OK.. now be gentle. I understand that we have a lot of IT people on here, and I am not an IT person myself... so be easy on me

Here's the deal:

I am not a web designer, but I have some basic knowledge on how to build a website. When I say basic knowledge, I mean using FrontPage 2002 to build fairly simplistic sites. I also have some minimal HTML knowledge so I can tinker with the code sometimes instead of using the GUI interface.

That said, I have had some neighbors who own small business like construction, remodeling, landscaping, designer painting, etc... and many of them want me to design simple sites for them... just to give them a web presence.

I believe FrontPage 2002 has run its course for me... so my question is this:

Am I better off upgrading my FrontPage, or should I go an get a Mac (something that has been on my To Do list eventually anyway)?

Again, I am looking for a GUI based web design software, but FP 2002 is outdated at this point and I'm sure there is software out there which is just as easy to use, but can let me do a lot more. I just don't know if I should get the new FrontPage, or if there is a better GUI design software for Mac which I should get.

Any advice/help is much appreciated.

TIA

 

You may already know this JB, but I don't believe FrontPage exists any longer. Microsoft's current web authoring tool is "Expression Web 2." I have no clue how good/bad it is, but I do know that M$ supposedly made a concerted effort to make their web authoring products more standards compliant.

 

^ Yeah, I had heard that it was no longer available, but wasn't sure. Thanks for the confirmation.

I was wondering if maybe a newer version then 2002 would be better.

Or, if there is another good GUI type web designer available...

 

Afaik the last version of frontpage was 2003. Ms said they replaced fp with sharepoint deisgner. Look into adobe dreamworks or expression web 2 for web pages. I'm not sure but doesn't adobe in design do websites also, idk.

 

^ I'll have to do some research on the ones you listed. I'm looking for the most user-friendly software available

Thx.

 

I believe InDesign is essentially a desktop publishing application. From what I understand you can indeed use it for creating web content but it would likely be either serious overkill, an exercise in frustration, or both for the sort of work JB seems to be looking at.

Adobe also has their "Contribute" product for web authoring. It may be too dumbed down though for anything but the simplest template-driven content.

BTW, DreamWeaver, not Dreamworks

 

Maybe Visual Web Designer 2008 Express Edition (it's free) would be good for you. It can't hurt to try.

http://www.microsoft.com/express/download

 

^ I'll check it out. Thanks

Can't beat free...

 

In general Dreamweaver is the best. There are alternatives like Microsoft Expression Web, which replaced FrontPage and a free open source editor called KompoZer from Mozilla.

There is a list of editors at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_HTML_editors.

 

^ I've heard a lot about Dreamweaver and did some basic web updates (updated text on an existing website) a few years back.

Is it a GUI type of web designer where I can setup the page and it pretty much rights the HTML for me? Or do you need to code everything?

Thx.

 

i havent heard/use Frontpage in years. I was trying to learn php, but got lazy.

 

All editors I mentioned have GUIs. But it'll be much easier if you know at least some basic code because there are always some things easier to do with codes than point and click.

 

 

If you're used to the point and click method, you shouldn't have much trouble jumping into Dreamweaver. It's pretty simple to use once you get acquainted with the interface. Objects won't always place themselves where you want them, so some understanding of html/xhtml is necessary.

 

Dreamweaver is nice if you understand html very well...

I personally do everything from scratch as it is faster and less garbage code resulting in a faster load.

But I'd go to Barnes and Nobles and purchase a book on Dreamweaver, you'll be an expert in no time! Then progress to javascript...flash..cold fusion.. the fun stuff
Though flash is dying out as it is really horrible with web crawlers.. go google.

Keep us posted, I'm sure we would love to help you with your projects.

 

Dreamweaver is definitely a really good WYSISYG editor. It also integrates nicely with a lot of other Adobe software.

 

Thanks all. WYSISYG is really what I'm looking to do. Not looking to learn too much code. Don't forget... this would be done in my "free time" between running two franchise stores as well as another business I am buying into within the next month of so.

So whatever is easiest and allows me to get some simple designs up fairly easily (which Frontpage allows me to do) is the route I'll go.

Thanks

 

Dreamweaver > Others listed

 

I'm sensing that trend

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOlspoBcwsU