With new templates and smart tools ("bots") to help create a wide range of intranet and Internet pages, version 2002 is even simpler and faster to use than its predecessors. Users can draw with PowerPoint tools, drag and drop live content, and create photo galleries with a few mouse clicks. Publishing is incredibly easy. Beginners will love the wizards, and will find Web authoring much easier than expected.
Why do so many people have problems with FrontPage? The main complaint is that the output, which tends to be flabby and difficult to parse, can't be edited by the user and is difficult to run on non-Microsoft servers. This is a problem for those who've gone beyond using wizards and templates to create their pages, but many other users are content with the results. The automatic direction to Microsoft-related services is also somewhat troubling--it would be nice, if unrealistic, for users to have easier access to the wide range of servers and e-commerce providers available.
Still, for Webbies with fairly simple needs and no desire to spend months learning the ins and outs of HTML and XML, FrontPage 2002 is most likely the way to go. --Rob Lightner
Better off with ground meat... literally...2005-05-02
This software does not work2004-02-22
Not much of an "Upgrade."2003-09-11
Few are better, and this is essential for some web tasks2003-03-20The Sharepoint deserves more discussion. Sharepoint is a portal, most likely to be used as an Intranet. It has group calendars, file sharing, etc. You can create and manage your own Sharepoint portal from Frontpage. It is an amazing value for small- to medium-size companies.
SHAREPOINT ALONE IS WORTH THE PRICE OF FRONTPAGE! You cannot possibly find a portal for less money. But compare that to the cost of purchasing a comparable portal or leasing one, and this is hands-down a great value. And there is no, I repeat, NO opensource (free) groupware application that can touch Sharepoint yet. (When there is, I'll migrate.)
PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION
* People who know HTML will code without this product in a text editor
* People who want a WYSIWIG development environment should seriously consider this product, though it costs more than some decent WYSIWIG alternatives--nobody else except Dreamweaver comes close to the features FrontPage has
* If you want highly dynamic web pages (ASP, CFM, Flash, etc.), get Dreamweaver
* If you are interested in a Sharepoint portal, this is a must
WORTHY UPGRADE FOR THE 9X EDITIONS, BUT NOT FOR THE 2000 ED.2002-11-21