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Home > Reviews > Microsoft Paint
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Review: Microsoft Paint |
| Product type: |
Drawing program |
Maker: |
Microsoft (the old one) |
| Price: |
Came with the computer |
Date reviewed: |
09/14/2023 |
| Tested on: |
Dell Dimension 4550, Windows XP Professional (Paint version 5.1) |
What I Was Told This Was
Microsoft Paint does not describe itself. It is under Accessories, and it is called Paint, and it paints. In twenty-eight years of reading product literature I have never encountered a product so unwilling to make a claim. I respected it immediately.
What Happened
I opened it. It opened. There was a white page with edges (see Figma for what happens when there are no edges). Along the left were tools, and when I put the arrow on one, a small yellow note came up and told me what it was. I did not read the note, on principle, but I want it on the record that the note existed.
I clicked the pencil. It drew a line. I clicked the bucket. It filled the shape. I clicked the letter A and typed "TEST" and the word TEST appeared, in the place I had clicked, and did not go anywhere else.
There is a File menu. It is where File menus go. Under it are New, Open, Save, Save As, and Print. I will not pretend I was not moved.
I clicked Print. It printed. I have now been reviewing programs for nineteen years and this is the first time all three of those things have happened in the same afternoon. The page came out of the printer with TEST on it. I have put it in the binder.
I will note one thing against it. When I tried to draw a straight line freehand it was not straight, which I blame on the mouse pad, which has a dog on it and is not level.
A window came up asking if I wanted to update the program. I clicked No. I have never once seen an update improve a thing that already worked, and this already worked.
A Note on Denise
Denise came in, looked at the screen, and said "hold Shift for a straight line." I did not do that. I would not want to put that kind of stress on the key. Denise agreed the program is fine, which is the strongest thing she has said about a program.
Verdict
Microsoft Paint is a piece of paper with a pencil next to it. That is the highest thing I can say about a program. It still is not a fax machine, and so four (4) is the highest it can go, and four (4) is what it gets.
This is the highest score ever awarded on this site. Please do not write to me about it.
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Reader Mail on this review (2 entries from the Guestbook)
"Congratulations to Paint on the four. Will anything ever get a five?" – Barb, Peoria, IL, 09/20/2023
Lyle responds: Thank you Barb. No.
"Lyle, you know they've updated Paint like six times since XP? The new one has layers and AI." – Tom, Madison, WI, 09/16/2023
Lyle responds: Thank you Tom. I am aware there are newer versions. That is what is wrong with them.
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