I'd like to ask what you're using the software for? Is it to do image touch up; red-eye removal, color/contrast adjustments, touch up, image sharpening... or more advanced image processing.
Photoshop has a lot of bells and whistles and can be combersome to use. Most folks use only a few of the features. If you want, tell me what you would like to do and I'll create instructions.
Once I know what you would like to do, I can suggest some additioanl programs.
dwk