yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

If you don't want to go the subscription Photoshop / Lightroom route, you could try Photoshop Elements which is a one-time purchase. Another alternative that is far simpler to use is Luminar, and the latest version has a free 1 week trial.

BillFeffer Loc: Adolphus, KY

Think of editing RAW as just like editing jpeg with a vastly greater range of editing options.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I would start with Nikon's free Capture NX-D it is easy to use and quite good.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

I have worked with PS since version 2.0 and I currently use PS CC. I have been a professional commercial photographer for over a dozen years and I have had the advantage of learning PS in small incremental steps with each update offered. I have found it helpful to attend PS seminars and use tutorials whenever possible. I have had numerous friends who have found PS to have long learning curve and they are correct. I think the dedication to learn the program has been worth the effort, however, for those who don't wish to delve so deeply into it, I usually recommend Photoshop Elements. It has many of the same capabilities as PS, but it's much easier to learn because it isn't so complicated by hundreds of features. It also works with Adobe Camera Raw which I think is essential when shooting in RAW and making adjustments in JPGs. I also like the free companion, Bridge, which I find to be a great help in organizing my photos for post-production. I have On1 Photo Raw (but I have yet to seriously use it) and I have tried several other editing solutions. I don't think there is a better photo editing program than PS in some form. Just my opinion. Good luck!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Improve your computer savvy from "somewhat" to "comfortable" or even "advanced". That would be a good start. I use Photoshop Elements and find it to be perfectly adequate for post processing.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Nikon has excellent editors for their NEF files and they are free. I use Nikon View NX2 but they have a new version and also the better one called Capture NX-D.
I recommend those editors for Nikon files because they will assure you that the colors but specially skin colors would be printed like they should. For the Web any editor will do.

CaptainBobBrown

ON1 Photo Raw 2020 is a 1 time fee and has everything you need now or can grow into as you progress. Others like Luminar 4 or its predecessors. Lots of choices but all will give you opportunity for growth.

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

I began post processing RAW with Photoshop Elements and added Affinity; am well satisfied using both. Both are easier on the $$ budget.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

I second all of the above and would add that for me at least it was the easiest to learn of the six or so editing programs I have tried, although AP has so many features that I'm still learning. There has been some criticism of the Develop Persona, as the early process of RAW file conversion is called by Affinity, in a couple of past threads on this forum but I personally have not found these to be a problem. Perhaps the usual $50 price will be discounted on Black Friday. But there is nothing to lose monetarily with the free trial.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Personally, I can not image not having PP software for even JPGs. I generally shoot RAW and I sometime play with Focus Stacking, stitching Panoramas, and EBTR, where I must use Photoshop or something similar.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You said "Somewhat computer savvy" and you can't get the CD installed?

First thing to do is ask friends and family what they use. If they use something and can help mentor you get that software so you always have help at your disposal. If not, then settle on one software and stick with it. If you keep trying all those different softwares, you'll be totally confused and you'll never get it. Focus on ONE.....

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Once you download you images, you have more options from a RAW based image, but most of the steps will continue to be similar to steps you did with jpeg images if you were doing post processing.

There are many You Tube videos that will be a good training resource.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

For editing RAW files I use ON1. It is great and user friendly.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

As I recall, any editing done on Nikon software cannot be saved to Photoshop, for one.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Yes, but can you edit RAW in Elements?