|
Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft Software
Category: Software
Buy New: $999.95
New (4) from $999.95
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 12091
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Subscription
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.2 x 0.6
MPN: MSCD65680WI
Model: PJS-00697
UPC: 882224656801
EAN: 0882224656801
ASIN: B0013IRKBA
Release Date: May 26, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Features:
| • | Create and test designs for all of Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies | | • | Access future versions of all included products during the subscription period | | • | Preconfigured virtualized environments to get up and running quickly | | • | Exclusive discounts, free trials and offers from the Microsoft partner ecosystem | | • | 24/7 business-critical, service level, support incidents |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The Expression Professional Subscription provides a total solution for designers to create engaging user experiences on Microsoft platforms with the latest versions of the tools they need.  Use Expression Web to create modern, standards-based sites which deliver superior quality on the Web. |  Expression Design lets you build compelling elements for both Web and desktop application user interfaces. |  Expression Media is a professional asset management tool to visually catalog and organize all your digital assets for effortless retrieval and presentation. |  Expression Blend lets you create engaging, Web-connected, user experiences for Windows. |  The Microsoft Visual Studio development system is a suite of development tools designed to aid software developers. |
The Expression Professional Subscription includes:
- Expression Studio
- Visual Studio Standard
- Office Standard
- Office Visio Professional
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista Business Edition
- Virtual PC
- Pre-configured virtualized server environments
Future Proof Design
Create and test designs for all of Microsoft's cutting edge technologies like Silverlight and the .NET Framework. Equip each of your designers with personalized access to an Expression Professional Subscription. Access to future versions of included products during the subscription period ensures that you always are working with the latest tools for delivering your designs. Test Without Mess
Preconfigured virtualized environments help you get up and running quickly by avoiding the complexities of installing and configuring the server environments your solutions depend on. Quickly and securely test on a variety of clean configurations without the need for complex installations. At Your Convenience
Access exclusive discounts, free trials, and offers from the Microsoft partner ecosystem with your Expression Professional Subscription. Additionally, every subscription includes professional-grade, scenario-specific technical support incidents. Two 24/7 business-critical, service level, support incidents may be called upon for any situation. A dedicated network of customer service professionals in every region ensures subscribers can get any help they need with their subscription in their language and locale. Design and Develop
Integrate with developers using MSDN. The Expression Professional Subscription is the perfect complement to the existing developer subscription service with its proven benefits. Give designers the same access to up to date tools and resources to ensure your entire software and Web development teams are perfectly in sync with the latest Microsoft technologies.
Product Description
Microsoft Expression Studio DTI 2 English DVD Subscription
|
| Customer Reviews:
Logistically challenging experience July 18, 2008
Anonymous (San Jose, CA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I've given 3 stars for this review. I subtracted two stars right away because of the pain I've had to endure to get the software on my computer and ready to use. I'm giving the 3 stars on faith that it is not going to get worse from here, and because the price of this product is such a large discount off of what it would have cost to purchase the contents separately.
I've had a tough time with this purchase, and I think my experience is going to be typical for anyone else who buys this product. I'm not going to review the software product here, but I am going to tell you what you're going to have to go through in order to get to use the product.
First, expect not to be able to use the product for at least 12 days from purchase. This period should allow time for Amazon to process your order (which involves a 3rd party); the 3rd party will ship you an interim (Trial) version of the software and a card that has further instructions; you must go through an Activation process that requires you to register with Microsoft and tie your registration to an email address; another 2-3 day waiting period until you will get a Subscriber ID; and another couple of days to actually receive the software on DVDs.
The Activation process failed for me when I tried to do it online, so I had to call Microsoft and talk to technical support. Eventually the pleasant young man on the phone got me registered, but then informed me that it would be a few days before I got my codes that would allow me to download the software I'd be eligible to use (which in total is many, many gigabytes). It would be a few days beyond that before I'd get the physical discs that were the real (non-Trial) software. (it took approximately 45 minutes for this call, but your experience may be different, especially if the online activation is fixed)
I eventually (day 12) did get the final discs, and despite the box being in poor shape from shipping damage, the contents were fine.
The products were warning me upon launch that they would expire in a few days unless I entered a Product ID. I couldn't find Expression Studio 2 Product IDs anywhere. I looked in the second box they sent me and in the Subscription Center online, but could only find Expression Studio 1 Product IDs. I had to call Microsoft again, and after being placed on hold repeatedly, finally got told that there were no Product IDs for Expression 2. The not so nice young man on the phone went as far as to try to blame it on Amazon saying they should not be sending me Trial software (even though it is an Official Microsoft boxed product with a "Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription Edition" label on it. No where along the way was it made clear, or even hinted at, that the Trial software could not be converted to full using a Product ID. Since this product is a non-Retail Subscription (my first experience with a subscription), the second set of DVDs that is sent to you is what they call "pre-pidded" which means that the Product ID is baked in. The only way forward was to do a complete uninstall of the Trial and re-install the Subscription version. (plan on spending a couple of hours for this process, even if you don't count time for a call to Microsoft to talk to the unprofessional rep that I happened to get.)
The other thing that you should be prepared for is a lengthy procedure involving lots of dialogs, several dense web pages, needing to learn a fair amount of new vocabulary and acronyms, a few restarts, and installations of additional software that is required (e.g., .NET 3.5 frameworks and Silverlight). Any of these in isolation is not too bad, but in total added up to a lot of (unproductive/unbillable) time needing to be invested. (allocate at least 90 minutes for this portion)
Now with all of that seemingly behind me, I can start using and forming an opinion of the product itself. The products are installed and seem to have their baked in Product IDs.
I've toned this review down considerably from my first draft. I want to make it clear that I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from buying this product - I just would have liked to know what was in store for me before I had to go through all of this. Time will tell whether it was all worth it, but I'm not off to a good start with this product.
|
|
|
Thank you for browsing ExcelBookstore.com! | |
