The best thing out there!
This book follows along with the online lessons offered at lynda.com. The exercises in the CD-ROM are the same as those used online. As complimentary tools to one another, they are without any doubt, hands down, the best thing anywhere for learning Dreamweaver from scratch, whether you learn best visually, by listening, or by doing, or all of the above. (Believe me, I over-research everything.) I can't recommend strongly enough that you consider getting both the book/CD and the online tutorials at lynda.com. They offer free samples so you can test it out. Have the book in front of you, download the sample exercises from the CD, and start the online tutorial. You can flip back and forth on your computer between the tutorial and doing the exercises, and follow along (and take notes) in the book. As good as an expensive class (or better, since with this you can rewind, skip around, and take unlimited bathroom breaks)!
Book has severe errors; treats users like idiots
This book is horrible. It treats the user as if they are without any unintelligence whatseoever. Further more, there are many inaccuracies throughout the book and on the actual CD which comes with the book. And even when corrections are made on their website, they can't seem to get their act together: there is actually an error on their errata website! If you are looking for a book that will actually teach you something without trying to secretly sabotaging your efforts, try another book by another publisher. You shouldn't have to spend your hard earned a book that is defective. Would you buy food that is burnt? Would you buy a car that's had its breaks cut? No, you wouldn't; don't buy a book that is full of mistakes. You deserve better.
An excellent beginning tutorial
Having never used Dreamweaver (or other web development software) before, I found the tutorials in this book excellent. The writing style of this book is extremely easy to follow; the chapters are engaging rather than dry and keep my interest. The tutorial itself is great. Each chapter builds on concepts you learned in a previous chapter, so it is easy to see how each piece or tool fits together.
That said, this is a book that is strictly meant for beginners. Dreamweaver is such a robust program that it would be quite difficult to write a book for beginners that can encapsulate all of the features and teach them effectively.
If you already have experience with Dreamweaver or other web development software, the later chapters of this book may be helpful to you, but most of it would just be review; however, if you are new to Dreamweaver, this book is an excellent place to start.
Good book for beginners....
Back when I was a newbie to Dreamweaver and completely unsure how to use it, the company I used to work for purchased this book for my use as a learning tool. It worked very well in the beginning; I found it easy to understand and move along with. But the downside to it is that it lacks the indepth technical instruction that more moderate users of Dreamweaver need.
Although the author tries to be witty and get down to the user on a conversational level, this sort of instruction isn't for everyone. Many of the pages have too many blank lines and too much "cutesy" conversation (I agree with what others here have said about it...) which goes to show that more indepth information probably could have been included. There was too much space wasted.
It's a great book for beginners and I am glad to have had the opportunity to use it. But I would have picked up this book at a library, not purchased it for myself.
Easy to follow book.
I purchased this book because it is a text requirement for an internet class I am taking. It is the type of book that has exercises to do as you read throught the book. It is very easy to read and use. I definitely recommmend it.
