I use Cyberlink PhotoDirector (like Lightroom). It has something similar called presets. Some supplied by the program, some by other users, and you can make (whatever adjustments you made in editing a photo) and save it. Kind of fun.
Newegg has Lightroom 3 for $148.00. Was $99.99 a couple days ago. Adobe Lightroom 4 beta is out for trial, so 3 will be on sale alot or so I would think.
Teacher and student editions are full editions but you need to qualify, usually need college email address or school educator number. Newegg has(had?) these on sale, but not sure if you still need to qualify??
Download a trial version of Elements and of Lightroom. Compare. I don't use Elements anymore really because I like the Lightroom/Cyberlink program interface better.
Gimp is a highly regarded freeware.
Photoshop CS 5 is the big photo editing software with every bell and whistle. Probably (definitely??) the most widely used software by professionals. Photoshop Elements 7,8,9, and 10 (newest) is a lighter version, but with plenty of tools. The cs 5 is most probably way over kill for anybody but a professional. Both made by Adobe (along with Lightroom 3). If you are just getting into it I won't spend the money for CS5. Photoshop Elements is plenty powerful even #7. If you are getting it free go for it, if buying it should be real cheap. Version 10 is only $99.00 list (less on sale). Lightroom 3 is also used by many professionals and is great, but about $299.00 list (there is a teacher/student discount and is on sale alot lately). Cyberlink Power Director is $99.00 list and very similar to Lightroom 3. Lightroom 3 and Power Director have easier learning curve than Elements and especially CS5.
You can get a free trial of most photo editing software before you buy. Most go on sale at different times. I got Adobe Lightroom 3 for $99.00 from Newegg a month ago (299.00 list). Check out Cyberlink Photodirector (99.00 list), a Lightroom clone. I have Photoshop Elements 9, but like the Lightroom/Cyberlink style better. Cyberlink has a beta trial going and with 'feed back' you might get a free license. Than there is Gimp (free) and a few others.
There are a couple drawbacks to using a laptop. The biggest is getting viewing angle right especially for adjusting exposure, brightness, contrast etc. I found that very frustrating to say the least.. Also screen size. It is nice to see the image bigger for editing. In new laptops processing power should be plenty good enough (think i5) even Intel's integrated graphics is much better than before. Make sure you get the 300O not the 2000, if the laptop does not come with a dedicated video card.
Cibachromes hold up well. Were considered longer lasting than other papers. Quite the rage for a while. They could be developed cheaper with Selectol (Soft???) rather than their proprietary developer.
I remember along with putting Borax in D-76, dual developers (Selectol-Soft/Dektol) for print contrast control etc.
As soon as you push the button, digital cameras manipulate the result to begin with, even in raw (though to a lesser degree) so....? Ansel Adams was thinking how to adjust a photo before he even exposed it i.e. the Zone System. When is photograph not a photograph anymore?? Ha! Use the tools, all the tools. Be an Artist.