Rating: 
Summary: Astonishing round-trip capabilities...
Review: I was very hard on the first version of UltraDev, but this one is vastly improved. The editor is now color-coded and does auto-indentation (hallelujah). Better than that, even, is that the editor and preview page can be shown in a split window so that the HTML is not always on top of your web page (hallelujah+).I'm sure the DB functions are just fine, it's just that I'm more comfortable just "rolling my own" as they say, in this area. What REALLY shines is Fireworks 4 and the phenomenal integration of the two. Fireworks itself is a master stroke, a true software implementation coup. You can see my review of that product for more info on Java integration, rollovers, etc. But back to the integration. The round trip from UltraDev to Fireworks and back will have you heaving a BIG sigh of relief since you no longer need to worry about "Now, do I have to get the interface just right before this will work, or do I do the ASP code first, or...??". The two are now truly seamless. Awesome.
Rating: 
Summary: would have been 5 stars, but...
Review: I would have given this product 5 stars except that it came with Dreamweaver 3 instead of 4, but no where in the advertising does it tell that part. With it being Ultr Dev 4 one just assumes that Dreamweaver will be 4 also. Then one is offered to "upgrade" to Dreamweaver 4 for only another $199, I felt a little ripped off. But I do find the software easy to use.
Rating: 
Summary: Step up from FrontPage, Step down from GoLive/Photoshop.
Review: I've been developing web sites since 1995 and I have tried absolutely everything for web development. I keep coming back to this as the solution. I tried Microsoft Front Page, but that took so long to learn to get past the basics, and I had so many problems with uploading sites and especially individual pages that I concluded it is just not a professional tool. The system for creating templates can speed the creation and update of your web creation tremendously. I have done over 400 small business websites with this product and think you should start with this one, and learn how to use it really well. It is the best. I now have other designers working with me and we can all use this tool and co-operatively design websites and control content. Great integration with other products and technologies too.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Awesome
Review: I've been doing web development since 1996 and, to be honest, I fought tooth and nail against giving up Windows Notepad as my web development tool of choice. Microsoft FrontPage really ruined web development software for me and I pretty much vowed to avoid such applications in the future. Fortunately, my boss insisted that I use Dreamweaver and even sent me off to classes to learn the nuts and bolts. And now I'm hooked. Dreamweaver is simply awesome and I can't imagine ever going back. Whether your a novice or professional, you'll come to love Dreamweaver's simple interface and ability to tackle otherwise tedious tasks -- such as Cascading Style Sheets, tables, layers -- with ease. Adding Flash, Shockwave or Java is as simple as it can possibly be. I took classes on Dreamweaver, but only because my boss insisted. The software is pretty easy to learn, though those with web development experience will have a fuller understanding (and respect) for the capabilities of the product. The single most powerful part of Dreamweaver is the use of templates, which allow you to use the same look and feel across multiple pages and have all those pages updated when you make changes to the template. This alone will save you hours! Another great thing about Dreamweaver is that creates clean HTML. This is something that any developer who has ever had to edit the HTML directly will respect -- especially if you've ever tried to make sense of FrontPage HTML nonsense. Finally, the FTP application in Dreamweaver is outstanding. It keeps track of every page, graphic, link, etc. in your site and any change to any of them is cascaded through the entire site -- automatically updating links where necessary. With a simple click of a button your site is uploaded to your webserver. There are so many features I haven't covered, but with the little I have this product is worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: UltraDev4+ Fireworks4 needs 128MB RAM
Review: If you're buying Ultradev4+Fireworks4, you'll need 128MB of RAM at a MINIMUM. That's what the box lists.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best WYSIWYG web editors.
Review: Recently, I had a choice between using Dreamweaver 3 and Adobe GoLive 5. When upgrade time came along, Dreamweaver was the one I selected to advance with. UltraDev also gives you the ability to connect your site to a database, invaluable in today's web world. Dreamweaver is extremely easy to use with very little training. However, the training can be invaluable to helping you utilize every feature that has been packed into this program. Version 4 allows you to build Flash buttons within Dreamweaver. With the addition of Fireworks, you have a complete web studio. Now, all you need is a server.
Rating:
Summary: best of the bunch
Review: The best web site design tool on the market. After using frontpage for 2 years, I can say, without a doubt, Dreamweaver is number one and will be my only site design tool in the future. Cant beat the price for both applications.
Rating:
Summary: Must Have...
Review: The combination of Dreamweaver's layout tools combined with the easy-to-use new features in Ultradev make Dreamweaver Ultradev a must have tool for both developers and designers alike. The asp code that ultradev generates is very, very clean.
Rating:
Summary: Saviour of All Web Geeks/ Gurus, Designers, & Techies
Review: The DreamWeaver / Fireworks combo is an Amazing & Wonderful way to design webpages, graphics, Retouch Photos, etc. I love my Adobe Photoshop, but nothing compares to Fireworks, for the Detailed work, converting Images to High Res/low K images that do not Bore surfers, waiting for the page to load (average give-up time = 30 seconds). With Fireworks, you can tweak your graphics, until they are Perfect, but keep the SIZE of the graphic down to a minimum, thus increasing your webpage hits, astronomically.
My wife is a Web Designer / Artist / Graphic Artist, who has trained at Lynda Weinman.com ( ISBN # 1562059491 ) in beautiful "Ojai, CA." My wife swears-by Fireworks & Dreamweaver.
Luckily, I learned a lot of the tricks of the trade & I was astounded at how-often I needed Fireworks & Dreamweaver in the profession I held (until I turned to IT), as a "Document Specialist."
In today's world of High-Tech, Online Docs, etc., even Administrative Assistants need Dreamweaver & Frieworks. As a Document Specialist, I used Dreamweaver daily, for a long time.
Fireworks, comes in-handy, as well, when the A.A.'s need to scan a Signature for their Boss, for documents.
Be the only person on your floor, who knows how to use Fireworks, and you will make yourself a much-needed employee. Your Signature scans will look better than everyone-else's and you may have a bit more job security.
Fireworks & Dreamweaver are not Just for Web Geeks & Gurus. Anyone who works in an Office environment should know these programs, and use them regulalry. Fireworks is the Greatest Graphics program I have ever used.
Rating:
Summary: Enough new features to be worth the upgrade
Review: The DW/FW 4 Studio upgrade is well worth the price. Dreamweaver seems to have gotten the lion's share of the new and exciting features which takes this WYSIWYG editor to a new high. The latest version: - Allows you to create flash buttons and text banners from DW. A very nice feature which is easy to use and, in the case of the buttons, has enough variety for any style of site. The only downer is lack of access to .fla files for the buttons which makes producing a non-flash graphic a little harder than it needs to be. - Has a (finally!) good raw code editor built in. Many Dreamweaver users are accustomed to flipping over to Homesite if one needed to edit raw HTML. While having Homesite around is still a good idea, Dreamweaver 4 now features a really good integrated code editor (no more popping open another window) and a split WYSIWYG/code screen. Additionally, a HTML code reference is now available. - An Asset Manager now tracks all types of web media, making it easier to keep track of what goes where. - Integration of the Extension Manager, which allows you to download and install all of the additional features written by Dreamweaver users to make life easier. Fireworks still works pretty much the same way, but the integration with Dreamweaver has been improved. Adding behaviors to slices and hotspots is marginally easier, but not overly so.
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