Yes I do agree.
However GIMP is quite advance piece of application which has a steeper learning curve. Picasa is good but the control on the editing is quite limited. I have used Paint.NET for 2 years, and is really good with 1 short coming, that is, it does not allow you to re-edit any text layer once finalised.
Which is why I recommended Artweaver over Paint.NET on my blog. Artweaver's interface looks similar to that of Photoshop Element too.
However GIMP is quite advance piece of application which has a steeper learning curve. Picasa is good but the control on the editing is quite limited. I have used Paint.NET for 2 years, and is really good with 1 short coming, that is, it does not allow you to re-edit any text layer once finalised.
Which is why I recommended Artweaver over Paint.NET on my blog. Artweaver's interface looks similar to that of Photoshop Element too.
All these are free and I find good.
1. Picasa - for the PP 'dummy'. Does most of the <1m PP work like crop, brightness/contrast, BW, Saturation
2. Paint.Net - Quite powerful once some of the plug-ins are added (free as well). For the layers, or other more complicated work
3. GIMP -'the free photoshop'.