How to Use Dreamweaver MX and Fireworks MX

In many of the "how to" books on Fireworks and Dreamweaver I've read, there has been a tendency to pile on and sadly, even show off the author's knowlege rather than staying focused on the task at hand. This is all fine for veteran web masters(who probably don't need the books in the first place). But for the person who is new to the interface, it is best to keep things simple and focused. We don't need to see the details of the whole forest ecosystem when all we want is to build a little treehouse.This is why I find Lon Coley's book so valuable. It stays focused on the concept and, I might add, gives some pretty good hints and tips. The large color illustrations are also a nice break from the monochromatic examples in most texts. Most books claim they are designed for the "beginner to the advanced user", but they usually focus somewhere in between. They make too many assumptions about the Newbie's level of experience, and most really advanced techniques require their own books. This book is truly for the Newbie beginner and it fills a badly needed slot.

I really like this book a lot. I have other books on Dreamweaver and Flash but this is my favorite for both. First it selects the essential tasks you have to do. For a small book it's incredible how often the procedure you need is right there. Second, it picks a smart easy way to do each of the things. Other books have examples that are overly complex for no good reason. Third, each procedure is profusely illustrated so it's hard to miss the point. One screen shot for every step. It even has circles around the button on the screen shots and a picture of a mouse with the word "click". In the middle of the night you really appreciate this kind of idiot-proof design format. Finally, it's a really pretty book. After a wading through books with 1,000 pages of text, something this colorful is easy on the eyes.

This book is great for anyone who has never used any kind of webdesign software. It has great pictures and cool hints for doing stuff. The text is clear and easy to read and the book introduces all the important parts of both bits of software. Once you have used this, you will feel confident to learn and do more than you thought you could. It might not make you an expert, but will be a great starting point for anyone taking the plunge

This has to be a great starting point for anyone new to web design. It might not be the most techy book, but after reading it you will certainluy know what you are doing. Great color screen shots and really easy to use for anyone. Everything has a picture to help you check you did it right and cool hints for other stuff as well. A great buy for getting into Dreamweaver and Fireworks

With the many books out there on the subject, I was really impressed with how clear and easy to use this book is. You can work through the tasks in any order you like, even with no previous experience. Everything is laid out in an easy follow format, and the color pictures help to see everything clearly. I would recommend this as the perfect beginners book as it covers everything you need to create a website with great graphics as well as giving handy tips that I had not seen anywhere else. Money well spent.