Microsoft Expression Web

Reviewed by: venz

Duration of ownership: 4 Months

Strengths: Moving towards a standards based tool. Excelent XML tools. Includes some ASP.NET support.

Weaknesses: Hard to figure out the new GUI. Loss of the preview pane tool from Front Page. Huge learning curve. No ribbons like Office 2007.

Overall Evaluation: II have been using FrontPage since 97 came out and it appears to me that this tool is not a replacement for that as much as it is a challenger to Dream Weaver. But I think in repositioning it to challenge Dream Weaver Microsoft might be leaving their core FrontPage customers behind. FrontPage was so simple to use, it was like an extension of the office suite. Expression Web is more like an extension of Visual Studio, much more programmer driven and less novice friendly. I like the XML tools and the fact that they are driving to a more industry standards based development tool. I also like the ASP.NET support, but I think it might be too much and too complicated for the average novice user who has been developing in and grown to love FrontPage.