Just a post based on conversations with quite a few graphic artists working in studios that use Macs (more exact the new intel based macs), as I am sure you will agree with although Macs are either loved or hated they are used extensively in the field of graphic design. The new Intel based macs only support PPC applications like photoshop through an emulator programme called rossetta, this emulator will not get any of the advantages from the intel chips and generally means that the intel macs will be oustripped by the G5's, putting them back with the old G4's in relitive performance. Many developers have solved this problem with a software patch to upgrade the application to universal (works on both intel and PPC's) however Adobe have decide to wait until CS3 is released (6-9 months). So here;s the catch, in a month or so Apple stop shipping the old PPC's in favour of the intels. This means that any studio that relies on Macs to run Photoshop will actually suffer in performance due to Adobes refusal to release a compatable patch. One option available is do these studios actually move away from photoshop in favour of a similar programme that will get the best from the new chipsets, without having to wait? Lets face it photoshop is good, but if using it will cause performance issues, will designers look for an alternate programme? The other is of course drop Macs and move to PC's, this generally causes uproar as a lot of mac based designers are generall fanatical about the big blue apple and refuse to work on PC's. My studio is looking to upgrade all our macs to the intel systems in the next month and are now investigating an alternate image editing programme that wlll run natively on the new systems... I never thought I would see the day when a design studio even considered dropping photoshop, but there you have it.

Sounds like PS CS3's timing will coincide with 64 bit MS Vista.  I wonder if any of this also has an influence on Macs.

I wonder how did they work before G5 lol. :)

Tihomir

Hmmm, that makes a bit more sense then - will CS3 (PC) be 64 bit?, if so the mac version will be differend as the Intel Macs do not generally support 64 bit... yet (excluding the new quad xenon mac) Adobe can solve this problem by bringing out a patch for CS2... I just don't get why not, CS3 is hardly an immenent release. Adobe tried to answer this is a recent press release can be found here. http://www.adobe.com/products/pdfs/intelmacsupport.pdf#search=%22photoshop%20CS2%20and%20Intel%20Macs%22 The short version of the long answer they give to 'why do customers have to wait for the next release' basically says that because it takes extensive testing and development they are going to ignore it and tweek their next release to the new standard... (paraphrasing) ... but how come Cinema 4D and many other programmes already have their patches out (and they seem to work fine) I noticed massive improvments in the performance of Cinema 4D 9.6 and Final Cut 5.1 (both universal upgrades) So either Adobe can't work out how to do it... or Adobe can't be bothered to upgrade CS2 so all the IntelMac users have to buy CS3 instead... its not just Photoshop, its all adobe applications. Flash, Dreamwaver, Freehand (yes Adobe own Macromedia now). I have always had a love for photoshop, and generally adobe, but I can feel my loyalty starting to wain... any company that can't be bothered about its customers gets to me.

My guess is that it will be 64 bit.  It just wouldn't make sense to me if they didn't plan on having something ready for Vista, and take advantage as quickly as possible to the 64 bit market.   MS already has a 64 bit OS, and I would think it was for developers to do some advance designing and programming in anticipation of Vista.

I cant see photoshop flopping anytime soon, call me nieve but i thought PS's performace relied more heavily on Disk/RAM speed than number crunching processor power. If it was rendering i'd be worried! Im sure the wait wont kill it!

Does anyone know when PS3 is coming out?? and the cost of it?

Recently I read that Vista will be out in around 6 months.  If that is the case, perhaps between 6 and 9 months, PS CS3 might be out.  I thought I read that somewhere related to Photoshop, but can't remember where.  Cost?  I haven't a clue.    Everything is speculation right now.

The word on the street is that PS CS3 is out in Quarter 2 2007

Adobe doesn't release ANYTHING without it being a solid app, and I'm wondering if they're caring less and less about the Mac community in general because of Apple trying to play in their field too often.

They were working heavily on an app to be more than just Bridge - actually doing corrections to RAW files, etc. Apple gets wind of it and BANGS OUT Aperture to beat them to the market - an app almost everyone agrees doesn't feel "finished" while Adobe is STILL working on theirs. Adobe released a beta version and more people use IT than Aperture. And once it's releasd, it will cost around HALF of Aperture.

Apple tried to get into the motion graphics biz with Motion (trying to get some biz from After Effects - dumb move!) so I'm wondering if history will repeat itself after Adobe trying to play tug-of-war between video editors using Premiere switching to FCP. Adobe just cut-off Premiere altogether and have been doing just fine ever since.

Just because Apple decided to go with different chips that take different code along with them doesn't mean everyone HAS to jump in the boat with them. Cinema4D uses a binary code - OS independent - so it'll work on ANYTHING - they didn't do this for Apple, it's just how they do it, so don't be thinking they were on some form of "bandwagon".

Given that 51% of the digital content creators all around the world use Windows, and in '05 18% used Macs (this is my recollection of DIGIT Mag's yearly poll) I don't think Adobe would be hurting at all if they had a lag for Mac users. Also realize Macs make up less that 5% of sales per year of all computers - despite what Jobs may try to tell you, Windows is the big-boy on the block and it's not going away. And contrary to the latest bogus commercials, Windows machines (as well as Linux) interfaces with just about everything you can plug into a USB or Firewire port - cameras, printers, etc., and they don't crash at the drop of a hat either - Jobs uses fear and uncertainty to sell his hardware ("this one is easier!" when ALL systems are designed so your average 10 year old can navigate the system) and I think it's about to bite him in the ---.
-Lew ;-)

Well there are more people that owns PC´s than MAC´s and the same things goes for the number of companys today. You see more and more commercial advertising companys that nowadays that do their desktop publishing/printing originals on PC´s, so I don´t think that the end of Photoshop has come just because it doesn´t work on the latest MAC´s!

I have Corel Graphics suite, which will do everything PS does, but i still use primarily Photoshop. I haven't upgraded to CS because frankly i live in poverty and can't afford it, plus, it doesn't seem to have any new features that I really need. I've been using PS since v3, and despite using other progs as well, I can't see myself switching ever. PS does exactly what I want to do, exactly the way i want to do it. I can't say that about many programs.

So... MAC users running the PPC-based version of PS on Intel machines will find that it runs slower and because Adobe won't immediately knock out a "patch" (which must be easy as others have done it) you're going to buy other image editing software?

Good for you.

Perhaps Apple could have made a better emulation layer or considered this problem when they switched to Intel?

I do agree that there are quite a few main advertising companies out there switching to PC's for various reasons. To be honest with all the PC users can now run Mac Os and Mac users running windows Vista sooner or later microsoft or apple will get their thinking hats on and develop a platform that runs on PC's and Macs natively. This will solve sooo many problems and finally end the PC vs Mac war which has been burning since the begining of time. To be honest I have not looked at Appature in any great extent. I don;t really have high hopes for it, but every once in a blue moon Apple actually get it right and bring out a strong ap that gives the competition a serious run. For example the programme to have for editing your movies and animations always used to be Adobe Premier, an ap I have always loved dispite its horredous record of stability. However when Final Cut V5 turned up about a year ago it out stripped prem in every way. Ok its not quite up to AVID stadards quite yet, but it really is not that far off. The main thing that holds FCP back is that it is not available on the PC yet for whatever inexplicable reason... You are quite right of course they had a crack at After Effects Market with Motion. Personally I liked after effects better, but the interface that switches between FCP, Motion, STP and Shake makes the work flow so much easier. So I now find myself using Motion more and am slowly warming to it. Anyway, since Adobe have now bought Macromedia, I assumming that Freehand MX2 and Photoshop CS3 will now intigrate like PS and Illustrator, the guys in the world of advertising and design will absolutly love this... So I guess the future of Photoshop is secure. (Even though they now join the ranks of Microsoft, Apple and 'Evil Incorporated' in the top ten 'Evil Organisations' chart... Mwwwhhhhaaaaaaa Doc Evil Pose Gonzo

Silly people! Adobe has made it's way across the platforms. Originating first in the Mac'Intoch Apple it spread itself way into the Microsoft PC platform. Adobe Photoshop will not be in any way detoured from advancing itself across any platforms. Wall Street requisites demand that Adobe hold certain prestige. And continue itself!

It'll get there eventually (to the new Macs) - I think the question is whether or not creative professionals will wait for it or buy something else like Corel products.

I think they'll wait - or if they DO buy other products, they'll go back to Photoshop the second it's available.

Photoshop is so heavily into the Digital Processing Market, there just isn't another app that can compete.  Ergo Bridge and all of the other usless garbage I don't use as an artist.

Their current fear is Microsofts advances into the Digital Market, and the idea they are trying to take them down.

Adobe is being extra cautious and in addition watching the current corportate buyouts to see what they will be up against in future markets.  Secondly all Graphic Editors are moving toward the Digital Camera and Amatuer Photographer's market rather than the artist.

I was recently told by an Editor he didn't need trained artists anymore, just people who could use the software.  What does that tell you?

When the Mac first arrived, every businessman desk jockey loking only at the bottom line numbers realized they could do their OWN graphics - why am I paying so much money to a guy wearing a black turtleneck and a beret to do this stuff when I can do it myself for free?

As a result there was an overflow of HORRIBLE press materials! 12 differents fonts on a page, all different sizes and colors, graphics and images all out of proportion and relation to each other, etc.

They eventually realized they suck at it, and started hiring the real artists back, but it took a while.

I think we're at that point again with digital cameras and software that can achieve profesional level graphics for $49. There's a jeweler here who now does his own product photography - it's awful! And he's so proud of it because he did it himself and saved a LOT of money - and it's on display all over his store!