Digital BW, The Print

Martin writes:

> One of the problems is that PS seems to basically
> have an antiquated memory management system that
> does not mesh well with OS memory management.

PS memory management is seriously brain-dead, although Adobe stubbornly
insists that this defective memory management is necessary.  It's a holdover
from the days when Macs could not manage memory decently (they still can't,
in the Mac OS, but I presume that OS/X fixes this).  They've never fixed it
or removed it.

> Seems like the biggest speed barrier in PS is
> Adobe who is more interested in new tools and
> Web functions than in revamping the core software
> and adding the ability to use layers in 16-bit.

Adobe wants to come out with new updates regularly in order to maintain a
fat revenue stream.  It's _far_ easier to add new (albeit useless) bells and
whistles for each update than it is to revamp the fundamental design of the
code.  I'd like to see better memory management and 16-bit layers, too (that
might actually justify upgrading from 5.0.2 for me), but I'm not holding my
breath.  The Web toys and other junk are the key Adobe priorities, so that
they can sell the software to people who have never used it before, and so
that they can churn out updates and overcharge for them at very close
intervals, and thereby support the price of their stock.