Anthony, I've seen the reviews and comparisons. I think GIMP has a lot to offer in terms of basics, but it's not as user-friendly. What would you want for nothing? I'd look at GIMP, but one learning curve for each type of software is all I can handle. I've invested a bit of time learning and using Elements 5, so at $75 with some improvements (including compatible with Lightshop and Noise Ninja), it's really quite a bargain. Next stop...Lightroom 2, and Smugmug, of course.