Expression Studio 2 RTMs today!

I'm personally disappointed that the higher-tier Expression editions are excluded from the premium MSDN subscriptions. When I started by MSDN subscription, it was called "Universal" to mean all-inclusive. More and more, my subscription, which actually costs more now than it did in the past, includes less and less. I think this is a bad trend.

Sounds great, but I'd really like to get Design as part of my MSDN Team Edition for Software Developers. I appreciate the new Subscription, but I'm in the middle!!! I need TFS for Software Developers WITH Design. I am a developer/designer. I know this has been brought up here before, but just bringing it up again. Don't see why Expression Studio isn't in that SKU.

These are great products! A good toolset is crucial to getting the best out of WPF and Silverlight 2. As a small independent developer (not a designer) I find blend   invaluable and have been using design in beta more and more.

I have a VSTS Developer subscription and would like to know if blend 2, and 2.5 (when released) would be included?

Similarly will VSTS Team Suite continue to include Expression Studio?

I too share Tom's disappointment with the perceived value of the premium subscriptions and have observed with some dismay the increased value of the VS Professional subscription by comparison, and the additions to VSTS team Suite and yet the developer role sku now looks very unattractive and even more so if the Exprssion Suite is excluded. I purchased this on a 3 year ovla and am now wishing to change.

Appreciate your feedback.

Last year the Microsoft Expression team shipped a new suite of tools for creative professionals. This

Very excited about the great new stuff that the Expression team is now shipping.  Another great

My biggest dismay is the unavailability for an Express version for the Studio Suite, or any announcement promulgating as much.

Just like Visual Studio Express, you need to lower the entry bar for enthusiasts, and make these tools available for novices, that don't have hundreds of dollars to pay for something they have just started to learn.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to comment on this announcement. Your feedback is very valuable and I wanted to take a moment to let you know we are listening.

We recognize the tremendous interest in the Microsoft Expression product line within the existing MSDN subscriber community and have included Expression tooling in the premium MSDN subscription levels as a result.

To review:

- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite with MSDN Premium includes Expression Studio.

- All other MSDN Premium levels include Expression Web and Expression Blend.

Developers with design responsibilities want access to Expression just as designers with development responsibilities want access to Visual Studio. We provide tooling for each group with the MSDN subscription levels above--for developers who do design--and the new Expression Professional Subscription--for designers who do development.

Which Expression products are included in each MSDN subscription level is a business decision reflecting our desire to continue meeting the needs of professional developers while delivering an "MSDN for Designers" option that appeals directly (and uniquely) to professional designers.

In response to earlier comments:

Tom:

We have in fact added value to the top MSDN subscription level by including the entire Expression Studio. We have also added value to the Team Edition and VS Pro + MSDN Premium subscription levels by including both Expression Web and Expression Blend.

Nate:

Thanks for the feedback. You're correct in that we don't have an option for you today since you are unable to purchase Expression Design separately. We will continue to monitor interest in Expression Design as a standalone product and revisit based on customer feedback like yours.

Andrew:

Yes, Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition with MSDN Premium will include Expression Blend 2. All Blend 2 customers will receive Blend 2.5 for free when it ships. Also, VSTS Team Suite will continue to include Expression Studio as noted above.

vesuvius:

Express versions of our design tools is something we are factoring into our plans but Expression is only in its second release. The VS Express editions took four VS releases (6.0, 2002, 2003, 2005) to arrive.

Currently, we are focused on providing professional designers an integrated set of tools and improved workflow beyond anything that exists today. However, we are still committed to enthusiasts and those just starting out in design as evident by Popfly and programs such as DreamSpark.

Thanks,

Keith Smith

Director of Product Management

Microsoft Expression

Thanks for continuing the inclusion of Expression Studio with Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite. Writing software in a 'one team shop" makes me very dependant on time saving tools. I have to consider the time it takes to learn a new technology and the time it takes to implement said technology; Counterweighted with the return on investment. I’m finding that Expression Blend helps hide the learning curve but when I start “branching out” my needs, there’s a piece from one of the other expression studio  pieces that help fill a gap (example: new assets build from expression design). Please keep considering that Visual Studio Team Suite is the staple for some of us who wear ‘many hats’.

Best regards,

Will it be available on DreamSpark?

Thanks for the reply, Keith.

My preference would be to include Expression Studio in Team Suite For Software Developers. I didn't need the entire Team Suite. I am a one man shop as Daniel put it. However, I don't require the Database and Testing tools included in Team Suite Edition. Expression belongs at LEAST at that level. And for the past year I've had to sit on the sidelines because I've had no way to access Design without paying a ridiculous about of money for other things I don't need. I think this was a mistake from the beginning.

I've paid the prices and should be provided all the tools I need to develop WPF applications as a designer/developer in my Team Suite for Software Developers subscription.

My subscription is listed as "Visual Studio Team Suite"  I don't see anything about "MSDN Premium" or any other wordage.  Does this mean I will have access to Expression Studio?

Right now, when I do a search on Expression, I get a return for Blend, Web and Studio.  However, when I go into Studio, there are no downloads available, but there is a Product Key.  Would I use this with the trial version to download?  Also, when are version 2 going to be made available in MSDN (everything available appears to be version 1 right now).

Hello Keith,

I'd also like to know if you plan to make Expression Studio 2 available through the DreamSpark program. I installed the trial version and it looks great.

Thank you for answering our questions—it's good to know someone's listening.

Eric

Keith thanks for the reply.

It is great that Blend upgrades will be continue to be included.

The Dev edition looks more and more unattractive by the day compared to the other MSDN Premium levels for a one man shop such as myself as Blend is included in both.

Expression design is a must for WPF as is Expression Media and Encoder for Silverlight work. Expression Web adds no value for me personally as VS2008 is so strong in this area.

I am faced with either upgrading to VSTS Team Suite or downgrading to VS Professional and buying the new Professional Expression subscription, whichever is likely to be the most cost effective. Not something I expected when I bought the Sku over 2 years ago on a 3yr OVLA. (When I purchased this the lower versions omitted Tools for Office).

Hopefully the product bundling can be reviewed.

The much lower level subscription to the Microsoft Action Pack with the included Web Solutions Toolkit includes the Expression Studio.  Obviously they have a better standing when it comes to Expression!!