Dreamweaver CS5 vs. FrontPage 2003 - Web Design - Graphic Design

Its the oldest debate among web designers who choose to use WYSIWYG page editors (What you see is what you get. While some recommend to type solely by hand, i would recommend to use one of these editors. While they are not the classic methods of creating websites, they can be very useful in creating dynamic webpages in just a few minutes.

Two of the main arch rivals of this debate are Adobe Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage. Each side has its hardcore fans that quarrel over the Pros and Cons of each. Each side seems to have valid points on which is better, however each side has its negatives as well...

FrontPage 2003:

Pros:1. User Friendly Interface(similar to Microsoft Word format)2. Easier for beginners3. Very inexpensive4. Readily available on campus computers5. Easy to add Features( Flash, Forms... ect.)

Cons:1. Not as many advanced features.2. Most features specific to Windows.3. Unwanted code... difficult to manage.4. Designed only for Internet Explorer... might not work on other web browsers.5. Requires web host that supports FrontPage.

Adobe Dreamweaver CS5:

Pros:1. Contains more advanced features.2. Ability to create your own templates.3. Less trashy bulk in your coding4. Works with nearly all Web Browsers.5. More control over what your page contains.

Cons:1. EXPENSIVE!!!2. Not very considerate of new web designers3. Graphics interface can not always be reliable.4. Confusing interface5. CSS Pages can be completely ruined with one click...

Conclusion: Although they both have their advantages, my personal pick for the pair is Dreamweaver. Of course i would still recommend trying out both of them separately and seeing which one works best for you. I would also recommend learning HTML by hand and then moving to Dreamweaver to prevent any confusion.

Thanks for reading my article! :D

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