Hi Cheryl. I bring you greetings and salutations form Kerry from Squamish. I initially posted on his Vista help site and he refered me to you. I'll include a link to that post,for reference, if you don't mind.

http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=556

 Basically, my 10 year old started playing with MS FrontPage some time ago. He wanted to upgrade to Vista, and at the same time, I also went to Office 2007. To our shock, there was no FrontPage 2007. I then found Expression Web and downloaded the limited time trial. He does say he likes it better. My question is this: I am exceptionally happy that he has always used our computer to learn and experiment on, not just playing games, and I don't mind investing some cash in software that he can use to that end. Would you consider Expression Web to be a good starting point?

I have looked through reviews for web development software and this one usually doesn't make the reviewers top 5. This might just be more due to ease of use than actual functionality. He's already done a web site, off line of course, that includes links, page flipping, a home made browser and stuff, so he's not completely new. I don't want to get something easy to use, just to have to relean how to do it right in the real world. He started out with some simple code in notepad. If not, could you recommend a better way to go?

Kerry is a good guy.

Now for your question, I would say Expression Web is a good tool for your son to use. I'm with him that Expression is much better than FrontPage. The web evolves rapidly and FrontPage couldn't keep up. Four years between versions may work for office programs but doesn't work for web design or development software.

Expression Web requires a bit more of a learning curve than FrontPage because it focuses on standards compliant cross browser output. Something that will help him far more in the future of he continues to be interested in web design or moves into web development.

Expression Web has been well received in the professional web community and some Dreamweaver uses have switched, others have added Expression to their toolbox. Pros rarely use just one program. I use Dreamweaver, Expressions Web, Visual Web Developer Express (occasionally the full Visual Studio Team System but in general I prefer the lower overhead of the express versions for other than states websites you need more profaning at times than front end editors can provide). 1t isn't so merely about a single tool as learning standards, usability, accessibility and standards. Expression can and will help do that.

My kids are more interested in games but are also getting interested in game design.

You and your son are more than welcome here

Thanks for the info. I think I'll let the trial run out on this one before I jump into it. Does Expression Web cover just just about everything or is there something else I should be looking at getting? I refer to things like Java, Shockwave, etc. I know they're plugins and separate programs as such, but is development software for this needed as well in order to interface with a webpage through Expression Web or not. Forgive me if that question didn't come out sounding right, but I think you get my meaning.

Together, my son and I make a pretty good team as I like the hardware aspect and he's getting better at software. I'm pretty sure even he would look funny at me asking that question. If we do end up staying with it, I'll get him to setup his own account here and ask more intelligent questions himself. I'd be extra nice to him if I were you since his current future goal is to one day own Microsoft. Watch out Bill !!!

Maybe you could help the decision making process here. I noticed that you give away a CD key for best post of the month. What is the criteria for judging? Interesting question, most intelligent answer, youngest poster, etc? Thanks for the response so far and I would still really like to hear from any other users out there about their overall opinion of it, especially from non-professionals who do it more as a hobby as that is where we would be coming from. 

Personally I wouldn't use Java because I won't allow the Java Virtual Machine on my computer-it slows it down too much. Instead of Shockwave if you are working on web stuff use Flash or Silverlight.

As we said on the home page the "best" post is one that provokes useful discussion or answers a question in a way that is above and beyond. Since I have been out of town since April 29th the April awardee has not been chosen but will be announced before much longer. I need to check voting (rating posts influences the decision but is not  the only criteria) and check with the forum moderators before making a final determination. I have a couple of posts in mind and need to see what the others think or if they saw one I should be considering and haven't seen.

I finally announced the April winner but we have another key for May donated by Pat Geary one of our forum moderators. Get busy posting since it has been a light month so far and we don't have many keys left to be able to give away.