Reviews for Dreamweaver 4 for Windows and Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guides)

1. It got me started quickly and efficiently

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2003

   This is another one of those "does exactly what it says on the tin" type of books.

   It is an excellent visual quick start and I was able to dive in and out of it find out what I needed to know.

   Is it an in-depth knowledge tool? I have no idea.

   It got me started quickly and efficiently and I have been able to use it as a reference so far. That's all I wanted.

2. Essential Reading

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, July 12th, 2002

   State-of-the-art text for people wishing to get the most from their software and websites.
   
   I have long since realised the value of having a good reference volume on my bookshelf, but with the advent of more complex software applications and programming tools, such books become essential reading if you are to get the most out of the latest packages - and not spend days on end simply working out the basics.

   The Visual QuickStart Guides offer a two tier system. At one level they introduce you to the application in question and get you working in a very short time frame. And at the other, they act as a comprehensive reference tool for when you are well underway.

   I have been using these guides for some time now, and my company regularly recommends them to clients and colleagues alike.

3. Great for beginners, handier for pros to dip into

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, April 12th, 2001

   I thought I'd get by with the Dreamweaver 3 version of this and rely on the help function from within the DW4 software itself. While the program is helpful, there's something about this edition that just makes life easier. Clear-cut, no-nonsense (ie sans quirky comments, unlike "For Dummies") explanations and layout. I find the two-column layout easier to navigate through, and appreciate the short sentences (too short to be boring, hence a you can get through them quickly). And all the info's there - flash text, rollovers, cascading menus. Unlike, say, the DW4/FW4 Visual Jumpstart guide from Watrall, which just really shows you what basics are where, this book shows you WHY you would use certain functions. It's a guide and a constant reference. This should have a good shelf-life, as long as Macromedia doesn't upgrade DW4 as quickly as it did DW3 (12 months!).