Recommend a CMS from Fantastico with lowest learning curve

[GoWilkes]

I have several clients that want a simple website (like an online brochure), but simply can't afford to pay for me to design something. So, I'm wanting to offer them the option to host their site, and pre-install one of the CMS systems from Fantastico for them.

Having no experience with any of these, I'm hoping you guys can suggest one that would be the absolute simplest for someone to learn (think, people that are happy that they can figure out how to get online), but doesn't include many options other than setting up a layout and putting text on a couple of pages, with the occasional picture. Options such as a calendar of events are just too confusing for them.

I originally set up WordPress, but my first client said that they couldn't figure it out. So, I need something even simpler than that! Soho Pro seems the simplest to set up, but since you have to buy it for a whopping $150 it's out of the running. And the Templates Express option is simply too difficult for them to set up.

Which one would you suggest for these non-tech clients?

TIA,

Jason

 

[Infopro]

Templates Express is by far the easiest route to take. No upgrades needed for starters. Change a few images, edit the text, add some meta data http://tools.seobook.com/meta-medic/ , a favicon http://www.htmlkit.com/services/favicon/ , even a nice secure contact us form http://www.dagondesign.com/articles/secure-php-form-mailer-script/ and you're good to go.

The hardest part would be teaching them to edit a file.

64 templates in Templates Express too.

In my experience a casual user will have a hard time catching onto a CMS with a database, software upgrades, theme changing and so on. Best to get them into something simple till the requirements grow with experience.

HTML sites are the most secure way to go too.

My 2.

 

[Daniel15]

I'd personally recommend CMS Made Simple, although I don't think it's available in Fantastico (Fantastico is stupid anyways, causes too many problems).

 

[bsdjunk]

Fantastico is nice as it's easy for newbies to add/remove things. What makes it a pain for the admin is the fact that fantastico isn't quick on updating the software so you end up having old software some of which doesn't have any security patches.

I personally like/use joomla but I have some nice results with jaws

 

[brianoz]

From Fantastico, Soholaunch is the simplest, hands down. It's also the least powerful, but then that's why it's simplest. And there are some pretty awesome plugins for it available from the www.soholaunch.com website - and having said it's the least powerful, it's actually not too bad!

 

[GoWilkes]

I had originally looked at Soho Launch, and liked that it was pretty weak, honestly; I make a living from writing programs, so I didn't want the client to do TOO much on their own! LOL But I was concerned that it kept saying that you had to pay $150 for it.

I just found out today, though, that after 30 days you can't use the Advanced features, but the basic features will still work forever. That's perfect for me, I think.

Although I'm still going to research CMS Made Simple. If I could install it manually for the clients pretty easily, I would be able to just leave Fantastico off indefinitely and not worry about it.

Thanks all,

Jason