). The prospect of having my programs and my data 'in the Clouds' is not very appealing. - This refers to MS XP and I'm not going to upgrade to any other OS.

I can understand your frustration. However I personally feel that Photoshop is still the best for some obvious reasons -

1) Its the oldest software and pioneer in Graphic designing so the interface is more familiar to me and other designers.

2) Secondly it offers many features under one software and for many tasks that I regularly perform I need not look for another software.

I love this software and will continue to use it forever I am sure.

I'm considering moving this to Community Connections. Everyone okay with that?

If you think any of the apps in your link are Photoshop beaters then think again as they are not. If you seriously want an alternative try Affinity, Gimp, Sketch or Corel Painter 2016. I would say only Painter comes even close to matching Photoshop and in some areas beats it hands down, but its much harder to learn with an even steeper learning curve than PS.

I can't say I have problems with slowness and true bugs in the current build are actually hard to find. Adobe's marketing though is unfortunate as they imply Photoshop is suitable for just about anyone and its not, that's the whole purpose of having Elements in their catalogue. Photoshop is and always will be a high end  professional tool that amateurs can dabble in, so lets not pretend everything is going to be easy going for casual users who want professional results without professional skills. It sounds to me as if you'll be happier with something less demanding so good luck with whatever you migrate too.

Terri

This is a user Forum, so you are not really addressing Adobe here, even though some Adobe employees thankfully have been dropping by.

I find your post unfortunate.

programs that are bloated, slow, crash prone and simply don't do what they say they're going to do

may qualify as a rant but not as a proper description of the issues that have frustrated you so.

Consequently you do not diminish a possible suspicion that your problems with Adobe software might have been your own fault (in part at least).

I think the regulars on this Forum are naturally not ignorant of Photoshop bugs and issues (including ones concerning Adobe in general) but still are able to get their work done with the application.