1.Webassist says this is for PHP websites?Does it work on standard HTML/CSS web pages e.g. page1.html with no PHP? As well as web pages with PHP? e.g. contact forms
Power CMS USes server side php code. the server side PHP Code cannot be applied to static .html pages, it can only be applied to dynamic .php pages.
2.Is the CMS limited to editing text or can it edit images or galleries or possibly java scripted galleries (with thumnails that users click on e.g. lightbox)
the GMS Can edit and upload images. It uses the CKEditor package to offer a rich text editor and the KFM package for uploading and managing images:
ckeditor.com/
kfm.verens.com/
3.This seems a little like adobe contribute -I have encouraged one client to buy contribute to manage a site I have created for them - is this just as powerful?
the underlying idea is similar to contribute, unlike contribute, it is an application that runs in the browser, not a desktop application. As such, there will be some things that can be done in contribute that cannot be done in Power CMS. For example, the client you create the power cms web site will not be able to create new physical pages in the site.
Power CMS Gives you, the developer the ability to create a page that can be used as a template for creating new virtual pages from. a template page creates a page with predetermined content areas on it. new pages can be created from the template that will have the same content area layout, but you will be able to add unique content to each page.
4.How simple is the user (client) interface - my clients would like it very simple (e.g. as simple as using word!)
Simple is a relative term. On the power CMS Builder home page:
powercms-builder/
there is a feature tour video link. at the 0:20 mark and the 1:20 mark, there are screen shotts showing the client interface to give you an idae of what it will look like.
5.If it only costs me $199 and my clients dont have to buy contribute then it might be a good deal (if its as good as contribute?)
no, your clients will not need contribute to use Power CMS.
6.Im assuming my clients dont have to buy power cms buider or dreamweaver!?
No, the client will not need dreamweaver or Power CMS. The site management interface is an Admin section to the Web site and is accessed through the Web Browser.