This is the #1 reason for its popularity. Photoshop 2024/2025 requires AVX2 instruction sets and refuses to install on older Core 2 Duo or early i3/i5 processors. The 2014.2.2 build runs smoothly on Windows 7, 8, and even older Windows 10 builds, using minimal RAM (as low as 2-4 GB).
Introduced in CC 2014.2, Focus Mask automatically selects the in-focus areas of an image. For portrait and macro photographers, this was a game-changer, allowing for one-click subject separation based on depth of field—something that still works brilliantly without needing AI cloud processing. Adobe Photoshop CC 2014.2.2 Portable - PAF
Before 2014.2, you could only embed Smart Objects. This update allowed you to link external files. If you updated a logo mockup, all linked Smart Objects updated automatically. This is a pro-level feature missing in many older portable versions. This is the #1 reason for its popularity
Due to the nature of the modification, several features are often compromised or non-functional: Introduced in CC 2014