I needed a program that could do layers and web graphics.  I found this:  http://www.getpaint.net/ -- Paint.net, a Microsoft mentored senior design project.  It is open source.  It is very fast.  And I think I'm going to like it more than Photoshop.  Of course, it doesn't do CMYK colorspaces and the like, but without color swatches, that doesn't help much with putting out print materials.