New DMXzone poll: <b>What would you wish most for the next level of Dreamweaver MX (2006?) release?</b> - www.dmxzone.com/ShowDetail.asp?NewsId=7614

Please vote, thank you.

Edited by - ccharlton on 12 Jan 2005 19:47:19

A price reduction.
Increase in customer support.
Less flaky software.
Backward compatibility.

Digga

Sharing Knowledge Saves Valuable Time!!!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>A price reduction.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Understandable, especially in this economy.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Increase in customer support.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Were/Are you a DevNet/Support subscriber? If not then you get the MM forums and technotes, nice eh.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Less flaky software.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
This next round of MX software is taking longer, because they want less bugs and less pissed-off customers.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Backward compatibility.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Hmmm, how so? Old site definitions? Old extensions?

Frontpage has lots of built in features that are easy for blind users so may be some integrations like that. I like DMX for sure.
but looks like FP has easier features on working with forms i am wrong or what?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Frontpage has lots of built in features that are easy for blind users so may be some integrations like that. I like DMX for sure.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Authoring controls or Web Accessibile page development assistance?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>but looks like FP has easier features on working with forms i am wrong or what?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Not sure, in my experience DW slows down with either long forms, or form with a lot of dynamic-data - default field values, form validations, show & hide regions, dropdown menus & lists chug it down definitely.

I do like a feature of VB/.NET Studio that each code block (if,for,function declare, etc.) can be shortened with tree branched controls.

Edited by - ccharlton on 14 Jan 2005 02:35:36

Hi Chris

The price thang - my upgrade from UltrDev & Fireworks to MX Studio cost me £199, which I thought was great value for money. Upgrade again to MX 2004, I'd been quoted anywhere from £350 to £550 bit of a jump that I wasn't prepared to pay for, especially as the initial release seemed full-o-bugs.

The customer support thang - after MX came out, I noticed a complete lack of interest from MM regarding support for their products and their long standing customers, me thinks the heads of MM got a bit swollen with the DW success. I had looked into the DevNet subscription but never thought it was value for money - did I miss something Chris?

Flaky software - plenty of comments on this one, no need to elaborate! And all that cr@p about activation etc.

Backwards compatibility thang - you hit the nail on the head!

I had a dialogue going with MM when MX 2004 was released and their total lack of interest in me as a customer was astounding, I eventually told them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine and moved to MS VS.NET, but if fact my primary tool is still DW MX. A yearly Universal subsription to MSDN gets me virtually every bloddy piece of software that MS produces, somewhere in the region of £50,000+ worth. It seemed that MS was doing their utmost to change peoples perception of them yet MM pushed people into the cold, customer loyalty doesn't count for much over their, unless they's changed their attitude lately.

The FP thang - I like some of the features, but I don't use it out of choice, mainly 'cos of the crappy MS code and failure to work with ASP without destroying hours of work, FP extensions etc., etc.

Digga

Sharing Knowledge Saves Valuable Time!!!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The price thang - my upgrade from UltrDev & Fireworks to MX Studio cost me £199, which I thought was great value for money. Upgrade again to MX 2004, I'd been quoted anywhere from £350 to £550 bit of a jump that I wasn't prepared to pay for, especially as the initial release seemed full-o-bugs.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Wow, I can see where it hurt under the belt there! Your MX Studio upgrade was a great deal, but not the quote for MX2004...especially with all the bugs. I wonder if they quoted you for Flash Pro version?!?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The customer support thang - after MX came out, I noticed a complete lack of interest from MM regarding support for their products and their long standing customers, me thinks the heads of MM got a bit swollen with the DW success. I had looked into the DevNet subscription but never thought it was value for money - did I miss something Chris?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
The last time I remember Macromedia being support being "involved" was Flash 4 days. I remember they got tired of a lot of Flash calls for basic-remedal calls and instituted the support center and support fees. Isn't Microsoft $100 per incident support call...I assume that was to defer any Internet Explorer & Excel calls, haha.

As for the DevNet subscription, it was a heavy investment ($1600) and was just like an MSDN subscription, all Macromedia server software and the whole Studio suite. What I liked was each year after was only $600! I used Flash Pro daily, DW daily, FW daily, FH once-in-a-while; I always wanted a change to play with Coldfusion Server (maybe), Flash Remoting (some day), Flash Communication Server (I wish I did), and then I had Flex beta which might have been fun to play with.

Reguardless, DevNet Subscription is going away, this is the last year. I haven't heard much of what will fill its' shoes but yes, Macromedia seems more intent on worrying on the next round of customers/pricey-upgrades.

I did download jEdit (open source) to start poking at it. I use OpenOffice.org instead of $400+ Microsoft Office, and I love OOo (OpenOffice)!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Flaky software - plenty of comments on this one, no need to elaborate! And all that cr@p about activation etc.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I didn't mind the activation much, I also use AQW (Advanced Query Wizard - DW extension) and that required web verification (MX/MX2004), so I see most apps doing it anyway. I <i>had</i> to activate each WindowsXP machine anyway. <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Backwards compatibility thang - you hit the nail on the head!<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I think the only successful thing in this world with good backwards compatibility is a Nintendo GameBoy, haha!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I had a dialogue going with MM when MX 2004 was released and their total lack of interest in me as a customer was astounding, I eventually told them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine and moved to MS VS.NET, but if fact my primary tool is still DW MX. A yearly Universal subsription to MSDN gets me virtually every bloddy piece of software that MS produces, somewhere in the region of £50,000+ worth. It seemed that MS was doing their utmost to change peoples perception of them yet MM pushed people into the cold, customer loyalty doesn't count for much over their, unless they's changed their attitude lately.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Not sure about changed attitude, but I do think the company is larger, more dedicated teams, but their community stuff seems nill past the DevNet center, which is just articles. MarkMe.com (MM Blogs) has helped me keep a "humanisitic" view of the developers there, but I still feel like there's a wall.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The FP thang - I like some of the features, but I don't use it out of choice, mainly 'cos of the crappy MS code and failure to work with ASP without destroying hours of work, FP extensions etc., etc.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I hate FrontPage. Sorry all.

I don't know a single person who's ever used FP and not hated it, once they've been brave enough to look at the <i>code</i> it creates for you. With this being DMX zone I'm assuming everyone here has 'graduated' from FP.

I have heard it said, in hushed whispers around a camp fire late at night, that the new version (FP2003) doesn't write such shite - but I have an irrational hatred of FP and doubt I'll so much as install it ever (why bother when work gives me visual studio.net)

Live the life you love
Love the life you live

Simon

[DWMX 2004]|[SQL]|[ASP/VBScript]|[XP-Pro]

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>...I have heard it said, in hushed whispers around a camp fire late at night, that the new version (FP2003) doesn't write such shite - but I have an irrational hatred of FP and doubt I'll so much as install it ever (why bother when work gives me visual studio.net)<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
I wonder if Macromedia will look to Enterprise apps, like VB Studio.NET, for more advanced features - to help court the heavy coders since beginner coders are all flocking to DW already.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I wonder if Macromedia will look to Enterprise apps, like VB Studio.NET, for more advanced features - to help court the heavy coders since beginner coders are all flocking to DW already.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Check out this MM MAX leaks of the next DW:
<ul>
<li>Template driven design using XML/XSL <i>... nice!</i></li>
<li>Binding with XSL stylesheets <i>... okay/cool!</i></li>
<li>Code Toolbar ala Homesite <i>... sounds cool!</i></li>
<li>Drag and drop XML/XLS, including repeating regions ... <i>sounds cool!</i></li>
<li>Code collapse ala Homesite <i>... about time!</i></li>
<li>New zoom tool. Marquee selection allows marquee and zoom ala Fireworks <i>... yawn, I mean, sudo-cool!</i></li>
</ul>

More at: www.cfczone.org/blogs/rob/index.cfm?mode=cat&catid=C2056E7B-D608-AED8-75E742A1CEBDF430