What's the Point of Banishing Microsoft Paint?

I was stunned to hear that Microsoft Pigment will no longer exist a built-in part of Windows. But only considering I was unaware information technology was even still around; I haven't used it in over a decade.

Opinions Microsoft Paint was originally PC Paintbrush from ZSoft and was incorporated into Windows 1.0 in 1985. It'due south been around always since then in various improved iterations. Photoshop users similar myself never bothered with information technology. For simple photograph editing, smart users have IrfanView.

That said, everyone is at present kvetching about MS Paint moving to the Windows Store with the next Windows 10 Creators Update. Merely without Monday'southward breathless coverage, would anyone have noticed?

Maybe non, but the coverage shows that at least some people are attached to it. So why get rid of it? To make room for 3D Pigment, apparently, but does the original really require that much work? Does information technology cost Redmond billions to go along adrift? Seems unlikely. So why non continue it in the Windows 10 bundle?

It must have some redeeming quality, yes? Let's kick information technology up and see. Information technology'south a very simplistic doodling program with some fancy brushes. In fact, playing with it, yous'll see why some people are carping. It looks to be the absolute fastest way to play with a photo y'all want to post on a social network similar Twitter.

For instance, the plan has, at the ready, spoken communication balloons and arrows. This way you lot tin can explanation a photo rather quickly.

MS Paint Example

This tin can be accomplished in nether a minute in one case you figure out the idiosyncrasies, similar how to resize the type with the selection tool.

I often annotate a photo on Twitter using an arrow within a Wingdings font. Information technology'southward very inconvenient with Photoshop, but with MS Paint, these lilliputian shapes are right there on the Abode tab. Thus, I tin can do this within a few seconds.

MS Paint Example

Using MS Paint for this kind of quick job is far superior to Photoshop or anything else around. And it is gratis and comes with all Windows installations. So why mess with a good thing? Sure, downloading the app from the Windows Store isn't that difficult, merely how many MS Pigment enthusiasts volition miss that memo and merely think their favorite app has disappeared for good? It's definitely not a competitor to Adobe Illustrator, only so what? It'due south the perfect complement to your social media toolbox for uses such as those above.

I'm reminded of all the good products Yahoo bought and discarded over the years; they garnered few headlines until their demise. Microsoft should take notation, lest it follow the same path.

About John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak is a columnist for PCMag.com and the co-host of the twice weekly podcast, the No Agenda Testify. His piece of work is licensed around the world. Previously a columnist for Forbes, PC/Calculating, Computer Shopper, MacUser, Barrons, the December Professional as well as other newspapers and magazines. Former editor and consulting editor for InfoWorld, he too appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, SF Examiner, and the Vancouver Sun. He was on the start-up team for C/Net besides equally ZDTV. At ZDTV (and TechTV) he hosted Silicon Spin for four years doing 1000 live and live-to-record Television receiver shows. His Net show Cranky Geeks was considered a …