Microsoft pulls off an extraordinary feat reinventing desktop application design, but it's only the taste of things to come regarding the web.

For years now there has been talk of Microsoft’s determination to move into the design software territory normally associated with Adobe. Now, with the launch of the Expression Studio suite, the talk is over – so how does it shape up?

Central to the Expression Studio is Expression Blend – and, as the full review shows, it’s been well worth the wait. Expression Blend is a ground-breaking application that uses Microsoft’s new XAML markup language to handle vectors, bitmaps, 3D, audio, video, user interface elements, databinding, animation and interactivity. By doing so, it allows programmers to work hand-in-hand with designers throughout the development process massively boosting efficiency and enabling a new level of engaging application design.
Expression Blend’s underlying technology and architecture are extraordinary, but for existing Flash-based designers this first release has two major practical downsides. First, the bundling of Visual Studio 2005 Standard to handle all logic coding and the need to get to grips with either C# or VB.NET is intimidating. Second, Blend’s browser-hosted XBAP applications are inherently tied to the Windows platform. As such, Microsoft’s direct challenge to Adobe Flash will have to wait for Blend 2.0 where both limitations are set to be addressed. In the meantime for desktop-oriented programmers and designers, and especially for Visual Studio-based development teams, Blend 1.0 is all set to go.

Expression Blend is the centre of this first release of Expression Studio

Expression Blend is a real stand out, but sadly the same can’t be said of its new supporting applications included in the Expression Studio. Expression Design is intended to be the creative core of the Studio and, in previous beta releases, it was just that, mixing advanced vector, bitmap and web capabilities. However, in this first official release, most of that power has been stripped out presumably to allow Design to focus on its role supporting Blend through XAML exchange.
Expression Media is even more disappointing. Microsoft clearly felt the Studio needed an Adobe Bridge-style media asset management application – but the program it bought in to do the job, iView Media Pro, is embarrassingly underpowered and old-fashioned. The standalone Expression Media Encoder is more modern and impressive – but its main selling point of outputting Silverlight-ready media for incorporation in web pages is ahead of its time until the player becomes established.

Expression Web adds standards-compliant web page authoring

While the new supporting applications add little, the Expression Studio includes another existing program which is far more powerful and could well be seriously useful. Expression Web, Microsoft’s web page authoring package, successfully lays the ghost of FrontPage by concentrating on XHTML and CSS standards compliance. The range and depth of its support is still limited compared to market-leading Dreamweaver, but Expression Web provides a sound foundation.
All in all, this first release of the Expression Studio is a mixed bag. Crucially however, with Expression Blend and Expression Web, Microsoft has a platform on which future versions of the Studio can build. Central here is the imminent arrival and hoped-for success of Silverlight. By extending the use of XAML beyond pre-compiled desktop applications and out into just-in-time (JIT) compiled web applets and web page components, the scope and value of the Expression Studio will extend enormously and really take the challenge to Adobe’s Flash.
Just as importantly, Silverlight should bring Expression Web fully into the Expression fold, and help integrate it with both Blend and Design, by adding XAML-based authoring to its feature set. Silverlight capabilities could also give Expression Web an important edge in its battle with Dreamweaver. Put everything together and Expression Studio 2 will certainly be interesting and could well prove compelling for existing web designers. However most will want to wait and see how Silverlight performs and how Adobe responds (see Adobe's Plans for Flash article) before they consider jumping ship...
Unless Microsoft can tempt them already with its aggressively attractive pricing. The standalone version of Expression Blend, including the bundled standard version of Visual Studio 2005, is a very reasonable $499. However, for just a little more ($100 in the US), the Expression Studio throws in Expression Design and adds Expression Media/Encoder and Expression Web. No doubt the usual rip-off pricing will apply for UK users but, however you cut it, Expression Studio is a bargain and the best way for most users to buy Expression Blend.
Perhaps just as significant, the generous pricing is also a sign of just how committed Microsoft is to ensuring Expression Studio’s success. Historically it’s generally proved unwise to bet against Microsoft when it targets a new software territory and this incursion into the RIA (Rich Internet Application) space isn’t a speculative push; it’s a massive mobilization. In particular Expression Studio’s new XAML-based handling provides a ground-breaking and extremely powerful new weapon for Microsoft’s existing army of .NET developers to unleash.
While this first release is by no means the finished article - and future web-based success depends on the as-yet unproved Silverlight – the launch of Expression Studio could well change the face of computing. Literally.

EASE OF USE 5/6
FEATURES 5/6
VALUE FOR MONEY 6/6
OVERALL 5/6