Photoshop not Universal until next version?

Just a question...a bit off topic but still very related to this post. Besides "Photoshop Pros", couldn't most users be well served by Gimp or CinePaint. Just looking for informed opinion. I'm not bashing Adobe or Photoshop here, I'm just begining think Photoshop is WAY too overhyped. All CS2 Apps on my Quad G5 load 2-3 times slower than GIMP. THX

Adobe products are too expensive for everyone but graphics pros. I decided to switch to much less expensive comparable products.

I'm surprised nobody else had asked this, or brought it up, but I talked to Adobe at Macworld and asked about universal compatability. I got it from their own mouths that the next iteration of products will be the first to adopt the universal/Intel system. None of CS2's products will be available in universal format, period.

As for Virtual PC, same deal. Nobody but me asked these questions at Macworld? I got that same story posted the other day last week from a member of the Mac Business Unit (whose name I will withold here) last Thursday.

Nobody else asked?

As above commenters said, this is not conjecture; it's been public knowledge for some time. The CEO of Adobe has said their plans are to provide a universal binary with the next version of the Creative Suite, and most likely not sooner.

Here's the quote from Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe:

Q: So, when do you think that Adobe will be ready to take Photoshop?
Chizen: I haven't given a date yet, I'd be surprised if we did a MacTel only release. I think you'll find us doing what we did with OS X, which is to enhance the product and support the new environment at the same time. If you look at our product cycles for products like Photoshop and Creative Suite, they tend to be in the 18- to 24-month cycle, which means that you're talking about either Q4 of '06 or Q1 of '07.

http://news.com.com/Chizen+on+Apple+MacTel+switch+not+easy/2100-1046_3-5844899.html

I would agree with JC, anyone concernd enough about Photoshops performace on Reosetta is already using a Dual G5. I'm betting that the new photoshop will be timed well with the Intel Powermacs (which hopefully have 4 Intel chips as an option, and not not have stupid name). So when Apple updates their pro desktop line, the new release of Photoshop should be right around the corner.

This week Adobe released After Effects 7. This is a commonly used pro application for video compositing on the Mac platform. In fact, Apple builds support for it into all of the pro video applications. I was surprised/concerned/disappointed that it was not released in universal binary. I am not sure what that means for the rest of their products, but I would say it is not a good sign for anything in the near future.

I do remember however that at WWDC when Steve announced the switch to intel, the ceo of Adobe came on stage and had a little speech stating that Adobe was committing to the x86 switch and would be ready. If I remember he actually said something to Steve like "What took you so long?"

this isn't news, it's been understood since the announcement

a) photoshop is on an 18 month product life cycle which means CS3 will appear on or around october/november of *this* year

b) chizen said upon the intel transition announcement not to expect an universal binary until later 2006.

unrelated, but adobe's big intel focus right now is going to be flash/pdf.

This seems very plausable for Adobe to hold out until the next revision. Does anyone remember when they made the Classic to OS X transition? Was it an upgrade?

The only flaw to your point jc is that what if a studio needs new machines. They are not going to want to buy a Dual Quad G5 (PowerPC) knowing that machine will be obsolete in 6 months.

Another point if this is true, what of the studios that did buy a Dual Quad G5 (PowerPC). What happens next year when Adobe releases their Intel upgrade. So CS3 won't run on a PowerPC? Now the studio needs to get new Intel Towers to run the latest Photoshop.

Not only is there the complexity involved, but Adobe is probably on chilly terms with Apple right now, due to Aperture and other moves into the pro application arena.

Although it's such a little thing, I only *wish* the interface for Photoshop could borrow some of what iPhoto 6 is doing on the consumer end. The full-screen mode with the translucent slide-out palettes is *wonderful* to work with.

I thought the load time joke was actually really funny, just a jab at technology in general. Aperture takes some time to load too, even on a quad. If I was Adobe, I'd just laugh at that.