Comment on Maybe the RAM shortage will make software less bloated?
JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 12 hours agoJust curious– what would you say are the main ways in which modern GIMP doesn’t live up to PS?
@pantherina@feddit.org,
Windows 11 often requires new hardware.
This was true in my case, but it was also true that I’d been using a 10yr old machine, which is pretty ridiculous. Win10 was creaking along, and Firefox wasn’t helping. So, ahead of the deadline, I got myself a ~US$350 mini-computer with modern AMD processor and 16gb. It’s been flying.
So it was a comparatively tiny investment to stay with a modern machine, and also helpful in maintaining a chain of redundancy. (i.e. if this one has a problem for whatever reason, I have a temporary backup machine) So in a way, the Win11 jump actually helped me out a lot.
Checking just now, the computer has gone up US$50 since then.
I started out using PS but when they decided to be a subscription model, I started using GIMP.
I can’t stand trying to use photoshop anymore, and while I would love the user experience to be improved and the interface to be a little more intuitive, I’ve never been able to not do something I needed to do on gimp.
Maybe my needs are more simple than a lot of people here, I’m definitely not a photographer so if you’re using it often enough, I suppose it could be better to use photoshop.
Similar situation here, Chief; altho I got out of PS well before the absurd subscription hurdle.
It was definitely a powerhouse, but GIMP has been sufficient for me, too. I only use it sporadically these days, but GPT5.2 has been useful in helping me when there’s 3-4 ways to do something, and I simply want to know which is easiest and most efficient. Of course, it doesn’t yet talk in Majel Barrett’s voice yet…
Of course, it doesn’t yet talk in Majel Barrett’s voice yet…
That can be arranged. I’ve heard they recorded her saying a bunch of frequently used words/phrases, as well as phonetic sounds, so that her voice could be used in the future for the computer. I’m not sure how true that is, but I am a little afraid to look it up.
I’ve always hoped to hear her in the new trek shows.
That reminds me… about 10-15yrs ago, someone scripted and CG-animated all new TOS episodes using audio samples of the original show, uploading them to YT. Me, I found the scripts surprisingly strong and the audio surprisingly effective and smooth. Unfortunately, the animation was by far the weakest link, but that was a long time ago in terms of advances. I’d love to see a modern effort.
Somewhat similarly, I love how these turned out:
TNG in TAS style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyz2pVqrEkI
VOY in TAS style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luEDui2zAUw
interesting you should mention your old machine. I recently upgraded my 2016 MacBook Pro to a M4 Pro MBP. Photoshop ran fine on the old one. Great, actually. The only difference I noticed was that PS launches faster and opens files faster, buuuut…. that’s about it. PS already ran fine on my 9 y/o MBP. the new machine didn’t improve much, other than the RAM, which allows me to have more large docs open at once.
my last machine only had 16GB of ram, whereas this new one has 48GB (the max for the MBP). still, the performance is pretty close– although my old machine would probably struggle if I had a bunch of large PSDs open.
When I was double-checking prices at Microcenter, I noticed that there was a mini (micro) Mac with modern processor, etc selling for a mere US$400. I had no idea such a thing existed, given their historically high prices. I reckon one could even use it somewhat like a laptop at times, or at the least, a portable. Just in general, though– seems like it could help out a bunch of people who like Macs.
https://www.microcenter.com/product/688173/apple-mac-mini-mu9d3ll-a-(late-2024)-desktop-computer
Apple’s prices have been more reasonable in recent years, although still above-market. and the Mac Mini is a pretty powerful little machine for a good price.
but it was also true that I’d been using a 10yr old machine, which is pretty ridiculous
Why do you think it’s ridiculous to use a 10yo machine?
Shit… that would probably require a long-arse, detailed essay.
not_me@piefed.social 12 hours ago
I’ve been running Linux on a 14 year old Asus laptop with 4Gb of ram ,works fine
JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 11 hours ago
Well yes, Windows is pretty disastrous of an OS in the first place.
FWIW, I’m hoping to get Linux installed at some point.