I've spent the last two months looking over Content Management Systems in an attempt to find a great Knowledge Management solution for the creation, sharing, and distribution of content.
Since there is the occasional visitor to this site, specific tests, specific outcomes, and my final selection will not be revealed. However, for each of the many CMSs I looked at, this will document the good, the outstanding, the bad, and the occasional ugly.
This Review focuses on Ektron CMS400. Ektron was honored by KMWorld Magazine in 2005 by being named one of the 100 Companies that Matter in KM as well as a 2005 KM Trend Setter.
With Ektron CMS400, I saw a demo, and then I had a chance to download and install a sandbox to play with.
As with all the CMSs I looked at, my 91 tests was the starting point.
Unfortunately with my Ektron tests, far too many features that I needed did not function. One disappointment was that the WYSIWYG Editor that I required was a separate plug-in that had to be added after I initially started the tests. Given Ektron was appreciated so well by KMWorld, I gave them the benefit of a second chance, and still I ran into issues that were insurmountable for my need.
To Ektron's credit, their solution begins at around $12,000 and includes a Document Management System. The combination of DMS and CMS is valuable. I suspect that these are the reasons that they matter in KM...a good price for a product that combines two important concepts (DMS/CMS). Just ensure your demands are not too intense.
I would also state that it is a benefit that Ektron stands behind their product and will allow a company to download a full working version to demo and test. To me, that is always test number 1. I was not able to do that with RedDot Solutions. The technical and sales staff were also very helpful; it just did not work with my needs.
On the Tom Godfrey rating scale, definitely 'asdf'...middle of the field.
well, most of the CMS don't have a pre-installed WYSIWYG editor, however you can add a plugin later on and that works fine. Thanks
Posted by: Online Website Editor | March 26, 2009 at 03:26 AM
Ummm... most do have a pre-installed WYSIWYG editor. That is most definitely standard.
Posted by: Bee | April 01, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Ektron is terrible, I have been trying to convince our IT department to ditch the software as soon as possible.
Posted by: mark | April 02, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Just like dot Net nuke, only $20,000 more!
Posted by: Rajhit | April 07, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Ektron CMS400 works pretty well, I recommend it too.
Posted by: Viagra Online | September 21, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Do you know the new version Ektron CMS800 ?
Posted by: Midlife Crisis | October 16, 2009 at 04:17 PM
nice! i'm gonna make my own journal
Posted by: First Forced Orgasm | October 17, 2009 at 06:49 PM