Opinions on upgrading?

[urkelbot666]

Hello all!
I have been a user of Paintshop Photo Pro X3 for many, many years. I was always more or less able to get it to do what I wanted, from basic to advanced photo editing, to digital drawing and coloring, and have been very happy with it. Unfortunately, the day has come (I knew it would sooner or later) That for whatever reason, the program will no longer open, and support is no longer offered by Corel.

I just wanted to get some input on a diverse group of users about upgrading. I've been happy with Corel and am fully prepared to stay with them when I upgrade. Since I've been using such an old version, I see no reason to go all the way up to the current version, when I can get an older one for less money. I was looking at screenshots of x7 and x8 which look promising, but I've read some reviews from people who said that they were too difficult to use or that the learning curve was too steep. I wanted to know how similar PSP x7 or x8 are to PSPPx3 if anyone here had used it. I know x3 is oooollllld by now, so many may have never used it, but I figured I'd take a shot anyhow.

Any opinions and information would be appreciated! Thanks so much!
-Dan

[trueblue]

One simple remedy to this, download the latest version as a trial and see for yourself. You are the only one who can decide whether you would like to upgrade or not.
I personally like X9 very much and so far been one of their best versions.

[rondo]

They are not that different than X3- once you get used to the new things I think you will like the updates a lot. Most of all, 64 bit mode makes a huge difference to me in speed.

[brucet]

I'll be cheeky and suggest saving the upgrade money and putting the money towards more plugins etc that will enhance an older version. More bangs for bucks!

regards

[Sualdam]

Remember that X7 doesn't officially support Windows 10 (or W10 doesn't officially support X7, whichever way you say it).

It may well work with W10, but if it suddenly didn't you'd have no recourse to Corel.

[JoeB]

They are not that different than X3- once you get used to the new things I think you will like the updates a lot. Most of all, 64 bit mode makes a huge difference to me in speed.

I think it would be prudent to mention to the OP that while 64 bit does provide some speed improvement it won't run dozens of plugins that are only available in 32 bit versions, most of which will never come out with 64 bit versions. So if going to a more recent version it pays to make sure to install both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions during the install process so that, if those plugins are important to workflow, they are available with the 32 bit PSP version.

[ADonahoo]

AS far as X7 and Windows 10, I have no problem with it. X8, on the other hand, throws up a run time error every time I close it, and even a clean installation of Windows 10 and a reload of my software only fixed it for a week or so. X9 has a funky way of putting down text, and even though the three updates have improved it some, the text appears way at the top of my image and I have to move it every time. I can't tell that the 64-bit versions are any faster, and having to close one and open the 32-bit version to use plugins is sometimes not worth the time it takes.

Edit to add: X7 recently had a SP4 installed which now includes ads just like X8 and X9. No way to remove that SP4 except to uninstall the whole thing and reinstall.

[hartpaul]

If you use only Edit mode in X3 you should find very little difference in X7 in Edit mode. If anything the toolbar will look a little more spread out. You will get some new selection tools. Over all I think you will find it familiar yet exciting discovering the new tools and options, in the Text too, the text cutter.
The Express Lab in X3 has changes and become the Adjust mode.

But all the basics are there so it should be a smooth transition. As well any problems and you can ask here.
In addition you will be able to install a 32 bit and a 64 bit version and with the 32 bit version still use any collected plugins. There are now 4 Service Packs with X7. With the 64 bit version you can also install SP 4 and get the Particle Shop plugin if you are into new plugins.