Executive Summary

Summary of HTML Editors Reviewed

Four editors were reviewed:

• HotDog Pro 2.0 by Sausage Software ($99.95 US)
• HotMetal 2.0 by SoftQuad ($195.00 US)
• InContext Spider 1.12 by InContext Corp. ($99.00 US)
• Kenn Nesbitt's WebEdit 1.4 ($79.95 US)

None of the editors are simple enough to be used by someone that doesn't have an understanding of HTML document structure and tags. The simplest functions (text formatting, images, URL anchoring) are done in similar fashion across all of the editors. The differences are in the interfaces and editing of complex structures such as tables and forms.

HotDog Pro has the strongest all-around functionality, and is therefore our recommendation as the package to be used by CyberNexus. Although some individual functions are performed better by some of the other packages, there are no glaring deficiencies in HotDog Pro. HotDog Pro is also our recommendation for professional clients who are seeking a package to increase their HTML document production efficiency.

WebEdit is our recommended package for amateurs who have little experience with HTML. Its simple interface gives it the best learning curve, and its excellent support of aesthetical elements (background, colors, borders, etc.) are appropriate for fulfilling the typical desires of home users.

Figure 1 summarizes the ratings of the different packages.