A multipurpose word processor (shareware) that includes many functions that make developing websites fun n' easy, including syntax highlighting. If you've only used plain b&w text when working with HTML, you may not realize how much easier it is to deal with when all that data is color coded.
PolyEdit also includes a snippets toolpane, which is a great aid for adding traditional HTML tags and Kipper comments around selected text.
You can use Kipper from your desktop, but you say that you don't have a server? It can be easier than you think!
Apache is rather difficult for some of us to deal with, but you can get Abyss Web Server X1 web server for free. Abyss is easier to use than Apache, easier to install, and has a very handy console. It's the perfect desktop server for those of us who are less technologically-inclined.
Also, Abyss comes with instructions for downloading and installing PHP, which you also need.
Not included, but darn handy when used along with the built-in RSS feed, SimplePie is relatively easy-to-use for parsing RSS feeds.
You can see it in use over there, the Technodope feed to the right.
Also found on my own blog, but not included, Disqus is a comments system that tends to blow the socks off most built-in blog comments, and only requires a few lines of code. Despite being hosted on a remote site, visitors never leave yours, and are not subjected to annoying popups, either.
