jackras

I am a user of ubuntu and opensuse. and i fell happy of them. anyway, ubuntu is much more easier than openssuse, but opensuse gives you more powerfull feature.windows ? ultimately user firendly and large of 3rd party support but also ultimately high risk of security...

for non free software : photoshop is the best. I 've used this for about 5 year, but it's not cheap (about US$700) for free software : * gimp provide full function of photo editing tool, it's tools are similiar with photoshop, but don't Support HDR( high Dinamic Range) Image and not support CMYK too. * cinepaint provide full support of color management but lack of tools for manipulation. So, everything depend on you. what purpose you will use that software ? for industrial standard, photoshop is not comparable, but for home or small business combination of GIMP or Cinepaint is good for you. fyi, based on their site, last samurai, harry potter and lord of the ring also used cinepaint for editing their movie frame by frame. just chek this.