Is Microsoft Gunning for Adobe? I Think Not

“So, whats this about Microsoft deciding it wants to compete with Adobe?”

The question came from a friend of mine, a Mac user who knows I follow Microsoft. Like seemingly all Mac business users, shes also an Adobe customer. Any threat to Adobes Acrobat or Creative Suite would concern her greatly.

While I was aware of Microsofts recent announcements of the Metro printing architecture and Acrylic, a freehand drawing program now in beta, I hadnt really investigated them. But, I promised I would, and heres my report:

On the Acrylic front, I spoke with Forest Key, a group product manager in Microsofts developer organization.

Its interesting that this graphics product is being managed by the same group thats responsible for Visual Studio and Microsofts other software development tools.

That could change, of course, but a real desktop application would be expected to live in a different product group.

The history of what is now called Acrylic might be helpful in understanding what Microsoft wants to do with the product.

Formerly known as Creature House Expression, Microsoft purchased the Hong Kong-based company in 2003.

My impression is Redmond wanted the programmers more than the product, which Microsoft has been giving away via a Web site.

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