Thread: Microsoft Web Expression 2007 - Thoughts

Help!

Just wondering if anyone has or does use Web Expression and what they think of it. I have been a Frontpage user for a long time so it seems like a natural upgrade although I feel I should be be using something better but as I am a lite user I really don't want the complications of learning something new like the once upon a time I thought I would write a site in Flash MX, fail.

What is the norm these days for basic web creation?

firstly, salting and burning your copy of Frontpage.

beyond that there is no 'norm' - for static HTML i think Dreamweaver is still one of the most used - especially given how well it plays wtih Photoshop these days - it's a bit bloatware now but no more so than Frontpage.

If you're comfortable with HTML though, go for a pure code solution - I'm still using the old HomeSite+ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homesite at work and ColdFusion Builder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColdFus...Fusion_Builder at home (would use it at work too but the project setup stuff is shitful).

nearly forgot, if you dont mind Java shitfulness, you could try Eclipse http://www.eclipse.org/ - it's OpenSource (which is about all the good you can say for it). think it has visual layout stuff like DW and FP though if you need that, and it's got a massive plug-in architecture that supports damn near everything.

I use notepad and Dreamweaver.

You really should have stopped using Frontpage about 10 years ago.

I knew I was asking for trouble telling anyone I use Frontpage, I think Dreamweaver may be the right decision though, I had a quick look at Homesite and Coldfusion and think I'll be giving them a miss, I like simplicity with a few bell and whistles.

I put myself in the deep end and agreed to write a basic site for local landscaping business and you can imagine steering away from what you know at short notice could be time consuming and disastrous but educational at the same time.

Oh and as far as Dreamweaver goes, does version really matter or just the newer I can get the better?

No problem with Frontpage if it does the job for you. For your client, I would just say don't jump into the deep end with a application or technology that you're not used to. Use dreamweaver as a side project, to get your skills up to date with it. Then when your experienced with both frontpage and dreamweaver you can make a informed judgment about which one will suit your business needs more.

The newer the better, obviously. CS3 or above will be fine.

Dreamweaver does have a bit of bloat these days, but it's very intuitive and quite powerful.

And don't listen to Chad. Frontpage doesn't suit any serious business needs. It has been a part of the Microsoft Office Suite post 2003 for a reason.

Newer sometimes is not the better choice. Most clients DGF what its built in.

I know Frontpage has been gone for a long time but Web Expression 2007 is essentially the same thing but with new features. I just downloaded Dreamweaver cs5 for a play.