Replacement for Digital Image?

[PRR]

I have been looking over copies of Digital Image on amazon, and I see
that it might not be compatible with Windows 7 (at the 7 compatibilty
center of microsoft's site), so even though I was thinking of
upgrading my laptop from PI 2001 to Digital Image 2006, I'm now
thinking that I'd be better off buying a similar product that has not
been discontinued.

John, are you aware of a similar program that is still being
maintained? I can't afford Photoshop, and GIMP just has 200 options
and 8 different little windows that jump out at you. All I want to do
is basic editing and making of collages for my desktop. Is there a
similiar program out there that can do this?

[John Inzer]

===================================
As for the compatibility issue that's why I
suggested certain versions of Win 7 and the
use of Windows XP Mode.

FWIW...The GIMP is a very powerful image
editor but it has a very steep learning curve
and personally...I am just not up to the challenge.

Anyway...I've never seen an image editing
program that equaled Picture It! / Digital Image
for the intuitive UI and very powerful editing
tools. It allows a beginner or casual user to
perform very complex editing procedures.

I don't even 'expect' to find it's equal...why MS
chose to abandon the best image editor ever...
I'll never know.

However...for basic editing and collages, etc...
the freeware Picasa might be worth a try.

Picasa
http://picasa.google.com/

And the freeware Paint.NET is worth a try.

Paint.NET
http://www.getpaint.net/index.html
(Requirements: .NET Framework 2.0)

I also like IrfanView and FastStone Image Viewer.

IrfanView
http://www.software.com/irfanview
(get the plug-ins too)
http://www.software.com/irfanview-plugin

FastStone Image Viewer
http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

And if you want to go to a full retail program...
Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 would be as
good as any IMHO...
http://tinyurl.com/6clrum
or.....
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051#tabview=tab0

And...finally...maybe the following link will offer some ideas:

2010 Photo Editing Software Review Product Comparisons
http://photo-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Good luck...

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

[PRR]

It looks like, from the 7 compatibility center list, that Corel's
Paint Shop Pro is 7 compatible. And copies on amazon are not much more
than DI 2006, so that is good.
I've never been a fan of picassa (insists on indexing all the photos
on my computer, which I never liked), and Paint.NET reminds me of
GIMP--3,000 options. I don't do this for a living, and I want
something that is simple, and like you said--an intuitive UI.

I love FastStone image viewer. Had it on my computer for a while and I
don't see any other image viewer taking its place.

Thanks again.