I remember Yahoo looking like that but never realised Google was so bad LOL Anyway, I still use DW4, and only remember DW MX and DW MX 2004 coming out... so why we getting DW8 or did I miss something? Why would anyone wanna u/g to DW8? <start-convincing>...
Dreamweaver without a second of thought. I started out on AOL's design thing. Can't remember what it was called but it did the job. I then went to Frontpage Express which was free with Windows. Next was Frontpage. During my time using Frontpage, I tried Dreamweaver. Basically, I started it, looked at the interface and how completley different it was. I couldn't actually comprehend it for some reason (this was YEARS ago) and went back to Frontpage. Then about a year later, I tried Dreamweaver again and I never left it since. It is by far the better of the two. By FAR!
Dreamweaver MX is the way to go if you are looking for WYSIWYG. However, it is getting pretty seriously dated now, and I have recently switched to a code editor called TSW Webcoder (google it). This does not have an editor, but you'll soon get used to it. Dreamweaver is great if you want to learn HTML and CSS, since it produces readable code and doesn't complain if you edit it manually. Whatever you do, do not use Frontpage!!
Dremweaver is great for working on multiple sites. And DW8 is going to have zoom, great for tired old eyes. My vote for Dreamweaver.
I learned 10 years ago with HotDog Then they changed it up and I didn't like it. Thankfully HotDog was a lot like Dreamweaver in the way you could switch from wysiwyg and plain text code. So I learned to hand code. I like Editpad for handcoding and use it everyday. I also use Dreamweaver everyday. I liked DW2, didn't care too much for 3, but have moved along with it since DW4. I use MX 2004 everyday at work. I can spot a Frontpage site almost everytime I see one, I don't like them at all. I've worked for many design companies and marketing firms and Dreamweaver is industry standard. Frontpage is more for the cheapo boss that piles things onto the secretary to do. I've always considered Frontpage to be amatuerish at best. Understanding markup language is your best bet, doesn't matter what tool you use as long as you understand what you're doing. The skills are transferrable, you just need to learn where the buttons are in different software packages. When the merger goes through between Adobe and Macromedia there will be one industry standard suite out there for professional design work. So it would be best to start learning Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and Flash if you haven't already. Those programs are mandatory immediate installs on any machine I have to use.
Before you decide to use a program you must know what it does. I will describe both DreamWeaver and Front Page. I will then answer your question. Microsoft Front Page Front Page is WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) program; meaning that you do not have access to the majority of the raw HTML code. Also, if your going to be using JavaScript, or more advanced languages such as PHP, Front Page is going to make it VERY difficult. Macromidia DreamWeaver DreamWeaver is, in essence, the standard Web Design program. It is capeable of generating anything from basic HTML pages to .Net ASP documents. With it you can easily minipluate code, in both the design and code views. With the design view you can easily position basic elements and save a lot of time. While, with the code view you can focus on the more advanced code, such as CSS, Client Side Scripts (like JavaScript and VB Script), and Server Side Scripts (like PHP, ASP etc...). Dreamweaver also allows you to create Template files. With a Template you can easily change every single page of your site with just a few simple clicks! Dreamweaver MX is the way to go if your going to use it. You can buy it as part of Macromedia Studio MX (includes Flash MX, Fireworks MX, etc). It is expensive, however you can download a free trial, or in certain cases, request a free licence. For What You Want to Do Though you are new to HTML i would suggest you use DreamWeaver MX. For one, you don't need to focus on the code just now, and you can use the design view (which is very similar to Front Page but better) However, as your site grows you will realise that you need to focus more on Dynamic content, which is easily created in DreamWeaver. Also, you talked about a forum and shopping cart. Most web based programs like these require PHP (PHP Hypertext Preprocessor), a language that cannot be manipulated in Front Page (or any other WYSIWYG program). These programs also need to be executed on a testing server, which DreamWeaver automatically sets up for you. In conclusion, for what you want to do, you bassically have no choice but to go with DreamWeaver, or a program like it (although DreamWeaver is probably the best.) In short, you can't accomplish what you want on Front Page, period. Other Things You Will need: For your forums, shopping cart, and any other Server Side applications you wish to run, you will need a database. If your going to use PHP (which is the best for you) you are going to need a MySQL database. Your best bet to get all of this is to search for a paying host (you pay them). Make sure that the host allows you to develope on Windows and host on whatever Operating System they use. NOTE: The only way to develope on Windows and host on another OS (Operating System) is a PHP + MySQL setup. MAKE SURE YOUR WEBHOST SUPPORTS THIS BEFORE YOU BUY A PLAN. That's bassically it. If you need more info (or if I have confused you) just pm me. Hope i helped -Richie
I'd like to point out one more option: nVu. It's free and can do a LOT of WYSIWYG design. nVu can be a great way to get started for FREE.
Damn you and your student 'educational' discount! Damn you to hades! ok...i'm jelous! there, now you have it!
Are there real alternatives to FP and DW? I am still using Hotmetal Pro 6, which I love, but they were bought out by Corel and died of atrophy. What else is out there?
dreamweaver. no question about it. anything that comes out of redmond washington doesnt really work for me imho...