Photoshop is the gold standard of photo editing suites, but it's also pretty expensive. In fact, the only way to get it is to pay $30 a month to Adobe for a copy of Photoshop CC, a new cloud version of the software that can only be activated once you make the monthly payment. For the professional photographer, that's simply a business expense. But for the casual enthusiast who enjoys taking pictures but isn't doing it for a living, that can be a substantial investment.

Additionally, Photoshop CC is an advanced piece of software that takes years to master. Instead of forking over hundreds of dollars for a program that you'll have to take classes about, we recommend trying out these packages, which provide advanced photo editing features for a much lower cost:

• Adobe Photoshop Elements: This version of the company's flagship software is meant for consumers rather than professionals. It features a more stripped-down interface, but still comes with many of the main features that one looks for in photo editing, giving you control over lighting, color and a host of other areas. It can be purchased for $99.
• Paintshop Pro: Developed by Corel, this Photoshop alternative has many of the bells-and-whistles that you can get from Adobe, but for a fraction of the price at $59.99. 
• Pixlr.com: Unlike the other programs mentioned above, Pixlr runs in your browser. Simply type "Pixlr.com" into your URL bar and you'll be taken to a photo editing interface very similar to Photoshop, without having to install any software on your computer. The best part? Pixlr is free.

You'll find that these programs will work better if you're running them on a custom laptop from companies such as Sony Vaio, Toshiba and Apple. You can find the latest technology from these companies by visiting PortableOne today!