WINE > about, now says it’s 1.3.15 … 
The repos last said 1.3.30 when I installed from the PPA, now it says 1.3.15 :S
I honestly don’t have a clue what’s going on, but I can’t play LFS because the FFB bug is back because I’m on a version of WINE below 1.3.28 and Photoshop is going crazy too.
Add and enable the ppa:ubuntu-wine/daily PPA, and run:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
We’re now at version 1.3.30… o.O
Still think you should bite the bullet and give The Gimp some airtime. 
I’ve tried it. I messed with it for at least 2-3 days sometime ago… Still couldn’t get the hang of it, and besides when Photoshop is working it acts so natively. I can use the fonts, 3D rendering, everything I need is right there. XD
I know what you mean I cut my teeth on all the versions up to 9. The Gimp works for me though. It has all the photographic adjustments that I need (along with Bibble pro and UfRaw) I just wish it was 16 bit.
To a certain extent Toonman is right … and I bet it took you longer than 2-3 days to get used to PS
Nope I didn’t lol. I’d been watching a lot of videos, so the whole this is here, that’s there thing, was pretty easy. Gimp is totally different to the way it handles layers, the way paths and a lot of other things work. 
“Different” … there’s that word again…
It always smacks of “can’t be bothered to learn” to me … which is fine, nobody is trying to force the Gimp on you (heh … that sounded odd 
), just use Windows and PS
Personally I’ve given up on WINE and trying to get Linux to run Windows apps … Ooops, that’s a lie, I still use Imgburn, but if it didn’t “just work”, I’d find a Linux native app instead.
The question is … “can the Gimp do what you want if you learn how”, or is this just a case of wanting Linux to be the same as Windows ?
There’s nothing to stop you reading and watching video’s on the Gimp.
Now if there IS something it can’t do that you NEED (and I know there are some things), then that’s a valid argument.
You’ll never convince me … or anyone else … that you picked up Photoshop in 2-3 days … even if you’d been using something similar for years, that’s just daft talk … and are you not including all the time you spent watching the videos and reading etc. ? … if that’s the case, watch a load of Gimp tutorials and read its manual, then you’ll get used to the Gimp in 2-3 days too.
It’s not that “I can’t be bothered”, it’s the fact that it means learning a whole new program, it’s shortcuts, how the layers actually work, (again an important feature to me, as layer blending styles & layer styles come into the factor).
Then there is the way of using the pen tool (one of my more favored tools). I use it a lot, for doing things like light streaks. Photoshop has a lens blur filter too, which GIMP doesn’t and I NEED that for my photography, amongst other things.
Not to mention, if someone asks for something done, they usually want the psd/pdd file, so they can mess around with it. So I’d need it for clients too. Which makes operations easier, also saves me time as I can import the psd files straight into After Effects or Adobe Illustrator.
it's the fact that it means learning a whole new program, it's shortcuts, how the layers actually work
isn’t that the same as
It's not that "I can't be bothered",
??
The rest is fair enough … and falls under the heading - “things I need it to do that it can’t” … can’t argue with that.
There’s always dual boot though … I just don’t like WINE … well really it’s the expectations it raises that I don’t like.
But when i’ve got time, I’ll see if I can find a way to get Natty (in a VM) to 1.3.28
No. By learning a whole new program I’d have to figure out the ways of exporting, saving & importing files. I then have to learn how the layers work, because they act VERY differently to Photoshop’s.
For example: In photoshop, if I have a background layer which is locked by default, and I want to unlock it. I simply double click the layer and it’s unlocked. With GIMP background layers aren’t locked.
Another example: Say I want to run a script that will execute a number of things like various layer styles, feathering and some retouching. I’d simply goto File > Script and select the script to use. What I want photoshop to do, photoshop does. I’m the owner, photoshop’s the dog.
With GIMP, I’d have to learn how / even if using scripts is possible. As the old expression goes, “Time is money”.
Another example: In photoshop I can use “masks” which are like protective layers inside that layer. I’ve had a good look around GIMP and I’ve not seen the “mask” option, and if it is there I don’t think it would be like Photoshop’s which would mean finding another way to do the thing I intended to do.
Don’t worry about it too much just now, it seems to have settled down could be temporary though.
I know it means you’d have to learn all those things … and … you “can’t be bothered”, you’d rather stick with PS … I’m not saying that’s wrong, just that the statement:-
It's not that "I can't be bothered", it's the fact that it means learning a whole new program, it's shortcuts, how the layers actually work...
contradicts itself
The rest of your last response was ALSO just another way of saying… “I can’t be bothered, I already know PS and don’t want to spend the time to learn anything else”… it’s ALL based on having to learn the GIMP interface, and not wanting to.
You use terms like “VERY differently”, “have to learn”, “figure out”, “I don’t think it would be like Photoshop’s”, and “finding another way” …
Your other problems are things like the background layers aren’t locked by default ? … really ? … lock them then.
It’s just a different way of doing things, and things are in different places (including mask and scripts) … learn where they are and how to use them.
I’m glad that PS in WINE is now working for you, but can’t help but think the time you spent trying to get it to work may have been better spent learning to use something that will work “properly” in Linux, and won’t waste more of your time the next time WINE is updated … after all, “Time is money”
I’m just pulling your leg … but call it what it is, you can’t be bothered to learn the GIMP :-*
If you can’t be bothered to learn the GIMP, or NEED a feature that the GIMP doesn’t provide … not a problem … use Windows and PS.
Though the GIMP will quite proficiently do most things that PS can do … it does do them somewhat differently.
What I’m saying is that IF you must have PS, then a VM or dual boot is preferable to wasting your time on an app that is at best “flakey” in WINE