Extremely basic
This book is extremely basic, so it's perfect for first-timers who have never written in any program, including HTML. There's much more you can learn about web page design, especially when going into XML, but this is a great start to that.
Great text for those with no html knowledge at all...
Other reviewers have noted that the text is out of date, anything several years old in the field of computers is ancient. However, the building blocks that the author lays out here are still in use. The general idea behind HTML and what a browser does when it comes across the HTML code on a web server is still the same. For someone that knows absolutely nothing about designing a web page, this is a very good beginner book. It starts very simply and builds on each concept that came before it. The text is laid out in a very easy to understand manner and allows the reader to develop a firm foundation of the basic concepts of HTML.
If you already know anything at all about HTML this will be too basic for you. If you know nothing at all and want to get a very basic understanding of HTML coding and how to incorporate those concepts into a very basic webpage, this is a good starter text to get the foundations before moving onto something more intricate.
did you note the publishing date??
Answer: 2002. That should be a "caution" for buying this book.
Outdated tech. references: no mention of Trelix nor even Windows XP. A mention of Windows 2000 if that means allot to you.
Trelix (a free service/perk of most ADSL ISPs or web hosting services) makes web design easy with no need for this book nor HTML knowledge. I bought it as Trelix did not answer a few minor questions & I thought I was an "Idiot" & needed some "hand-holding" by this Author. I'll give this book away to someone who actually wants to learn HTML. I was able to finally add a "counter" to my Verizon hosted site as this book did give me enough to appreciate the nuances of the free counter site upload advice. Another: "dust collector book on the self".
great introduction to web design
I knew a little HTML before purchasing this book, but I wanted a better handle on it, and this book gave me that. The book includes information on getting webspace, basic construction, design tips, and extras. It also provides a good overview of cascading style sheets, tutorials on web design programs such as Netscape Composer, a glossary, and a CD-ROM containing HTML examples and other resources. What I value most about the CD-ROM is the included software. There are some excellent programs for both Windows and Macintosh.
Given CSS's rising popularity, I wish that the book had a list of the basic definitions, but McFedries only provides a few CSS examples in the one chapter on style sheets. You'll have to pick out the exact terms from his examples, from the HTML sources of webpages, or from other web resources (there are some excellent ones; do a Google search).
Generally, though, I've kept this book at my desk, for easy access while I'm working on my webpages, and I regularly use the programs included on the CD-ROM.
The very best!
This book is a must have for all beginners to the webmastering world! It has pages and pages of valuable information for all aspects of a web designer's everyday work. Paul McFedries adds a touch of humor to this book, to make the hard work seem easier. All in all, I believe this is the best beginners guide out there.
(58 reviews)
