Prepare in advance for the transition to Windows. Guidance available.
Prepare in advance for the transition to Windows. Guidance available.
Eventually Windows 9 (8.1 Industry embedded pro with a Win 7 GUI) will stop receiving support. Around 2023/4 it seems likely. I won’t use WIn10, and Windows 11 doesn’t appear to be a better choice. Nix seems like the best fit here. Most games I play are on Steam or have native versions, so gaming is covered. The exceptions are PhotoShop and LightRoom, both standalone tools I own outright—no recurring fees. I don’t often use Photoshop, so finding alternatives isn’t a big concern, but LightRoom is my main focus. Running a virtual machine just to keep LR up is inconvenient for me, and my past WINE experiences have been frustrating. I’m considering fully switching to Linux. The challenge is finding a strong replacement for LightRoom within Nix. I’ve checked Dark Table before; it wasn’t impressive back then, but if it’s the only option, I’ll give it another look. Are there any better or upcoming alternatives on the way? I’m comfortable with Nix, but prefer Debian-based distros if possible.
The options available are GIMP, Krita, Darktable, and a Linux distribution. GIMP may be somewhat aggressive during compression, while Krita is promoted as a drawing application but functions well for photo editing. Darktable remains functional, though I’m not a professional and don’t use it extensively. The main challenge will be adapting to the new process, but you can achieve about 95% of what you do in Adobe products. A local photographer uses Linux for wedding photography without heavy contracts, and he seems satisfied with his workflow. He doesn’t rely much on complex agreements. For a distribution, Kubuntu LTS is recommended for a workstation because it includes KDE by default and supports Krita and Wacom tablets. Other distros can work too, though some may require specific formats.
I think getting the MacOS version again would be disappointing... @Radium_Angel, give LightZone a shot—it's meant to replace LightRoom. Besides, here are some alternatives you might want to explore. If nothing works, running a Windows VM could be a practical solution; just keep it offline to avoid EOL concerns.
I checked LR in a virtual environment, but if I decide to leave the entire system, I’ll stop abruptly.
It should be possible to move the license. The current version usually supports up to two sessions running at once. I only mentioned this because the new M1 chips are quite powerful, and if @Radium_Angel prefers staying in Adobe’s ecosystem, this is likely their best option since they’ve made native updates. (If you really don’t want to rely on virtual machines) Either way, consider what you need and how much effort you’re willing to invest in learning open-source tools versus Adobe products. Software like GIMP and Darktable would work well depending on your needs.
Also, I noticed you didn’t want to lose your workstation. If you’re considering this later, I’d look for a used M1 Mac (2020 model) in the future. I’m not a big Apple fan myself, but I bought one with my stimulus check—it’s a capable machine with a slight learning curve.
You can set up Windows inside a virtual machine, move your existing license there, and then fully remove it from the internet to prevent tracking, automatic updates, or malware. Both VMWare and VirtualBox offer methods for moving files between host and guest systems. Using Wine may work with older Photoshop versions, but running them natively will provide a smoother experience overall.
Can't confirm if you're seeking a distro suggestion or merely restricting alternatives to Debian Disto. If the first is your intent, start with stock Ubuntu and add as many desktop environments (DEs) as possible. Switch between them via the login screen. Enable the username field; a settings icon will appear at the bottom right, letting you toggle DE selections. This helps determine which "flavor" suits you best. Running multiple DEs together may cause package conflicts and minor issues like missing icons—though from experience, it's sufficient to explore one DE before deciding.
Addendum: This approach is a casual setup just to discover your preference. A clean install with your chosen DE without others would be ideal. Updated November 9, 2021 by LurkAndLoiter Clarified the need for a fresh install after selection.