Microsoft FrontPage for Mac

[RichardG]

A hard one but worth asking. Not widely known, had a short life.

 

[Scott Baret]

It's really not all that great. I have FrontPage 1.0 and used it for one project. I've heard Claris HomePage is a far superior product if you're looking for an OS 9-compatible web development application.

Of course, one of the problems with FrontPage is its age. A personal home page in 1998 was usually very simple since it had to be compatible with slow dial-up modems (some of which were still 14.4 and 28.8 at the time). I got a brand new copy of FrontPage 1.0 for Mac in 2004 and by that time it was horrendously out of date.

You're best off using iWeb or a modern version of FrontPage with Windows. iWeb is especially easy to use but you're somewhat limited in terms of templates. FrontPage gives you more flexibility but it's a bit harder to use (mostly because of its power).

If you really want to use OS 9, Claris HomePage is supposedly the way to go. Low End Mac used it for years (not sure if they still use it) and plenty of positive reviews are available on that site. Check eBay periodically for it; it does show up sometimes.

 

[II2II]

You're best off using iWeb or a modern version of FrontPage with Windows. iWeb is especially easy to use but you're somewhat limited in terms of templates. FrontPage gives you more flexibility but it's a bit harder to use (mostly because of its power).

It all depends upon what you are trying to accomplish. If you're looking for something that uses a recent HTML specification, CSS, and EMCAScript then using old software is going to create more problems than it is worth. From a design perspective, if you are trying to create a website with a reasonably sophisticated layout then using old software is going to create more problems than it is worth.

On the other hand, if you're goal is to create an attractive page that conveys information then a lot of that old software will be just fine thank-you. Of course, that old software will handle simple pages that structure content into different sections using either visual cues (e.g. headings) or separate pages. It will also allow you to add figures that illustrate what you're talking about. Graphical design elements can be handled too, to the point where you could create a reasonable fascimile of the 68k MLA forums. Of course some stuff would be impractical, such as the rounded corners and gradients that grace this website. But that is by no means necessary for conveying information.

While I can't claim to have used Frontpage, Claris HomePage is a reasonable design medium even though it lacks a lot of the eye candy we take for granted today.

 

[RichardG]

(Why every software request I post results on this kind of discussion?)

 

[II2II]

(Why every software request I post results on this kind of discussion?)

Because forums are a social medium, and not a support hotline?

 

[iMac600]

He wants FrontPage. Perhaps not for creating websites but reliving the experience. Who knows, but in a vintage software forum, we don't really need to discuss "what would be better". If we wanted something to achieve the task better we'd probably all go to Mac OS X... this is about experimenting and trying old software. If FrontPage is what he's after, then the request still stands.

Just my 0.02c.

 

[Scott Baret]

There's a brand new copy on eBay right now for $49.95. Be aware of imitators; there is another program called Pro Web Site creator that appears to be some sort of cheap knock-off of FrontPage that comes up when "Frontpage Mac" is typed into the search box. The actual FrontPage is easy to spot as it comes in Office-style packaging.