I tried using Adobe's products for viewing only. It's overkill for what I'm trying to do, uses a ton of resources, and creates copies that I don't need in folders that are challenging to get to. I do use Adobe products for editing, however.
My current laptop is one year old, has an i7 proc, and 16GB RAM. It's not a resource issue.
I have long used the Windows built-in application for viewing pictures. Starting with Windows 10 and now 11, I have fully leveraged Photos to view, make quick edits, and compare.
Something's changed and...