Wing Tang Wong

What would you do?

Let's say that you are faced with a really tough problem:

• Release product that isn't really ready to get off the ground, but at least will provide support for both Windows and Mac platforms?
• Delay one version, so that you can release it right in the long term?

This dilemma is one that Adobe was faced with, regarding Adobe Photoshop CS4. They have a 32bit version out for both Mac OSX and Windows. However, for their new 64bit version, they only have a Windows version. The reason? Because the API they were planning on using, 64bit Carbon, was going to be delayed. This left them with an abrupt forced requirement to port code over to 64bit Cocoa. Hmm... have you seen the CS4 application? It's huge. That's alot of code.

Adobe has released a feature and function complete Windows and Mac version of their application for the 32bit platforms, so it isn't like people are out of luck. The only people who get impacted by this are those who want to use more than 4GB of system RAM, without paging memory, or squeeze out that last 8-12% of performance, which 64bit offers.

As for the 64bit version of Photoshop CS4? Well, according to John Nack's blog, it probably won't make the CS4 release. CS5 will be when 64bit Photoshop will arrive for the Mac.

So... What Does This All Mean?

Honestly, I don't think it means anything for many people out there. If CS4 has the features you need and want, then get the 32bit version. If it doesn't, but you need 64bit, wait for CS5.

Ie, Adobe is doing what they can to make the best out of an otherwise tough situation, while ensuring that people are getting reliable products.

I would rather they get it right, then push out a buggy piece of software, that can potentially cause problems. If you're going to press and need things to work, problems equals money.

PS: I'm a CS3 Photoshop user. I'm also a Lightroom user. Yes, I'm disappointed. However, I'm also relieved that Adobe isn't making a mad dash to get a product out the door. It takes a company with maturity to choose the harder, but responsible path. Bravo, Adobe.

UPDATE: 64bit Windows Available To Macs Via Virtualization...

Well, if you are the proud owner of a MacPro or MacBookPro, flexing those 64bit muscles and the raw capacity of more than the scant 2-3GB of RAM, you might be able to take advantage of the 64bit version of PhotoshopCS4, via the VMware Fusion virtualization application!

I've got the MacBookPro, but I don't have but 2GB of RAM and no 64bit Windows OS to play with. :/

Related Links/Resources

Interested in more about this issue? Check out the links below:

• |John Nack's CS4 64bit Blog Post
• Learning Carbon
• Carbon Programming
• Beginning Mac OS X Programming
• Cocoa(R) Programming for Mac(R) OS X (3rd Edition)
• Tuaw's Commentary
• Mac OS X Programming
• Step into Xcode: Mac OS X Development
• Programming in Objective-C (Developer's Library)
• Programming with Quartz: 2D and PDF Graphics in Mac OS X (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics)
• Cocoa(R) Programming for Mac(R) OS X (3rd Edition)
• Cocoa Programming
• Cocoa Programming for Dummies
• Cocoa in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))
• The Mac Xcode 3 Book
• Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X