Keybindings (Score 2, Interesting)

I have used both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator almost all day every day for roughly the last seven maybe eight years. (I work in various fields of design). I do however keep my eye on what is happening with the open-source equivalents. There are many reasons why I have not left PS and AI behind in favour of an OS solution, and I'm sure as the years pass by and the software matures many of these reasons will fade and disappear. MY (main) problem with both GIMP and Inkscape is that my productivity takes a significant dive when I try and get anything done in them.

Is this entirely the fault of the developers? Not exactly... .. . BUT, the decision to purposely use different key-bindings to those of PS and AI (because their way might just be better) is a real problem for me and anyone else who has become used to a certain way of working... old habits are hard to break and after the 10th time of reaching for the spacebar to pan around the screen (one example), and getting nothing, the programme gets dumped because although I am bright enough to learn to press a new button if I really need to, breaking a seven / eight year habit is a real pain (especially if I don't NEED to). There are people out there that are prepared to swap from PS and AI to an OS alternative, but if the price is too high for them, then it just won't happen.

Sometimes you have to acknowledge the short-comings of your potential user-base, and it is perfectly human to want certain aspects of familiarity in new and uncharted territory, especially if those familiarities have an impact on productivity. Many of us need to work with our hands ready at the shortcuts, our eyes on the screen, and our minds on the work at hand, instead of keep breaking concentration and remembering strange new key combinations. I do admit that this is a terribly negative and somewhat self-centered thing to say, and only really applies to those of us struggling to switch. It is however a both a real and valid point, depending of course who Inkscape / GIMP is actually aimed at.

I will keep returning to both GIMP and Inkscape, they are both great programmes and to those that are not already worked well into the groove of other applications these could one day be very serious PS an AI opponents.