Windows Live Writer
I’ve been blogging lately using the beta version of Microsoft’s new Windows live writer tool. In a break from the usual Microsoft way of doing things, the folks in Redmond have gotten this piece of software mostly right from the start. Unlike other blogging tools I’ve used in the past like Ecto and BlogJet, Live Writer is easy to set up and doesn’t have any irritating quirkiness with WYSIWYG editing - something which frustrated me to no end when I used them. Live writer works with all the major blog hosting services and it allows you to easily insert items like photos and hyperlinks with a minimum of fuss. A nice touch is that mimics the style and format of your blog by pulling down the associated style sheet information so you feel right at home using it.
Live writer is one of those pieces of software ‘that just works’. The interface is plain and simple with a nice pastel shade of blue which doesn’t burn your retinas. Being the first iteration of the product it is refreshingly free from bloat and more arcane functionality can be provided by the built-in support for plugins should you need it.
Disclaimer: Microsoft didn’t give give me a free laptop with Windows Vista preinstalled for writing a positive review, but I am open to offers nonetheless : )