#Bill Kills Composer
22 messages in this thread
I got my official Microsoft letter of death this week. They have killed
Composer and will stop supporting the product at the end of this month. A
moment of silence is in order…
–
– Bob Ritger
>> killed Composer <<
No, kidding!!! Silence is right…….but, maybe it will get put into
CALabs<VBG>
-Ted Boardman
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Sad to hear. I didn't even know they _were_ supporting it. Ah, well… Looks
like Photoshop has a stranglehold on image manipulation.
– Jack
Composer has now officially reached cult status. It will live on like a martyr
with honored status on hard drives where it has found a home. Mine will be in
use for a long time to come. Lets just hope that the Bill doesnt't buy
Autodesk.
Michael Bartlett – AEtherium Visions
In five years, Bill will have bought every software company, and there will be
nothing left but Windows — no apps to run on Windows, just… Windows.
– J
Yes but by then we will have so many icons to click on that we won't even
notice that the programs are gone!
Anne
Jack:
We'll have to see what incarnations Microsoft has planned for the engine
behind Composer. Sorry to see this useful package discontinued.
– Bob Ritger
>> I got my official Microsoft letter of death this week. They have killed
Composer and will stop supporting the product at the end of this month. A
moment of silence is in order… <<
Bummer. Big-time. It's like having tossed $500 right out the window. Did they
offer any upgrades to _anything_ else or just say "to bad, chump!"?
– Ernie Jackson, 73177,2354
22-Jul-1995 09:47:17 PDT
Ernie:
The letter mentions no upgrade but that "you will see the underlying
capabilities [of Composer] in a number of future Microsoft products". Looks
like it is being dismantled and used for scrap.
– Bob Ritger
I have to agree. This was (still is) one of the nicest pieces of software ever.
No walking around the block to get next door.
Will Tait
Will:
>> This was (still is) one of the nicest pieces of software ever. No walking
around the block to get next door. <<
And don't forget the awesome product manuals.
– Bob Ritger
Thanks Bob, that's very nice. But it's Alvy's vision of using alpha as the
fourth channel it's meant to be (along with RGB) that made Composer special.
It's the only program I've found that successfully combined a pixel "paint"
program with an object "drawing" program.
– J
>>It's the only program I've found that successfully combined a pixel "paint"
program with an object "drawing" program.
Yes, and I, for one was really hoping that AAS would pick up this paradigm.
Michael B.
I use Composer every day. I wish every program could be as useful and easy to
be productive with. We will have to wait and see what Alvy comes up with next.
Whatever it is will be very interesting I am sure.
Will
I doubt that Alvy is working on anything like Composer at present.
– J
Are there any rumors about what Alvy Ray IS working on? I'm no fan of
behemoths, but I can't believe Gates is able to seduce brilliant, creative
people with "only" money. Like, I really don't believe Steven Speilberg is
stupid, and I can't imagine the author of Composer could be convinced to
creatively disappear, just for money. They must be sold on a vision.
I suspect that Alvy may enjoy the rainy country. <g> (Actually, I don't know
exactly what he's working on.)
– J
>>>>I doubt that Alvy is working on anything like Composer at present.<<<<<<
Right, but I bet he is having fun.
Will
Last I heard, he was flying around the world — first class, of course — to
places like Switzerland, giving lectures. Not bad.
– J
>>>>Last I heard, he was flying around the world — first class, of course —
to places like Switzerland, giving lectures. Not bad.<<<<
Right!
By the way, do you use Composer? After I did a 5 minute demo, a friend of mine
said she would very much like to find a copy to purchase. Do you know of any
not being used?
I did a lot of the art work that was used for trade shows and did demos at
Comdex and other places for Altamira.
Will
I still use Composer (what else is there?). Unfortunately, I don't have an
extra copy, so I'm not sure what your friend can do at this point.
I remember your art work from the days when they were getting ready to release
the product. Absolutely great stuff!
– J
>>>I still use Composer (what else is there?). Unfortunately, I don't have an
extra copy, so I'm not sure what your friend can do at this point.<<<
There is nothing else. I used to see it bundled in some Soundblaster MM kits.
Not for a while though. Ah well…..
>>>I remember your art work from the days when they were getting ready to
release the product. Absolutely great stuff!<<<
Thanks. By the way what does J stand for? Do we know each other? Pardon my
ignorance if we do. It's allways nice to meet another Composer afficionado.
Will
– J