Hello -
I've owned Frontpage since at least 2000 and maybe a version before that.
My view is that Frontpage's learning curve is not that steep, especially for
the beginner, although it really all depends upon which applications you're
using within the program. Frontpage has its advanced sides as well (maybe
like Visual Basic/.NET Framework etc - alhtough I'm guessing a bit because
I never have used those) I have a friend who uses AutoCAD, and I've heard
enough about that program to surmise that if you can do AutoCad, Frontpage
should be pretty easy for you. (I've heard that AutoCAD is alot like Corel
and I've used Corel so I know what they're talking about)
I use Frontpage 2003 because I'm not a coder and FP offers more automated
ways to do forms and form processing right within the software program. In
other words, you don't have to supply your own ASP or CGI script. In
Dreamweaver, you do have to supply your own script for these types of
applications. Frontpage 2003 also gives you more automated ways of setting
up a database as well. I'm not sure how DW works on that.
Also, I suggest very strongly that if you choose Frontpage, go with
Frontpage 2003 over earlier versions. Microsoft made alot of improvements
in 2003 - for instance, inserting Flash animations into your FP 2003 web
page is 100x easier in the new version...The code it generates for Flash
animations is finally more compatible with Netscape browsers than it was in
the 2000 and 2002 versions. And there are alot of other improvements, like
split code/design viewing, interactive buttons and Optimizing Html. These
are features that Dreamweaver has had for a while, but with the improvements
made in FP 2003, there are alot more similarities now between the 2
programs.
Good Luck ! Frank
www.frankbright.com