Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) HTML editing tool that is powerful enough to be used by professionals, yet is still comfortable enough for amateurs who want more than what Netscape Composer has to offer. I have not used Front Page but from talking with those who have used both it and Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver is a step up.

Dreamweaver is used by the pros, but I feel that the software is easy enough for anyone to learn. What I like is that in the Split Screen view you can also learn HTML coding, which I would definitely recommend learning if you are going to maintain a website. There are so many features in Dreamweaver that take the tediousness out of web design and maintenance. One of my favorites is that file and folder changes made in the Site window are automatically updated in the original site folder on the hard drive. When Dreamweaver transfers files to a remote site using FTP it duplicates the setup of the of local site folder making it easy to locate and update files. There are several types of site reports available that I've found timesaving and useful to run. I also like the fact that site links can be quickly checked and fixed. Another awesome feature is the integration of the graphics tools Flash and Fireworks. I have been using Dreamweaver for a little over a year now and I would recommend it for those who are ready to step up from Netscape Composer.

Before using Dreamweaver I would definitely recommend going through the tutorial and the lessons that are offered in the Help menu. Also available are Online Forums which can be accessed at http://www.macromedia.com/support/forums/ .

Dreamweaver 4.0 and Fireworks 4.0 are boxed together and vary in price depending on which package is purchased. Macromedia offers an education version for $99.00 and the regular version for $499.00. Version 3.0 can be upgraded for $280.00 to a package that includes Dreamweaver 4.0, Fireworks 4.0, Flash 5.0, and Generator 2.0. A free 30 day trial can be downloaded at http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/ .