VS2012 actually is one of the best HTML and CSS editors out there today especially if you add the Web Essentials add-in package which enables a host of additional features. The JavaScript editor is pretty good too, although other tools do better especially in regards to code navigation (actually in VS you can add ReSharper which adds much of that functionality and a lot more in general).

What exactly is your problem with VS2012? VS2012 is by far the most stable release of VS.NET. Up until 2012 I used to have many crashing issues, but even with a host of complex add-ins running VS2012 is super stable for me now...

Other nice choices:

JetBrain's WebStorm
Aptana (free)

The above all have a distinct Java like feel to it though (as does Eclipse) and the resulting lag on Windows. But functionally they are great tools.

+++ Rick ---

>Until I make my VS 2012 stable (ok, it must be my computer problem) I need an IDE to "play" with HTML5, jQuery, and other Javascript tools. Any recommendations of a simple, stable, and free HTML5/Javascript IDE?
>
>TIA.
>
>P.S. Please don't recommend a Notepad <g>.