Microsoft Expression Web
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp. Part number: UCQ00001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Microsoft Expression Web is a solid Web site layout program that replaces FrontPage and offers tools for dynamic designs, although we'd like more help for newbies.
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CNET editors' review
Microsoft Expression Web price range: $178.97 - $259.98
- Reviewed by: Elsa Wenzel
- Reviewed on: 05/21/2007
The good: Microsoft Expression Web design software supports XHTML, XML, CSS, and W3C accessibility standards; integrates with Expression Studio and Visual Studio.
The bad: Microsoft Expression Web lacks FrontPage's help for design beginners; is expensive; offers limited tech support; supports Windows only.
The bottom line: Microsoft Expression Web is a solid Web site layout program that replaces FrontPage and offers tools for dynamic designs, although we'd like more help for newbies.
Microsoft may not be the first name that comes to mind when it comes to digital design. With its rollout of Expression software, however, the company is vying to win over users of Adobe Dreamweaver and other tools such as Namo WebEditor. The $299 Expression Web, which replaces
To run Expression Web, you should have Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1 or newer, or the new Windows Vista. Make sure to check the ReadMe section of Microsoft's Web site before installation, as you may have to add Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and uninstall any beta versions of Microsoft Office 2007. A trial download of Expression Web is available at CNET Download.com.
We spent about 15 minutes installing Expression Web. Once you have the program running, you can choose from a variety of templates to get started with a personal or professional Web site. We like that Expression Web includes templates for CSS designs as well as ASP.NET forms. Expression Web will also open an existing Web site or import one via FrontPage extensions, FTP, HTTP, or WebDAV. However, Dreamweaver CS3 does offer more template choices.
The interface of Expression Web looks significantly similar to that of Dreamweaver. You can view code or design, or both. Page views, folders, tools and other elements are divided into panes that you can dock and drag and drop nearly anywhere on the screen.
Anyone migrating from Dreamweaver should be able to jump right in and use Expression Web without much effort. If you breathe dynamic Web design, then Expression Web offers solid features for managing XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets, and XML. Expression Web is even less cluttered than Dreamweaver in this regard. We found it easy to move the same Web pages between both programs without causing problems in the code. Plus, Expression Web supports W3C accessibility standards for designing pages for people with disabilities--a must-have for those creating business Web sites.
However, those designing a Web site for the first time may not know where to start when they open Expression Web. We wonder if Microsoft plans at some point to offer a newbie-friendly application that will offer the hand-holding that FrontPage did. For now, however, options seem limited to the various templates offered by Microsoft Office Live, or even the free Windows Live Writer blogging tool.
Expression Web integrates with the other Expression Studio applications, but these aren't all final products yet. Even when the work is done on Expression Studio, Dreamweaver has the advantage over Expression Web of integrating deeply and richly with various components of Adobe Creative Suite 3. Expression Studio includes Design for creating digital images, Blend for making widgets, and Media for managing files. However, Microsoft's suite lacks a desktop publishing tool such as Adobe InDesign, video editing from the equivalents of Adobe Premiere and AfterEffects, as well as Adobe CS3's rich mobile support. Still, Expression Web does integrate with Visual Studio, Microsoft's main software development tool, which is a blessing for digital designers and programmers.
Expression Web offers a searchable, detailed, and useful list of help topics similar to those within Microsoft Office. There is little to no assistance for those seeking the ABCs of CSS, AJAX , for instance. Support options aren't as impressive as the deep videos and tutorials for Dreamweaver. From Expression Web's Contact Us link, for example, we were directed to a Microsoft Web page with details about corporate headquarters.
Expression Web is a solid, professional design program with plenty of goodies for making Web 2.0 pages, despite the lack of help for beginners. Dreamweaver offers even more features, but that can also be a drawback. The small Expression Studio package offers the basics for rich media designers. However, if you're looking for a more comprehensive digital design suite for repurposing work for the Web, mobile gadgets, and video, then Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 within one of its many CS3 suites would be a better fit.
| Price | Upgrade price | What it is | |
 Expression Studio | $599 | $349 for those with Blend, Web, Media, Visual Studio or MSDN | Suite of four design applications |
Expression Web | $299 | $99 from FrontPage | Web site design, FrontPage replacement |
 Expression Design | n/a | n/a | Graphics illustration |
 Expression Blend | $499 | n/a | Creates widgets and other Web-connected applications |
 Expression Media | $299 | Free for users of iView MediaPro 3 until Aug. 1, 2007 | Digital asset management; catalogs media files |
User reviews
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Easy to use, Simple Sensible Design
by whanbury on October 1, 2007
Pros: Easy to use, includes a 1 hour training DVD
Cons: Doesn't have access to an integrated photo editor like Macromedia
Summary: When I installed Expression Web, I wasn't really sure what I'd be getting. I was pleasantly surprised to see a clean, fast interface upon launch. The layout looks ...
Summary: When I installed Expression Web, I wasn't really sure what I'd be getting. I was pleasantly surprised to see a clean, fast interface upon launch. The layout looks somewhat like Dreamweaver but there's much more information and there's a great built-in CSS expression and link checker, and when there's a mistake, in code view, the errors show up in red. I had been a hard-core Dreamweaver/Fireworks user since v.4, but after Adobe bought Macromedia, the product and support went downhill. I hate the way Adobe feels compulsed to fatten up all its programs with extra coding that slows down the performance of the computer. Up until they bought it the program ran fine. Well, not the case with Expression. It runs fast and clean, without errors. I really like it. I'm not a professional web designer for occupation, but I know my way around pages, and I really like the way Expression is laid out. What reviewers don't mention is that there's a complimentary 1 hour DVD that hand walks you through all the basics of website design that was produced by Total Training, a company that specializes in video software training. There's also a handy pocket reference and a CSS Selectors book that stands up like a tent-sign. All in all a great product with extras that only a large company like Microsoft could afford to add to the software. I'm not going back to Dreamweaver ever! I also forgot to mention that this program creates lean and mean coding, not like its old predecessor FrontPage. My only complaint is that I wish Microsoft put out a Photo Editor that integrates with Expression Web the same way Fireworks integrates with Dreamweaver. Because I had a previous version of FrontPage, this upgrade was only $99. A new Dreamweaver suite is $500-900. An obvious choice! Try it, you'll like it.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A step forward for Microsoft, but still has issues.
by ted23 on January 12, 2008
Pros: Cheaper than Dreamweaver. Good U/I. Good CSS support. More standards compliant than FrontPage. Excellent for those who use ASP technology.
Cons: FTP client is very poor. Still inserts too much Microsoft-specific coding.
Summary: I bought this after reading some good reviews of the product, and my version of Dreamweaver was getting very long in the tooth.
Expression Web does an adequate job as ...Summary: I bought this after reading some good reviews of the product, and my version of Dreamweaver was getting very long in the tooth.
Expression Web does an adequate job as a tool for web editors. It has good tools for managing CSS, and the user interface overall is quite good. Some functions are somewhat less intuitive than Dreamweaver, but all-in-all it's not bad.
On the down side, the FTP support is atrocious. No support for secure FTP, the client often doesn't connect to the server, and when it does connect it is painfully slow. I gave up on using it to upload my pages and just went with a separate FTP client. Expression Web doesn't make a mockery of web standards like FrontPage did, but it still insists on inserting superfluous span tags and uses Microsoft-specific xml schemeas instead of more standard ones.
This is an OK web editor, but I'm thinking I may have been better off to spend a little more and get Dreamweaver.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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ONE OF THE WORST!!
by BRR on September 3, 2008
Pros: having a hard time finding anything good about it
Cons: Microsoft needs to go back to the drawing board on this one-------BRING BACK FRONTPAGE!!
Summary: What a disappointment! Being a FP fan, I was very excited with the announcement of Expression Web. When a company has a good program (Frontpage) and announces a new program ...
Summary: What a disappointment! Being a FP fan, I was very excited with the announcement of Expression Web. When a company has a good program (Frontpage) and announces a new program within the same genre (Expression Web), one would assumed that the new program is an "new and improved" version of the old one. NOT SO IN THIS CASE!! EW is so full of holes and flaws and bad code that it is nearly impossible to design a site that works across browsers, and forget about "look and feel". There is NONE of the "Windows/MS Office/ MS Frontpage Feel" about this program, you had better plan on plenty of time learning how to use this program, or plan on spending thousands of dollars on professional training, 'cause your not walking in and picking up where Frontpage left off!!
Gawd I'd love to have all the money back I've spent on this program and on developer and web manager time and on training. I could have hired the best professional web designer and had one of the top sites on the internet with what Ive spent trying to make this program work.
GARBAGE!!4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy to learn and powerful CSS
by pbdrums on February 17, 2009
Pros: Easy to learn if you have used other WSIWYG editors. Powerful CSS, and clean html code.
Cons: Interface could be a bit cleaner, not available on MAC platform.
Summary: As a former user of Adobe GoLive CS3, I found Expression Web 2.0 to be easy to migrate to and fairly intuitive to navigate. I tried using Dreamweaver CS4, ...
Summary: As a former user of Adobe GoLive CS3, I found Expression Web 2.0 to be easy to migrate to and fairly intuitive to navigate. I tried using Dreamweaver CS4, and I just didn't like the cumbersome interface and unintuitive controls for designing web pages. I think DW is more for seasoned programmers who tend to "hand code" most of their web pages. If you are a Graphic Designer who also builds websites, Expression Web is a great tool! It would be great if they made a MAC version...
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Do not spend money on this.
by misshypno on September 29, 2009
Pros: It works once in a while.
Cons: It runs so slowly.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
- Part number: UCQ00001
- Description: Microsoft Expression Web gives you all the tools you'll need to produce high-quality, standards-based Web sites the way you want them. Take advantage of the best of dynamic Web site design, enabling you to design, develop, and maintain exceptional standards-based Web sites. Unleash your creativity and bring your Web sites to life with sophisticated CSS design features including visual designers, specialized task panes, and tool bars that give you precise control of page layout and formatting. Reduce complexity and ease integration of data by using powerful task panes and design tools, which allow quick incorporation of XML data. Seamlessly integrate Web design and development teams with Expression Web and Microsoft Visual Studio, by taking advantage of superior support for XML, ASP.NET and XHTML. Create dynamic, interactive pages and sites that leverage the power of the Web to deliver compelling user experiences. Easily design to standards and optimize your sites for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility with built-in support and validation for Web standards.
General
- Category Creativity application
- Subcategory Creativity - web design / publishing
- License pricing Standard
Software
- License Type License
- License Pricing Standard
- Platform Windows
- Distribution Media Download
System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later
- Min Processor Type Intel Pentium 700, 700 MHz, 700 MHz, 700 MHz
- Peripheral / Interface Devices SVGA monitor
- System Requirements Details Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later - RAM 512 MB - HD 1.5 GB, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later - RAM 512 MB - HD 1.5 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista - RAM 512 MB - HD 1.5 GB
Manufacturer info
- Microsoft Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Microsoft Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.microsoft.com/
- Address:
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052 - Phone: 425/882-8080
- Fax: (425) 706-7329
