After two decades of successfully steering clear of Microsoft, Adobe Systems is edging closer to the software giant"s crosshairs.
Since its launch in 1982, when Microsoft was seven years old, Adobe has built up a commanding lead in the markets for digital document and image editing software, among the few areas in PC software Microsoft has failed to dominate.
Microsoft"s test release last week of the Acrylic graphic design tool and the demonstration of its Metro digital document format indicate that the company may be growing less tolerant of Adobe as it encroaches on Microsoft"s turf with the proposed acquisition of Macromedia and its Flash and Flex framework for building Web-based applications.