Labs

Namo WebEditor 2006 is laid out like Adobe's Dreamweaver, with the site library on the left, the properties inspector at the bottom of the screen and the main workspace in the centre. Like Dreamweaver it puts an asterisk next to the name of a file that has been modified but not saved, and also like Dreamweaver it allows you to work in code, in WYSIWYG or in a split screen that shows both. Happily, all this imitation is a good thing: the layout is logical, easy to work with and lets you get a lot done by flicking between the different workspaces.

With the property inspector always visible by default, the WYSIWYG environment

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is precise and easy to use. Select any element and you can specify most aspects of its appearance and behaviour (colour, alignment on the page or within its container, background colour and so on) using the properties inspector. For fine tweaks, you can easily switch into code. If you don't want to work in code, however, you won't often have to. Jobs such as specifying a page background or linking to an external CSS sheet can be done in the WYSIWYG environment.

However, Namo WedEditor differs from Dreamweaver in providing far more hand-holding for novice users. Using the media wizard, for instance, you can embed a music or video file in your website and specify which program it should be played with in seconds. Similarly, using the script wizard you can add dynamic design elements, such as expanding navigation menus and image rollovers, without having to learn a scripting language. There's even a database wizard that supports a variety of scripting languages and database connections, allowing you to create basic database-driven websites.

Considering its combination of simplicity, precision, versatility and a competitive price, Namo WebEditor is the clear winner of our Best Buy award.