Microsoft Changes Expression on MSDN
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Starting today, Microsoft will reverse its policy on the availability of some Expression products through MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network). Microsoft is making the change in response to developer complaints, which we first reported last month. |
Microsoft will immediately make Expression Web availability to all MSDN Premium subscribers and Expression Blend when the product releases later this quarter. The larger Expression Studio would be available to MSDN Premium subscribers of Visual Studio Team Suite. Microsoft doesn't plan to make Expression Design or Expression Media otherwise available to MSDN subscribers.
The turnabout follows developer complaints about the software's unavailability through MSDN.
"We continued our research in how MSDN subscribers will use the tools and how the developers and designers work together in an integrated workflow," Forest Key, director of product management for Microsoft's design tools, told Microsoft Watch.
Key described the change as "direct response to the community," which Microsoft got directly from some developers and also Microsoft Watch.
During Microsoft's 2005 developer conference, the company heavily touted the benefits of Expression, which many developers took to mean for them. After all, it was a developer conference, not a designer conference.
Whether a miscommunication or change in marketing positioning, Microsoft later aligned Expression for designers and forthcoming Visual Studio Orcas for developers. So, some developers expecting Expression on MSDN were surprised not to see it. Meanwhile, Expression tools for technologies such as WPF/E (Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere) advanced further along the development process than Orcas.
Microsoft has talked up Expression and Orcas as solving logistical problems at both ends of the workflow—designers and developers. However, Expression availability on MSDN acknowledges there is some confusion about who does what. Among the four products, Blend is probably the most borderline between use by designers versus developers.
"Term designer and developer is nebulous at best," Key acknowledged.
Microsoft's timing is perhaps interesting, considering that last week Adobe launched CS3 [Creative Studio 3]. The software goes on sale later this month. Expression Web and Blend would compete with portions of CS3 and would be available for free to eligible MSDN subscribers.
Key dismissed Microsoft's timing as mere coincidence.
"We're doing this now, because we didn't want this [MSDN announcement] to be noise" overshadowing the launch of Expression Studio, Key said. He described the launch as "imminent," given the second quarter has started.
Key emphasized, "Our developer base in not the same as the CS3 audience."
Microsoft Watch readers, do you agree with Key?
Related:
- March Orcas CTP Shows Some Expression?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 28, 2007
- Microsoft's Expression Means What?, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 16, 2007
- Gauging Microsoft's Expression, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 4, 2006
- Microsoft Unveils Expression Studio Design Tools Suite, 'Flash Killer,' eWeek, Dec. 4, 2006
- Microsoft Goes After Adobe, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 26, 2006
- Microsoft Takes Aims at Adobe with Expression, eWeek, Aug. 22, 2005
Comments (3)
Forest Key: "Our developer base in not the same as the CS3 audience." Of course not, since no sane person would choose a MS tool over an Adobe tool. But you can be certain MS will try to take the CS3 audience away from Adobe.
As for the Expression announcement coinciding with the release of Adobe CS3: Well, why wouldn't MS want to steal a bit of Adobe thunder? Remember, they are now in direct competition with Adobe.
The thought of MS trying to muscle in on Adobe's turf is laughable. When I think 'design', I think 'Adobe' and would never, ever think 'Microsoft'. When will Microsoft stop trying to be everything for everybody?
Posted by EL | April 3, 2007 2:47 PM
Well call me insane, then, but if they want me to switch they'll need to add the design tools to the MSDN subscription as well. They seem to be missing the point that in a lot of smaller operations the developer is also the designer, and vice-versa.
Posted by Jon | June 25, 2007 8:08 PM
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