Hi, Im building a very simple web site and want to find a simple web design software to use. I started with Kompozer, which I would love, except that there a too many bugs in it on the mac version. I tried Rapid Weaver, but I don't like the theme approach, I want to build my own design. I downloaded the free trial of dreamweaver, but it looks too complicated, especially for my simple needs. What I want is something like a bug free version of Kompozer- any ideas?
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Best Simple WYSIWYG design software
- Thread starter JohnnyBgood
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Look through the Stickies in this forum. It has tons of information like this. I haven't found Kompozer to be buggy, but don't use it much. I think Freeway is another one that gets suggested. I'm a hand coder myself as none of the WYSIWYG programs are to my liking in one way or another.
Like the previous poster, I prefer to do my own coding, but I would say give the theme-based Rapidweaver and iWeb another shot. Starting with a theme that is basically what you want and then making the modifications to make it your own is a good time saver and not very difficult.
I kind of like RapidWeaver.
Nice looking sites with a minimum of fuss. Nothing professional, mind you, but nice for family stuff.
Nice looking sites with a minimum of fuss. Nothing professional, mind you, but nice for family stuff.
I really don't like the theme based software for me. If Kompozer is the best simple WYSIWYG, I can try to work around the bugs. How does Freeway compare to Komposer?
You don't have to use a theme for iWeb. Just start with the "white" theme, delete everything, and then tweak to your heart's desire.
I personally like the latest version of GoLive.
It's very similar to InDesign and Photoshop, in terms of overall simplicity, flexibility, and CS3 GUI standards.
If you can use PhotoshopCS3, you'll feel comfortable in GoLive 9.
BTW, I tend to agree with OP; DreamweaverCS3 still feels like an older Aqua application, and is generally too klunky and complex.
(I found it to be the most disappointing aspect of CS3 Design Premium)
It's very similar to InDesign and Photoshop, in terms of overall simplicity, flexibility, and CS3 GUI standards.
If you can use PhotoshopCS3, you'll feel comfortable in GoLive 9.
BTW, I tend to agree with OP; DreamweaverCS3 still feels like an older Aqua application, and is generally too klunky and complex.
(I found it to be the most disappointing aspect of CS3 Design Premium)
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I tried out iWeb again, using the blank page- and it works perfect for what I want! Thanks!!
I assume that I need to use a .mac account with iweb? Do you know if it is worth upgrading to iLife '08 (I have the 2006 version)? Can I have my unique domain name?
John
I assume that I need to use a .mac account with iweb? Do you know if it is worth upgrading to iLife '08 (I have the 2006 version)? Can I have my unique domain name?
John
iWeb is a good choice
You can use any hosting, but apparently it uploads the whole site each time. OR doesn't make it easy to do incremental uploads.
I bought the Tidbits ebook on iWeb, it's very useful.
Definitely worth getting '08, for no other reason than Apple changed the formats and previous sites break in the '08 version. Have you got Leopard?
.Mac does have unique URLs
You can use any hosting, but apparently it uploads the whole site each time. OR doesn't make it easy to do incremental uploads.
I bought the Tidbits ebook on iWeb, it's very useful.
Definitely worth getting '08, for no other reason than Apple changed the formats and previous sites break in the '08 version. Have you got Leopard?
.Mac does have unique URLs
Thanks for the tip on the importance of upgrading to iLife '08. I'm fine with using .mac as a host since it sounds like it makes things the easiest. I don't have Leopard, and am happy with tiger, and have no desire to upgrade, unless there is some reason I need to?
If you know Quark Xpress, picking Freeway up will be really easy.
Freeway Pro is what I started learning on and loved it, Still have nothing but good things to say about it. Much more powerful than iWeb, granted they are a little different in the audience they are marketing too. When I finally learned CSS, HTML, Etc.., I started using a lot of editors that have direct access to the code, I started with version 3 something and things might have changed since then in-regards to direct access to the code.
If you don't know web languages or even if you do and don't want to write the code but want a really powerful application, in my opinion Freeway is the best.
You really can't compare it to Komposer. For one thing, Komposer is Free and Freeway Pro cost money. Second, Komposer's interface would be closer compared to Dreamweaver. In Komposer, if I remember correctly you can access the code on your pages, in Freeway, or a least the version that I started on, you could insert code into the pages but did not have direct access too it, it did not really matter back then because I couldn't have done anything with it if I could have. Also, when trying to open sites that where built in other editors, Freeway would rip the pages apart and the screen representation would not be accurate. In that respect, it is like iWeb. That might have changed in the new version Freeway Pro 5.
I decided to start with iweb, and was about to buy iLife '08, but I read so many bad reviews about it (mostly iMovie) that I wonder if I should stick to the 2006 version, or if it is best to go with the 2008 version, because of the format change, and since I am starting a new web page from scratch now?
You can download an updated version of iMovie HD '06 if you buy iLife '08 - you don't have to keep the god-awful excuse for a piece of software that the new iMovie is. Other than that, it's a solid update, and I highly recommend it.