MICROSOFT PAINT

Criterion 1

Microsoft Paint is produced by Microsoft. It is part of Windows 95 and can not be purchased separately. Windows 95 requires a PC to install it on and will become the main base that your computer is built upon.

Criterion 2

As paint cannot be bought separately you have to purchase Windows 95 which costs $300 or if you are simply upgrading from Windows 3.1 it costs $149 to upgrade. It does seem rather expensive but when you consider that it is not just paint you are buying but many other features as well I believe it is quite reasonably priced. However, if you do not wish to have all the other programs and simply want a paint program a alternative program may be your best option. Paint is easy to use and mainly requires skill with a mouse. It has its own help guide to assist you if you have difficulty. Generally, you should not have to install it as it should be done for you by the company you purchase it from. Windows 95 does come with a book on installing it on your computer and it gives you step by step instructions.

Criterion 3

Paint does have a help system installed that is easy to access and gives good directions. In the Windows 95 manual it has a short section on paint. However, this is not beneficial and it is best to use help within the program. Because it is a publishing package you have control of what you wish to create, but it is limited as Paint does not have never-ending capabilities.

Criterion 4

The lay out of paint is simple and easy to understand. It has on the left hand side all of the icons needed to assist you in producing pictures. On the right hand side on the screen is the section for you to draw in. This section would take up about 85% of the screen area. The icons are easily used by clicking on them with the mouse. They are then ready to use on the other picture. Once you click on the icon that is the application you are using until you click on another icon. The pictures on the icon easily show what that icon does. For example a can is a spray can and gives you a spray can effect on the screen. To change the colour you simply click on the colour icon found at the bottom of the screen. You are able to delete anything that you wish to by using the eraser. There is also an edit function available which will undo your last to changes to your picture.

Criterion 5

I think paint is an easy program, but I watched a six year old use it the other day and it did not seem as easy. It requires good mouse skills which this child as has as he had used a computer and mouses before. It was good for drawing basic pictures, but he was unable to use the program to it full potential. This, however, is understandable as he is young. For doing simple rectangles and things he was quite good, but he became frustrated when he could not produce on the screen what he wanted too. He did need my assistance quite a bit, but this was also the first time that he had used the paint program. It was not as user friendly as I first thought.