NetObjects Fusion MX

If you just want a pretty, well laid out and functional site and do not want to spend lot's of time learning a complex web authoring tool NOF cannot be beat by anything out there.

I can do it all from html directly in notepad to Macromedia Studio, but I just love the speed with which I can develop, set up and publish a site with NOF. Three years ago I did a small but quite nice site in only 24 hours - and it's still up(!).

NOF has it's limitations. You can make a site look like millions - but do not expect to be able to publish advanced and interactive content with ease. Here NOF quickly runs into trouble and you may as well grit your teeth for another more advanced package. But than again - if you want to splash Flash all over your site - then why even think of anything else than the original Macromedia package?

So, if you believe content is everything (and that's pretty much the case everywhere) NOF will allow you present your message very efficiently - so you can concentrate on your real work and expertise.

And by the way - don't forget that Fusion 7 is just out now.

When I bought this program a month ago, I'd not had any HTML training or experience. I'm not a designer or graphic artist. And I'm not a programmer/techie. I'm a former corporate exec who recently started my own business and am working with a limited budget for the first time, so I decided to pull together my company's initial Web site on my own.

In just a couple of days of working with NetObjects Fusion, I produced what could be arguably called a decent Web site, with virtually no problems or challenges. It really was as easy as the promotional literature claims.

I used one of the styles that comes packaged with the software, inserted text, pictures and pages with simple dragging and dropping and ended up with a great site. I could customize the look/feel extensively using commands similar to Microsoft Word, not having to insert HTML tags. I even doubted that it would be easy to actually get the stuff I created "pushed" to the Web, but was pleasantly surprised when it worked beautifully on my first try, in only a minute and with only two clicks of the mouse.

One of the coolest features is the tightly integrated "components" available from third-party vendors. I've now used several of them to add a response form that sends an immediate response back to the submitter, a customer registration form that not only sends a response but also stores the data in an Excel file for me to download and import into my customer database, a form that enables a user to browse their computer and choose a file to send to me, pop-up windows, a scrolling window within the page for a user agreement and more.

As I've played around and bought an HTML reference book, I also found it easy to add more tricky things like HTML code inserted in my page for a newsletter sign up form and a "refer a friend" feature. A buddy who is a hard-core programmer tells me that the code generated by the program adds stuff that isn't necessary, but for me that hasn't caused any challenges or problems since I'm not a programmer and the resulting site is great. I haven't found anything not to like about this package and have been amazingly productive with it.

Because I had the benefit of playing with Front Page first, I can honestly say that if you're like me--a non-programmer, non-designer needing to build a professional, highly functional Web site quickly--THIS is the much better choice of program. And I have a powerful site, with real customers visiting and interacting everyday...

1. NetObjects MX is not only the best tool for beginners, also inlcuding sophisticated guys. If you assume it is designed for beginners only, you are wrong.

NetObjects MX provide many flexible ways to access your HTML coding. If you do know what is HTML, and you are willing to spend time to learn NetObjects MX, you'll find there is no "limitation".

2. Yes, NetObjects produces large HTML files, however it won't sacrifice website download speed too much. The real problem to slow down your website download speed mostly come from the large graphics & multimedia files.

3. Compared with Frontpage & Dreamweaver, NetObjects provides a effective way to increase your productivity with much lower cost.

So, I have to say "thank you" to NetObjects, which is a ideal tool. and it's so happy to hear NetObjects Phoenix is coming soon.

I've used NOF since version 3.0 after trying everything else out there, including DreamWeaver. NOF was simply the tool I needed to get the job done fast and make it look great. In fact, you can buy the program, and have a professional site in only minutes--if you type fast--using their templates.

As I've progressed through my career, I've relied on tools to give my work a really professional touch: NetObjects, PhotoShop, Quark XPress, and a few really good font and graphics packages. People are stunned at both my creativity and productivity. I wish it was all my doing, but in fact, it is the productivity and control these tools give me.

One of the questions I'm often asked by newer staffers is how to progress their career. One of the things I always mention is to buy the tools you need to make YOU look good. This goes for employees as well as consultants and small business folks.

I've designed dozens of websites with NOF, including LeadEater.com, MikeGrigsby.com, LindaChandler.com, SeminarLove.com, HeavenlySounds.com, just to name a few. Along the way I've converted a lot of people to NOF and the business owners have often bought the program so they can maintain the site for themselves. I don't mind because I enjoy the creative aspect that the program gives me, and I don't enjoy the maintenance as much. This is a must-have tool in your professional arsenal!