FrontPage 2003 VS Dreamweaver MX
A comparison of Microsoft's latest web site WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) development software, FrontPage 2003 and Macromedia's WYSIWYG Dreamweaver MX. WYSIWYG

First let me make a few quick points about this comparison.

This is my opinion, according to my preferences and my skills. Everybody needs are different. I am a firm believer in using the right tool for the right job.
I design web sites, web pages, dynamic (data driven) web applications, and web enable media for individuals, small business, and medium size business. My work is primarily run on Windows based operating systems. In many cases the final product is turned over to client for administration/updating.
I am a firm believer that the web is here to stay and will only get much, much more important to everybody in the near future. With those thoughts in mind, I believe that in order for that to happen, delivering content to the web must get easier for the average computer user.
I try not to get caught in the "features trap" of creating web pages using the latest thing just because I can. I am concerned about only a few things:
- What product will get the job done in the shortest amount of time?
- If my client is to administer the product after delivery, considering there capability and employee assets, what is the best platform to use?
- Will the development platform I use be around in 3 years?
- What are the cost associated with the software I use?
- What are the cost to my clients?
- What is the quality of the final product?

Task	FrontPage 2003	Score	Dreamweaver MX	Score
New Users
Overall: First time web site/page creation. Any piece of software takes some time learn and the more features it has, the more time it takes to learn it. That said, both FP and DW are very powerful feature rich web design editors, that will take many, many hours to be competent at, and longer to master. What's important for a first time user is to be able to produce a respectable web site and get it live on the web, with just a few hours of learning. FrontPage wins this battle, hands down.	If you are familiar with MS Office, Word, PowerPoint and Excel, you will find your introduction to FrontPage that much easier. FP has a lot in common with MS Office apps and the interface will be comfortable for you. Online support is second to none.	3.5	Dreamweaver will be a foreign environment to most first time users. It does however have a very good help system, including flash demos. Online support is very extensive.	1.5
Cost: The Price of the software. These are estimated cost, you need to look around for the best deal.	FrontPage 2003 About: $200	3.0	Dreamweaver MX 2004 About: $400	2.0
Integration: For a new user, integration is not that important. You may want to add some flyout menus and Flash content. FrontPage has built in office features that will only look good in the latest versions of IE. Dreamweaver has Flash buttons built right in. Both support linking to databases, you can do more with Dreamweaver, but FrontPage has a better db wizards.	MS Office Tools Many Free Addins Numerous Commercial Addins Shopping Cart Addins ASP, ASP.net, limited PHP Database, Creates Access db's on the fly SharePoint Team Intergration CSS Themes FTP	3.0	Some Free addins, mostly pay addins Shopping Cart Addins ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, and PHP, ColdFusion Flash FireWorks Database Server Libraries Mac Secure FTP FTP	4.0
Unfinished Article

Price FP - 200 MX 400

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FrontPage 2003 VS Dreamweaver MX A comparison of Microsoft's latest web site WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) development software, FrontPage 2003 and Macromedia's WYSIWYG Dreamweaver MX. WYSIWYG

FrontPage 2003 VS Dreamweaver MX
A comparison of Microsoft's latest web site WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) development software, FrontPage 2003 and Macromedia's WYSIWYG Dreamweaver MX. WYSIWYG