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8 Replies Last post: Mar 19, 2003 3:59 AM by Randy_B_Singer

louisiana

84 posts since
Oct 16, 2002

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Mar 15, 2003 10:10 AM

Suggestions for Web Design Software

Anyone have suggestions for a cheap, simple and very easy to use web design software for OS X? (FYI - I find something like dreamweaver to be real tough to pick up and use quickly!) Mayhaps I R knot sew smart?

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Ninja_Squirrel

102 posts since
Feb 9, 2003

1. Mar 15, 2003 11:42 AM

in response to: louisiana

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

I just got Dreamweaver and it does look kind of hard for the first time user. But I am going to go and get a book on it today. So I think I will have my website up in no time.

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halo_echoes

282 posts since
Feb 18, 2002

2. Mar 15, 2003 1:48 PM

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

yeah dreamweaver went way over my head as well. believe it or not, i've actually found good old html to be the easiest method for me! lots of control that way too. bbedit is wonderful.

although i'm sure there are easier wysiwyg software solutions out there (isn't there a simple one called "freeway"?)... just i think the easier they are to use, the less and less control you'll have over the look and feel of your site.

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carson

68 posts since
Oct 28, 2001

3. Mar 15, 2003 2:02 PM

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

freeway has very good reputation

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eclipse

68 posts since
Jan 12, 2003

4. Mar 15, 2003 2:44 PM

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

Actually, Dreamweaver is a VERY user friendly program, but then again I am a intermediate web designer. But really it is very easy. You can email and I can easily get you started. Or if you have aim, we can go that way.

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knarley

177 posts since
Feb 4, 2003

5. Mar 15, 2003 5:22 PM

in response to: louisiana

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

I suppose it depends on your needs but I've been perfectly happy using Adobe Pagemill, and have found recently that using composer in netscape 7.0 on OS X to fit all of my needs. I'm especially pleased with Netscape 7 as compared to composer from Netscape 4.7. In fact that's the only reason I let that browser keep hanging around on my system, since I use Safari and Chimera for my browsing needs. But then again, I'm not doing anything professional. Just handling websites for small organizations and such.

-- Carlton

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SueG

2,396 posts since
May 19, 2002

6. Mar 15, 2003 8:17 PM

in response to: louisiana

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

If you want to learn HTML (not programming, just tags, so really pretty simple) then BBedit is the most straight forward. It lets you add tags from a pull down menu, so no typos, and has automated all the most needed procedures while letting you toggle between the html and the browser view.

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louisiana

84 posts since
Oct 16, 2002

7. Mar 15, 2003 9:38 PM

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

I have tried Freeway - but maybe I can take another look. Adobe Pagemill is no longer available - Any thoughts on Stone?

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Randy_B_Singer

621 posts since
Dec 20, 2002

8. Mar 19, 2003 3:59 AM

in response to: louisiana

Re: Suggestions for Web Design Software

In reply to:<hr />
Anyone have suggestions for a cheap, simple and very easy to use web design software for OS X?

<hr />

I often hear the question: "What is the best WYSIWYG Web page authoring program for the Macintosh for beginners."

With the demise of Claris Home Page and Adobe Pagemill, one is hard pressed to think of any WYSIWYG Web page authoring programs suitable for beginners. GoLive, Dreamweaver and Freeway are too expensive (between $250 and $300), and may have too steep a learning curve for beginners.

PageSpinner is a wonderful shareware program but it is not a true WYSIWYG HTML editor. However, at $30 it is reasonably priced and it is a great way to learn HTML (if that is what one wants to do) in a hands-on manner.
http://www.optima-system.com/pagespinner/

BBEdit is a popular choice, but like PageSpinner it isn't WYSIWYG. And at $119 it is no longer cheap.
http://www.barebones.com/

If you want something that is easy to learn and to use, that is WYSIWYG, and which is low cost, there is one definitive choice.

The definitive recommendation, if you want to have a modern WYSIWYG HTML authoring program for OS X, and you want it for FREE, is Netscape! The Composer component of the latest version of Netscape is all that a beginner really needs. It is really quite a bit like the now discontinued Claris HomePage was.

Netscape 7.02 is the latest version of Netscape, and it can run under OS 9.1 or higher or natively under OS X.

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp

I also recommend these books:

HTML for the World Wide Web by Elizabeth Castro from Peachpit Press (part of their Visual Quickstart Guide series)
http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/K5950.html

Create Your Own Home Page/Macintosh by Tonya and Adam Engst (of Tidbits fame)
from Hayden Books ISBN 1-56830-245-2
http://www.tidbits.com/adam/books/CYOHP.html
http://www.half.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=3357707

"How to do everything with HTML" by James Pence.
http://www.osborne.com/consumerapps_hardware/0072132736/0072132736.shtml

Also see these online resources:
http://arnspub.com/QuickRef/
http://homepage.mac.com/jbthoo/HTMLresources.html

Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html

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