Microsoft FrontPage had reined for several years as the primary website authoring tool in Microsoft’s portfolio. But FrontPage has been replaced with Expression Web which is geared towards the general population and Sharepoint Designer which is aimed at professional corporate web-developers. On a recent project I had the misfortune of choosing between the 2 products.

Experience With Expression Web

I started off with Expression Web. Downloading the beta was quick and easy but .NET version 3.5 framework took much longer to install than the program itself even requiring a reboot. After I got Expression Web it was simple to choose a website template. The trouble started soon after when I started using the template. Expression Web was not intuitive at all. The interface is cluttered with buttons and options that most users do not need and simple preferences are packed away behind layers of sub-menus and tabs. The click and drag simplicity of FrontPage is nowhere to be seen with Expression Web.

Evolution In Software Design

Expression Web is the next logical level of product development from MS FrontPage. It is supposed to be evolutionary and not revolutionary. But I experienced quite the opposite. As an early adopter, beta tester and alpha of hundreds of products (Microsoft included) I am used to bloated software with convoluted designs. For example I have been using the predecessor of Vista called Longhorn since its 4000 release builds. But Expression Web is in a league of its own. I sure hope MS turns around and incorporates the FrontPage goodies in Expression Web.