wordpress

Although this is true you should be aware that it is the WORST way to install WordPress. Fantastico and QuickInstall are fine for test sites, but you never want your real money-making sites installed with such an insecure method. Hackers love Fantastico installations, it makes their job so much easier.

Installing WordPress manually is very simple, the "hardest" thing you'd have to do is create a simple MySQL database and remember the login information. By doing a manual installation you can change things like the database table prefix and add security codes to your wp-config.php file (the main WordPress configuration file). For additional security you could also move wp-config.php to another location as well.

As Istvan already stated your local computer has NOTHING to do with installing a web-based application like WordPress! All you need is a web browser, your computer can be Windows, Mac or LINUX.

Until your post I have never heard of Microsoft Webmatrix. From their page it looks like a GUI shell to install scripts with, is that correct? Seems like a real overkill to install a simple script like WordPress.

This page should answer all your questions:

Installing WordPress « WordPress Codex

Bill

Or if he runs LINUX on his laptop he could just install Apache and he's good to go.

But I don't think that was the original intent of the OP's question, of course maybe it was and he just worded it poorly.


Bill