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Microsoft's Expression design suite shipping in mid 2007
Microsoft is busy completing its first crack at knocking on Adobe's door by developing a suite of web and graphic design software called Expression Studio. The scheduled launch date is for the middle of 2007, and it will be selling for about $599 as a package. The software suite will include Expression Web, a revamped FrontPage, Expression Blend which is an interactive design tool previously called Interactive Designer, Expression Design, used for layout and graphic design, and Expression Media photo management software. Expression Web, Expression Blend, and Expression Media are currently available online for $299, $299 and $499.
I don't see these Microsoft products knocking down Adobe's doors. I see them more as small time home user applications. I could be wrong, but as a professional Adobe user, there is no way I would dream of making that switch. What do you think? Are these going to be heavy hitters in the marketplace?
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsaficiomaquinasDec 6th 2006 4:58PM
Yeah, I think it could be a good competitor to adobe. Because even we could all use open office for example, we keep on using microsoft office. Or some of the ones who aren't power users, keep on using frontpage for example. Maybe power users would keep their adobe products, but talking about sales, microsoft could win.
Though, expression don't seem to be that bad I think.
I consider myself a power user, but sometimes (about 5 times a year) I found myself using frontpage, and some other microsofts instead of dreamweaver, and I think sometimes its useful.
MarkDec 6th 2006 11:32AM
Personally, I love Expression Web. I've been using it for the past couple of months (beta), and it is pretty impressive. It does everything in CSS automatically, and allows you to export to a stylesheet. It's all standards based, and underlines code that is invalid (using the squigly spelling error type line). I love the interface too. This thing is like a complete overhaul of that crappy FrontPage software. Expression Web should be looked at as a completely different peice of software. It's nothing like FrontPage. (except for the fact it can connect to FrontPage servers)
Microsoft said that they built it to appeal to professionals, and I think they were successful. Did you try out the free trial, or watch the videos?
Peter KirnDec 6th 2006 12:29PM
I don't think these apps are about switching from Adobe to Microsoft software, honestly (whether that's Microsoft's hope or not). Notice the Illustrator export feature in the graphics tool -- they know what world they're living in.
No, I think this is more about having some streamlined apps that aren't everything to everyone. The hooks into Windows Presentation Foundation are especially interesting to me, especially because it's possible to mix WPF 3D and Flash. It seems a little akin to the launch of Apple Motion on the Mac for motion graphics; it became an addition creative tool for people using After Effects -- only a fraction of AE's functionality, but good at certain tasks that AE might not do as quickly.
Mark, it's good to hear what people are using it for, because I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I'll believe automatic standards-based CSS when I see it, but intriguing nonetheless.
The irony to me is that, for all the Mac's reputation for graphics, Windows users are quickly getting spoiled for choice.