Rating: 
Summary: More than just another book of features...
Review: The last couple of years have seen the New Media market flooded with new tools, plugins and software packages to help design and build interactive content. Arguably the best suite of tools available are those found in Macromedia's latest offering of Studio MX. In addition to the most robust version of Flash to date, Studio MX also includes revamped versions of Cold Fusion, Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Freehand. However, though having the right tools will definately make life easier, building New Media content is much more than just knowing the latest features and tricks. Unfortunately, many of the books currently available are little more than expanded feature spotlights, or a rehash of the manuals.That's where Tom Green and Co. have strayed from the pack. Building Web Sites with Macromedia Studio MX outlines a real-world web project from start to finish. Beginning with brainstorming and planning, the reader learns the why of web design, not just how. Discussions include wireframing, flowchats, and navigation issues. Also of note is the welcome inclusion of interaction with the client (via Macromedia Sitespring), reviews, signoffs, and version tracking. From the planning stages, we move through the actual design and creation of the site using Fireworks and Dreamweaver, then on to more advanced tasks including dynamic content via Cold Fusion. Building Web Sites provides a very comprehensive overview into the actual workflow of a project. The brick and mortar approach should appeal to a wide variety of both novice designers and programmers.
Rating: 
Summary: A Worthwhile Investment
Review: There are a LOT of books out there dealing with how to use software; very few cover the rest of the development cycle, AND relate it to professional software products I use everyday. When you buy a software package like MX Studio, some of the software may be new to you, as it was to me. This book really helped me see where all the pieces fit together. This book is a great introduction to the Macromedia MX product line up, and an excellent resource for learning about project management. The production cycle is well explained here, and I am really impressed with the writers' insistence on paper-based development at the concept stage. This area of development is often overlooked; the preference being to dive right into the software. Storyboards, wireframes, click-thru, usability - all are covered in an informative and conversational manner. I found myself nodding and smiling as I read some of sidebar anecdotes. If one were to follow the guidelines set here, one would have some very satisfied clients.
Rating:
Summary: At last, a book that shows all of the software interacting
Review: There are so many books on the market that focus on just one piece of software that you are often left asking yourself the question "but what is the right software to build a web site?" No single web site is built with just one piece of software. There is the graphics, the animation, interactivity, data and business logic. Macromedia provides all of the tools you need to build sites needing these different tools; however, Building Web Sites with Macromedia Studio MX is the first book that addresses that important need of integrating all those tools you need to build a site. Tom Green, et al, deliver a diverse book that gives a solid foundation upon which you can build any Macromedia Studio MX site.
Rating: 
Summary: A good overview under one cover
Review: This book represents a good overview for those wishing to manage web sites using Macromedia's entire suite of products. The authors cover a lot of territory; so get ready to try a little of each of Macromedia's heavy-hitting suite of software products. This is a good book for those who would like to experience, under one cover, how the entire suite of products blends together to create a cohesive whole. In my opinion, however, in order to cover the "breadth" of Macromedia's product line, it sacrifices the technical "depth" I was expecting.
Rating:
Summary: From soup to nuts with Studio MX
Review: This book takes a reader through the entire web site development process with an emphasis on efficient workflow: planning, executing, and testing. It starts with Sitespring to introduce a tool for site collaboration and then moves into the creation of a site using all the components of Macromedia Studio MX (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, ColdFusion, and FreeHand) to execute the plan. The tutorial-based approach provides practical advice and techniques on how to use the software in designing a web site. Using good workflow practices, a static site evolves with dynamic content using ColdFusion MX and Flash MX. For those who have not fully explored the wealth of Studio MX content, they will learn how to take advantage of the interactivity that exists between all of these software packages. Web designers will find this book to be an excellent resource containing solid ideas and approaches to planning and deploying a web site project.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating look at the design process of a website
Review: This book takes an interesting approach to website construction guides/manuals. Whereas other books that I've seen tend to talk about the different tools and functions of a certain program, this one takes the viewpoint of actually constructing a website, and uses the tool (in this case, Macromedia Studio MX) as what it is, a tool, and not meant to override the design aspects of the person behind the tool. In a sense, if you extract the specific references to Macromedia Studio MX from the book, it would still provide a simple and understandable walkthrough in the design of a website, with all of the decisions and tradeoffs inherent to the design process. Many of these decisions are software-neutral, so they should serve as an indicator of what goes into thought of a website, and not the restrictions of the software you're working with. Of course, the integration among the programs in Macromedia Studio MX is the main reason to consider it for creating a website, but even if you wanted to switch out one program for another, the design decisions that the book demonstrates are valid, though you may not agree with them for your specific needs. Rehashing the software manuals is common among books that have a prominent software package in their title. The authors of this book have deviated from this practice, and I heartily thank them for it.
Rating:
Summary: It about the process..
Review: This is a book about the process of web development masquerading as a book about software. If you had to keep only one chapter: keep chapter 18. How the authors relate their own experiences putting together a website is invaluable for newbies and old pros alike. I also liked where they gave the developer (aka author) a chance to explain why they chose a particular strategy, file format, or made a particular decision. While I might not agree it is always interesting and helpful to see another point of view. Oh it is also a useful guide to several key pieces of software for those of us who want to make websites.
Rating:
Summary: It about the process..
Review: This is a book about the process of web development masquerading as a book about software. If you had to keep only one chapter: keep chapter 18. How the authors relate their own experiences putting together a website is invaluable for newbies and old pros alike. I also liked where they gave the developer (aka author) a chance to explain why they chose a particular strategy, file format, or made a particular decision. While I might not agree it is always interesting and helpful to see another point of view. Oh it is also a useful guide to several key pieces of software for those of us who want to make websites.
Rating: 
Summary: This book broke my heart
Review: What is more exciting than learning how to build killer websites and impress your friends and family?
(nothing - that's why I bought this book)
In short I strongly agree with my friend mxreader from Queensland. This book is for those who want to integrate their workflow in a corporate level webhouse. If you pick up this book knowing next to nothing about Dreamweaver, Fireworks or Flash as I did, spend too many hours reading and then skimming through hundreds of pages, you'll put it down, if you're lucky, knowing one new thing about each program.
Is this an acceptable return on investment?
Is this the way to learn these programs and put a website up from scratch?
Is this the way to impress the three f's (friends, family and fiance)?
No. No. and No.
I am returning it. Thank goodness for amazon. They deserve their reputation for the best service company in existence.
| 
