Macromedia Studio MX

[Monazwx]

Anyone use this product? Or the updated version(s)?
I'm thinking of buying for some web design projects that I'm planning.

It includesreamweaver, Flash, FreeHand and Fireworks applications.
Does anyone use all four? If so, which do you use the most and why?
For recreation? Business Use(s)?

http://www.viewonline.com/pages/articles/images/studiomx2004.jpg

I'd like some input please.

 

[Ezzy]

I don't use them now, I used to have a copy of Dreamweaver that I did a couple of projects with, but once I got into hand coding I dropped it. I used a friends version of Flash for a couple of things on the same prajects, but I like SWiSHmax for flash movies.

I found SWiSHmax as a good alternative to Flash, and a reasonable cost. Flash is what SWiSH aspires to be, but at 1/4 of the cost once you get good about thinking as a Graphic designer you can do most of the things you would have used Flash for in SWiSH (95% +).

I have not used the other two, so I have no relevent comments for you on them.

The usage I have put Dreamweaver and Flash to was for business use.

 

[Monazwx]

Cool. How user-friendly was Dreamweaver by the way?

 

[TBKahuna123]

Very user friendly. This is what I use and I do this for a living, so I've tried a dozen different tools. MX Studio is defintely the best set of tools for what I do. Now I don't utilize a lot of the features of the programs because I'm still alittle old school, so I hand code a lot of stuff. What I like best about Dreamweaver is that it doesn't try to "fix" your scripting code. I do a lot of Cold Fusion scripting, so I have had issues with programs trying to fix all that code they think are errors.

Fireworks, well it's pretty good for slicing and generating ********** without having to code it, but that's about it. I'm still sold on PhotoShop for image editing/creation.

Flash, well, is Flash. I would spend the extra money and get the version with Flash Professional in it. The extra capabilities are worth it.

There are lots of open source tools out there, but you get what you pay for. I give this studio an 8 out of 10.

 

[SweetErika]

We mainly use Dreamweaver, and find it to be a great web design application. We use Flash and Fireworks for incidental web design tasks, but that's likely because we don't have a ton of time to devote to learning them. I didn't even notice Freehand until I just looked in the file.

 

[Monazwx]

Thanks guys,

This is alot of great info. I appreciate it.

 

[Blindinthedark]

If you're getting DW you may as well get DreamWeaver 8. It's the latest version that's out and it's got the most up to date version of everything.

I love DW. It's a great program. Since I just got Studio 8 (comes with DW, Flash, Fireworks ect ...) I haven't really used the other programs. Flash is something that I will definitely pick up ASAP. The nice thing is the integration with each other.

I'd still use Photoshop or Illustrator to edit my images mostly due to the fact that I'm used to them and know them pretty well but from what I've seen Fireworks isn't too bad.

 

[Calvin]

I'm with Blindinthedark - I use DW 8 and Flash 8 all the time - I like it a lot because it is very feature packed and I was very familier with it from previous versions - I do not use Studio MX tho because I use Adobe CS 2 for all of my editing needs (I am an old Photoshop user from way back).