I've searched the forums some and found random tidbits of why people like certain programs over others. I was hoping to get some more ino so I started a fresh thread on the topic.

I plan on learning one of the above three pograms. I mainly would use it for template editing and maybe in time, a few simple site designs. I need to buy the software yet so I'm trying to do some research before dumping $400 or so. I currently own PS 7 for editing images and photos.

What program do you use and why?

Thanks!

notepad :D

very easy to use, there are also many free notepad type editors that have colored tags. much better than splashing out loads of money on one of those programs

i disagree,

dreamweaver is deifnately the best if you take lessons/buy a book on it.

It has helped me a lot

Well, Frontpage sucks...it just likes to write really, really weird code that you always have to change. I'm still looking through the preferences so I can turn off the "add 15k of extraneous crap to each page" option, yet I can't seem to find it, must be a feature. ;)

Dreamweaver is nice. But I think they screwed up with MX 2004, it changes stuff you write. If you enter something in code view and then tweak it in design view, if DW doesnt' agree with your options, it'll go ahead and change the order, or replace nbsp's with regular spaces, etc. I've toyed with the options and there's always something strange it is doing to your code. Also, it is one ugly mofo...I don't know what they were thinking when they designed the interface. And I know I'll get flamed for this: I hate the way it handles CSS. Yet another program that got too high on itself, it now wants to do everything for you.

Adobe actually scaled-down GoLive for CS. And I love them for it. CSS handling is superb as usual, and now they have a little preview window for it. The zoom function has helped me millions of times; and best of all, IT DOESN'T TOUCH YOUR CODE!!!! The way you wrote it is the way it stays....beautiful.

So, obviously, I recommend GoLive CS.

Dreamweaver...You can modify a bit of the code-changing through prefs.

Why don't you just learn HTML , it will be more easier and quicker than learning any of these programs. Spend the money for something that really deserves it.

I use Html-Kit, it's free and is a very flexible HTML editor.

I do know some basic HTML, I heard that its best to know at least that much before learning one of these types of programs. I was thinking it would be more productive to learn a GUI style tool. There are so many cheap templates that I could just edit. I'm not going to be doing this as a full time job, just a few personal things and maybe 8 or 9 client sites. I enjoy learning new programs as well, its always cool to see what I can do. I will continue to learn HTML, but I was thinking I could do more with one of these programs.

Thanks for all the responses thus far. :)

i suggest learing everything you want to know yourself :D

everyone has their own preferences though, but i dont see the need in spending huge amounts of cash for something you could easily do for free

Aren't there some things that you can't do with HTML that you can only do in products like these?

no, all those products do are make the code for you, theres nothing you cant code yourself

Dreamweaver is a really nice product, I'm impressed so far. With this and photoshop I think I'll be a happy person. :)

Dreamweaver !