Simple and free photo editor for Windows

I often look for free (as in beer) photo editing tools for Windows, because often friends need little corrections that are ridiculous to be performed with a real software like PhotoShop or the GIMP.

What I ask is:

• simple interface, not too candy and – if possible – not customized but plain Windows-like window!
• small loading time
• fast image browser
• Basic RAW import capability (what to do if your friend gives its SLR photos?)

I tried Google’s Picasa, but still they insist not to save  your changes (rotation, cropping etc) in order to preserve your original image. Fine: but what if I’d like to open the picture with another program (and I DO) or if I want to copy those pictures to friends USB keys? Picasa it’s good, but with a closed mind ad hoc architecture.

IrfanView looked to geeky, Paint.NET it much too heavy.

I found PhotoScape that looks so good. Interface it’s a little bit too candy, but has severa features easily accessible.
Uhm, honestly… I don’t like the interface at all (why cropping tool is not just the standard icon to click on?) but it’s still the best tool I found.

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