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March 9, 2007

rivals

I fall for a Microsoft product without feeling wretched

Posted Mar. 9, ’07, 12:44 PM PT by Pat Nakajima
Category | Apple » Rivals

Expression WebWhen it comes to web development, the prowess of the Mac is difficult to match. With Safari, the first browser to ever be fully compatible with CSS styling, and text editors that are eons ahead of anything you’ll find on Windows, it would seem that Microsoft is in a bad way regarding the platform that some consider to be inevitable future of computing. Maybe that’s the impetus behind their new Expression line of software.

With interfaces that provoked absolutely no gags on my part, and not only acknowledgement of, but also support for, web standards, Expression Web is actually a welcome change from Redmond. If you’re tethered to the .NET framework, the best tool for the job might actually be the one being provided by Microsoft. I know, it sets a dangerous precedent, but I’m glad to see a bit of competition in this realm.

I’d love to see Apple release a full blown IDE dedicated to web app development. TextMate is a superb coding tool, as is BBEdit, but if Apple were to release a tool as functional as the now discontinued RadRails, with the robust feel that any IDE based on Eclipse sorely lacks, it could have a Grand Slam, Triple Play, on its hands.

Microsoft is also releasing a graphic design tool and an interesting tool to manage the interface between web apps and the desktop. It’s not the perfect olution (PHP isn’t supported of course), but as far as most web appliations go these days, Microsoft has found its product closer to the front of the pack than the rear.


3 Comments

bacromwell said:

Have you looked at Aptana? It is a powerful Cross Platform Open Source (Javascript, AJAX, HTML, CSS) web IDE for any platform. Give it a try!!!

March 9, 2007 2:29 PM
Andrew Sheridan said:

Didn't MS buy the company (as they usually do) which produced earlier versions of this? There is even a Mac version (previous generation). So really, company x does all the hard work, MS just add's the MS look and feel and inter-op with other MS products - and thats it. Also, WHY didn't they have the MBU use the then-current MAC version and release a copy for the Mac? As usual, MS are more interested in keeping their Windows monopoly in tact than using the opportunity to expand their Mac software offerings.

March 11, 2007 7:22 AM
Steve said:

Andrew, you're confusing this with another product called "Expression" that MS did indeed buy (from Fractal Design). They've offered that for a free download -- mac version too.

It is a bit confusing to come out with another "Expression" line. But Expression Web is indeed a very nice web IDE, worth a try. I downloaded the demo and find it to be very well thought out and nice looking. Kudos.

March 11, 2007 3:40 PM

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