Besides Photoshop, I use Gimp (which is FREE and a decent Photoshop clone, minus Photoshop's CMYK and Pantone support), Microsoft Paint, Adobe ImageReady, and a number of programs that allow for easy image format changes, such as Hijaak Pro, IrfanView, etc. Strangely enough, there are image formats that Photoshop does NOT support (such as making icons for Windows systems). Graphic Converter on the Mac is also useful.

GraphicConverter X -
http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/263

I still use Live Picture, although it runs only under OS 9. In many of its functions it is superior to Photoshop, and is able to do some things that Photoshop is incapable of. It is a program I use regularly in image compositing. I'd be lost without it, and only wish that someone would see the value of updating the code so that it will run under modern operating systems.

Corel Painter!
I know I use it where I need the incredible tools to create things that would be difficult or impossible in Photoshop.

I use Corel Painter a lot when editing images, yet it never gets included in these surveys. It has many tools, filters and brushes that are not available in Photoshop, and Version 9 is extremely compatible. The cloning function is particurly useful when combining images, and that one can paint on a layer with true subtlty is superior. Perhaps Paint Shop Pro does some of this, but I wouldn't know.

It would be interesting to do a survey on the use of this application.

I primarily use Photoshop but occassionally use Corel Painter

I occasionally use ACDsee on XP for simple editing. I got it for cataloging media. I have started using GIMP on OSX rather than spend money on Photoshop. Neither is a replacement for Photoshop but I can get much of what I need done with them.

I use Corel Photo Paint X3

(for mac) GraphicConverter

Corel PhotoPaint

I also use Photoshop Elements 4 for the "creativity" features and some of the other features that CS2 doesn't have.

I pose the question only because of my own notion of what constitutes "editing". In my opinion, if it doesn't "move pixels", it ain't an editor! So applications such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture NX aren't technically (in my mind) editors. You can't swap heads or remove blemishes or eliminate trees and buildings with those applications. Raw processing software prepares images to be brought into editing software. Using that "logic", Corel Photo Paint is an editor, while Capture NX is not.

I can't imaging giving up Photoshop.

For graphic web design Fireworks does it all for me. I almost never use PS, although I suppose I will have to actually buy it soon! ;-)

Debabelizer. Perhaps I can do similar things in Photoshop, but it has two stellar advantages - (1) easily handles batches with sophistication (like the 800 images just off my camera); and
(2) great technical sophistication (like taking all pixels in a certain specified RGB range and doing something to them)

As a testament to Photoshop, I would agree with the article, although Photoshop has its' short comings which are being cancelled out with each new version.

However, I use Fotostation, Canon's ZoomBrowser and IfranView on occasion.

I primarily use Macromedia Fireworks for Web dev jobs -- and also just started using Google's Picasa for quick image editing of most of my personal photos. It's efficient and effective and free!

Here is one important editing program that you overlooked in your article - CorelDraw Graphics Suite 12 which includes Corel PhotoPaint. It is a great suite that is comparable to Photoshop.

Because our office uses CorelDraw 12 extensively, I'll on occasion use Corel Photo-Paint 12. Photoshop is still my favourite application, but CorelDraw doesn't allow me to quickly edit an image with PhotoShop when editing an image I have placed in my CorelDraw file. As soon as I figure this out I'll probably never use Photo-Paint again.

We run an entertainment website and usually convert or create our clients' web banners. We also edit photos, create postcards, flyers, banners, t-shirt designs etc. using Fireworks. It has many of the same features as Photoshop, can use Photoshop plugins as well as those from Alien Skin et al and is much more userfriendly and in my opinion, intuitive than Photoshop. I took a class in Photoshop back in the day when we were still raw-coding HTML and learning Dreamweaver 2. We used Fireworks in my Dreamweaver class and compared to Photoshop, it was much easier and faster plus it integrates directly with Dreamweaver and Freehand and can export in a variety of formats - including Photoshop native files. I don't know anything about the other programmes listed but you got my vote for Fireworks - at least as long as Adobe/Macromedia keeps this treasure around!

Painter
Lightroom
Live Picture

I use Corel PhotoPaint and Adobe/Macromedia Fireworks as well

Graphic Converter!

http://www.dl-c.com/Temp/
This program costs $100, is not as bloated as Photoshop and is great for photos... a lot of pros are starting to use it...

Why Photoshop has become synanamous with Photo Retouching in India is because the people here have a tendency to blindly follow the safe path;as an Indian I can say this because I am a living proof of it.80% users here use Photshop as Image editing tool,instead of phot-retouching tool;whereas Corel Draw is perhaps used by 99% of users.There are very few who would try out a new,more innovative or a software with steep learning curve;and they are a community in themselsves.Why is Photshop always confused with DTP software is a funny thing;even though 50% of prepress printers don't know the diffrence between "Bitmap Editing" and "Vector Image";all they know is that files should be in 24 bit BMP format and CMYK profile.The most widely used functions of Photoshop in India is creating photo montage and adding/replacing of background.Though now designers who have broken out of the mould and set-up their own indi-studio are using Photoshop's immense creativity.

Fireworks
Painter
Gimp