X2 vs X3

[GraPhilip]

i work a lot with X2 for a few months...and i am really used to it...i wanna buy x3 now...but i have some doubts...it is worth it? i mean...what are it's pluses? (In real use - not the descriptions found on web )

Thanks!

[WxGuesser]

You don't need to wonder, you can download the trial version at: http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1208530085925#tabview=tab6

For me X3 was much more responsive to my mouse than X2, (This was even with a 64bit Win7 machine w/6Gig memory and a quad core processor), Also I found the text tool more intuitive than the one in X2.

[GraPhilip]

thanks for answering...yes i knew about the trial version (i didnt tryed it miself...true)...but i also was interested in some opinions...

[tina_1138]

Go here and check out all the new features
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1192639386269
I really enjoy the Express Lab. I think Upgrading is a good idea. You know its always fun to experiment with the new features!
good luck with whatever you decide

[gino59]

Well, all I can say is that I sort of wish I had saved the $$. Look, it's not all bad but X3 (like X2, X1, X, etc.) are always launched by Corel without any beta testing by actual users (or so it would seem).
It seems Corel releases the program, lets the buyers flounder around, and then finally gets around to releasing a patch. Corel customer service seems to follow the slogan "If we don't make our customers happy, maybe they'll stop bugging us!"
So we're left with figuring out workarounds, saving our work every 3.5 nanoseconds in case it blows up, and generally dreaming about the Jasc days.

I submitted a customer service question about the "Project Creator", got back a response from someone who probably first turned on a computer this decade, and then all went silent. Basically, if you don't put your pics in the directories listed in Proj(not)Creator, you get nothing.

Well I could go on but I'll stop with this - if Corel would just improve its customer service and improve its beta testing BEFORE launch, the product would blow away the competition. Changing the name and adding a plug-in or two doesn't really make this an upgrade worth paying for, in my opinion.

Happy Days!

[Jane]

Thanks for the review, it certainly makes me think twice. I'm still wondering whether to upgrade myself. Like Michele I write tutorials, and we should move to each new version because if we stay locked at, say X2, eventually people won't be able to buy it, or it won't be compatible with the operating system, and we'll have no audience.

I do wish they would make a better job of it though.

[venice]

I've tried the trial version of X3 and now have a permanent install of X2. So far, it seems to be almost the exact same program. The graphite interface is not quite as dark in X2, which I do like better. Some other things are a bit different but nothing major...like having six of one and half dozen of another!

[GraPhilip]

so...as a conclusion...is not really worth the money? ...as an advice...should i stick to x2?

btw...thanks all for replying...

[MichelesPaintShop]

Jane said it best, that unfortunately when you have a website about PSPP, and write tutorials you truly have to keep up with their latest releases.

Is it worth upgrading? People that are just learning I would suggest stick with X2. People that use the program in their daily careers, I say stick with X2. Why? Because when you're just learning, you do not want the crashing problems, and of course X3 is so new, that even the experts are still checking it out. If it is something super productive in your daily career NO, do not update. Just wait it out until the PSPPX3 is updated and stable.

They have added a few new features. I use PSP to make custom graphics, and I rarely use it for photograph editing. The X3 version from what I've read it seems to really consider the photographers out there. Now, for those that prefer to make custom graphics, it offers new tools called the Smart Carver, and the Object Extractor. Now, I have not given those new tools 100% of my time to read and test, so I cannot say they are worth the upgrade. However, I did use them a few times, and I would say that you can get better results with our old school techniques.

I've never been happy with the point to point - bezier curves within PSPP. I think that is a feature they could really improve on and I think with the way things have been going the most sincere reply from me would be to wait. Wait until the update comes out and those that use the program heavily will most certainly report their findings.

I am besides myself as to why the thumbnails are not working properly. You would think their native thumbnail viewer would offer us a thumbnail view of file types that it supports. If you depend on having the ability to skim through your folders with thumbnails to see the small preview then updating is not for you.

The program tends to crash randomly when I use the text tool. I am not sure if it is software conflict, font design conflict (the list can go on). I am waiting to see what Corel says about this.

I am finding myself saving my work far more often as I fear the program will crash and I will lose my work. In PSPX2 it was nice if the program crashed, it would hold a temp file for me, and it would automatically open when I launched PSPX2. It would allow me to continue on where I left off. The new X3 version this has NOT been the case so far.

There is another post on the forum about PSPPX3. The title of that thread is PSPX3 closes, crashes or doesn't respond

Last night I entered information that will help PSPPX3 users figure out what crashed their PSPPX3. I for one have been watching to see what is causing the crashes, and I note it. The post link above will tell you more about that.

[GraPhilip]

well i use it for custom graphics too...so, i guess i will stick to x2...and...regarding the addons, plugins or stuff like that, i never used them...i mean...i tryed some, but i do things better from "scrap"...and i also like it like this...so...i guess i don`t even have a reason to upgrade...and i am gettin` better and better, and also closer, to the results that other get in photoshop ...so..i guess that's it...thanks again!

[Jane]

Great advice Michele, thanks.

[HotDog]

Well I came from psp9 to x2, and apart from a few bugs at first, works 100% now.(touch wood) LoL