Dreamweaver OR Microsoft products

I am pretty new to this, hence the question....I am interested in starting to design websites. My obvious choice was getting to grips with Dreamweaver but the cost has put me off. I then discovered Microsft's range of free downloads, namely Microsft WebMatrix or perhaps Visual Studio 2010 Express. Has anyone used these products or can perhaps suggest the best tool for creating standalone websites??Thanks once again

 

DW and the MS products are all good -- they certainly simplify the web development process.
But if you really want to learn HTML, develop it in NOTEPAD or any other basic text editor. That way you understand how it all works in the background.

 

Dreamweaver is better than Microsoft expression, + some times Microsoft expression crashes while working on win7

for me, Notepad++ is the best

Thanks

 

"Should I stick a needle or a pin into my eye?" That's what you're asking. Try "neither".

1) Designing a website is artwork. Adobe Photoshop, Paint.net ... those are the sort of programs you use to design websites.

2) If you mean develop websites (write code), use Notepad++, Eclipse, Aptana Studio, Netbeans ...

The free programs are a lot better than the paid programs in this case.

 

I have been using Microsoft Expression the past few weeks, and I have to say it is pretty frustrating, especially random crashes when nothing is saved.

 

Undoubtedly Microsoft products are better than Dreamweaver

 

Dreamweaver is better, but REALLY expensive. (You can try it free for 30 days, though.)

You may as well learn HTML and use it in combination with an editor. Sure, you can hand code everything. But why? Editors will make some of the code messy. But if you've got HTML skills you can clean it up a bit.

That said, don't forget about content management alternatives. Wordpress, Drupal, BlogEngine, etc.

 

I agree, get yourself over to http://www.w3schools.com/ and learn the code!

Having said that DW is good. Not used Expression but looks alright..

 

That's like saying that having a broken back and being in a coma is better than being dead. It is, but not so much that you'd notice.

 

Dreamweaver was king , is king and it will be king . When you add some custom mods to it then you can do some pretty amazing things .

 

I can do the same things with Notepad. (Websites are just text, there's nothing magic or "undoable by mortal beings" about them.)

 

Read this article Dreamweaver Vs. other tools. You may find it useful.
I vote for Notepad++.

 

Really so notepad has the ability to test your website/app at multiple resolutions ? Or can you test it on the live server at the touch of one button ? Do you have code hinting to shorten the time it takes to code ? Or maybe code correction for that occasional fat finger ? No you don't and you loose time because of it and that's just the tip of the iceberg .

@Kerosene - coding by hand is the only way , but having a good program to help you never hurts .

 

Dreamweaver is a nice option.

 

Dreamwaver in my opinion.

 

I agree that http://www.w3schools.com is a great site to learn code. Dreamweaver and the entire Adobe CS are the best design tools you can have. They are pricey but the cost is reflected in the end product that they can allow you to produce. If you are going to design professionally then these are the tools that you will need.

 

dreamweaver for the win, use it, explore it and you will love it.

 

I like dreamweaver for web designing...