WPF is part of WinFX, an object-oriented, managed API being introduced with the Windows Vista OS. Vista is due out by the end of the year.

Scott Golightly, Utah director for Keane Inc., a Boston-based business services firm, said programmers' ability to use Expression to easily import graphics and objects created by designers into XAML code will be an aesthetic boon.

'I am looking to the Expression suite of tools to allow the designers to do what they do best -- make very good-looking user interfaces,' he said. 'If designers and developers both start using Expression and XAML, we might see a lot fewer applications that look like they were designed by developers.'

Other designers and developers such as Jered Cuenco, a Portland multimedia developer for avenue a/razorfish, said the CTP releases of Expression remain rough, although they offer a lot of promise.

'Interactive Designer is clearly still in its infancy,' said Cuenco, adding that the workflow still has kinks and the software is hard to learn. 'Do I think that Interactive Designer is the killer of Macromedia Flash? No. Do I think that is a direct competitor. Only somewhat.'