Hi Janine,

Bet you’ve seen this question before: Which do you prefer, Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression Web? I’m a novice, not by any means at the PC computer, but at web site design. I was given Dreamweaver CS3 and PhotoShop Extended CS3 and bought your Total Training “essentials” tutorials for both.

Then I noticed the Microsoft  Expression video series at Total Training and now I wonder which you prefer. I enjoy your work. I am also reading an article of yours in Layers Magazine. You are a gifted woman. Keep up the fine efforts.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your kind words. Whether you use Adobe Dreamweaver or Expression Web is very much a personal choice. They are similar programs (at least compared to Dreamweaver vs. Microsoft’s previous Web design program FrontPage) and both have much to offer.

Here are a few things to consider as you make your decision. Dreamweaver is a more mature program than Expression Web. It’s been around for many years, and is by far the top choice among professional Web designers. Dreamweaver has excellent  CSS support and includes features you won’t find in Expression Web, such as the Spry menu, which makes it easy to create drop-down menus and other AJAX features.

That said, Expression Web is a major improvement over FrontPage. Expression Web (now available in version 2) offers good CSS support, follows standards better than FrontPage ever did, and shows great promise.

If you generally prefer Microsoft products and/or work with a developer who uses Visual Studio to create ASP.NET, you may also find some advantages in compatibility with Expression Web.

Although in theory you could use both programs on the same site, I definitely recommend that if you are working with other people on a Web site that you all try to use the same program.

You can learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of different web design programs in my tutorial: “What’s the Best Web Design Program?”

As for my videos, I’ve created training programs for both. Follow these links to my video section and you’ll find videos on:

• Dreamweaver CS3 and CS4
• Ashort video to help GoLive users make the transition to Dreamweaver
• Videos on Expression Web and Expression Web 2
• And a short vidoe to help FrontPage users make the transition to Expression Web.

No matter what program you use, I wish you all the best and I’m pleased know that my videos and articles have been helpful to you,

Janine