After buying the Expression Studio 3, it looks like I may not be able to upgrade for free. Is Microsoft lying to us?

Question

According to this page:

http://social.expression.microsoft.com/Forums/tr-TR/general/thread/84f6c61c-41be-44ce-a3aa-9895f76a820d

the product code must have 617 or 618 in the second set of digits. The copy I bought, which came in a proper shrink-wrapped Microsoft box, has the COA attached, does not apparently qualify for the upgrade because it has the number 662 in the second set of numbers. So when is a retail box not a retail box? And why does Microsoft have such confusing licensing schemes? How is that supposed to help us choose Microsoft as a vendor?

I sincerely hope that Microsoft wasn't lying when they said "owners of Expression Studio 3 can upgrade to Expression Studio 4 Ultimate."

Answer 1

I should mention that I just finished installing this evening the Trial version of Expression 4 Ultimate on top of the Expression 3 Studio that I purchased and although the product code I have contains 662 as the second set of digits, the update was accepted. The Help ==> About Microsoft Expression Design states that...

Microsoft® Expression® Design 4 Version 7.0.20516.0

This is a fully licensed copy.

Similarly, 

Microsoft® Expression® Web™ Version 4.0.1165.0

as well as for the other products.

The downside to having to install 4 on top of 3 is that the old programs are still listed in the Microsoft Expression program group.

Hope this helps you in making a buying decision.

Answer 2

The old program is still installed - the upgrade does not overwrite the old program.

Interesting about the 662 digits - the information in the thread you cited came from the Expression Web develepers, but may have changed over the 2 years that have passed since then.

 

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Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)

www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp