HTML editors can make your website development project fun and easy or frustrating and time-consuming, as you grapple with the intracacies of an inscrutable software package. So when buying, you need to make the right choice. 

Most people are familiar with Frontpage, Microsoft’s HTML editor, which was one of the first website editors available, and still used by many. But did you know Microsoft has replaced frontpage with a new product called Expression Web?

The question is, how do they compare? Is Expression Web a better tool? Well it should be. Frontpage is very old now. But if you have ever used Frontpage, like I have, you can look forward to a much better product. I was impressed by the features and functionality Microsoft claim for the software.

On the Microsoft Expression Web site, you get an interactive video tour of the features, which include,

• Create standards compliant code with XHTML, CSS & validation
• Coding or design views (just like dreamweaver) with full CSS support
• Supports XML data & ASP pages for dynamic, interactive design

So, it’s now as powerful as the industry standard, Dreamweaver, and is much easier to use with both code and design views. Frontpage was difficult to use if you were a visual designer, rearranging your web page until it looked right, was impossible.

As with all modern software applications, it comes with many feature variations and integration with other Microsoft products, and of course, different prices too. It’s reasonably priced at amazon (UK) or amazon (US), at £228 and $260 respectively. (I’ll never understand why we pay so much more in the UK)

If you want to read an independent review, which is always a good idea, take a look at the PC magazine review. The reviewer, Edward Mendelson, likes it and gives it a 4 out of 5 rating. However, Rachel Andrew is no so keen. Read her views in Think Vitamin online magazine and see what you think. And of course, you can read amazon buyers reviews and opinions, which are always very useful.