I decided I would try out Microsoft’s Expression today. The .NET folks downstairs are getting enthusiastic about Silverlight, and I’m pretty sure I’ll hate it, but I should really give it a go and hate it in an informed way.
First, I decided I’d try the Design application. Expression is a software suite, set up to compete with Adobe CS, and Design seems to be the equivalent to either PhotoShop or Illustrator (I’m not quite sure which).
To begin with - what a rigmarole it is to install one of their godforsaken products. First I have to update the .NET Framework, then download the actual trial installer, then a service pack. The .NET Framework itself “highly recommends” I install its service packs and security updates. The obvious point is: why not just package it all up, or at least handle the dependencies, preferably without fuss, and certainly not send the user on a pointless runaround? Considering they control the entire stack (Windows, .NET, and Expression itself), there can be no excuse.
And they have still not quite caught up with the 21st century. During the .NET upgrade, it quaintly informs me that:
Download complete. You can now disconnect from the Internet.
Whew! That’s a relief, because it is, after all, the 1990s, and we have to pay per minute for our net connection.
The Expression Design installer offers “Typical”, “Custom” and “Complete”. I chose Custom, and I’m given a choice of one (mandatory) option - the application itself. Hmm. It also doesn’t let me choose where to install it, which is crap for me because my primary drive on my crappy work PC is almost full.
It has a really ugly splash screen on startup.
Some things are good. The UI is quite pretty. It looks a bit like the AIR install dialogs. But the performance is sluggish. Scrolling through my fonts was painful.
The learning curve is a lot gentler than PhotoShop or Illustrator. But that’s probably largely because there’s less to learn. On the most important point - functionality - it falls drastically short of either PhotoShop or Illustrator. I guess that’s why I initially had trouble placing it - it’s too basic to compete with either of the vastly superior Adobe products.
I’m going to try Silverlight next, and I’m going in with prejudices blazing …
Expression is my web design tool (EW only installed). The custom install leaves your Windows XAMLS framework unlocked so that if you are a Windows programmer you can expedite this and that in a corporate network. The hopeless NET framework dl is a bug to make you stop free use and pay - it works like this: the add-on Trial NET apps don’t update properly but drag in updates, so your OS will crash as auto updates pile up (crash-positive). I know, really stupid. I have bought EW but out of curiosity installed the trial on top of my existing and (yup) it runs the destructive NET dl. EW is the only part of the Expression Suite that’s market competitive. ED is so featureless that it must have been programmed with pre-schoolers in mind. Most freeware has more to offer. However, get rid of the NET goon-doggle and register a purchased product. You then enjoy feature-rich group applications for between $400 and $700 (upgrade or new). Much less than my Adobe or Corel stuff. Again, EW is competitive. Finally, EW bugs are mounting as Microsoft removes critical functionality and Microsoft Partners (eg, Eric Meyer) pop out of nowhere with REDICULOU8SLY EXPENSIVE replacements for functionality INTENTIONALLY REMOVED BY MICROSOFT (eg, Web Assist CSS Sculptor). Apple and Adobe, well …maybe?