Building a Website

[dots]

I need to build a real website.  I already know I can host it through juntoonline.net (plug)...I just want something cool, easy to maintain, inexpensive, and with music.

I need a homepage, 4 galleries, and about me page, and a contact page.

Any suggestions?

And remember...it is me you are dealing with.  Dumb it down.

[Jessie]

No, but I can build you a cake.

[dots]

No, but I can build you a cake.

OK.

Yellow cake with chocolate icing, please.

Or lemon pound cake.

[Alice]

Our IT guy at work suggested we use FrontPage.

I don't know what it does really, haven't started using it.  But it's really the only answer I have... besides cake.

[dots]

FrontPage has been discontinued.

[Alice]

FrontPage has been discontinued.

Oh, well hell.  I'm sorry.

I have no advice to offer then.  Other than I bet you could find someone on myspace to build you a website with your specs cheaper than it would cost to buy the software.  Unless you're looking for the learning experience as well.

You know what?  You should contact SMH.  He'd probably be able to tell you some really good tools - as this is basically what he does for a living.  Or did.

[Gamplayerx]

I'm no help, or I'd help.

[BigDun]

I usually buy a cheap template off of http://www.templatemonster.com and then modify it with HomeSite (html editor). But that does assume that you have some HTML knowledge. You might be able to buy a template and modify it with Dreamweaver (wysiwyg editor). I don't know if Adobe lets you download a trial of Dreamweaver for free.

[VikingJuice]

FrontPage has been discontinued.

Since when?  I just used it to do my work webpage back in May.  I really hope that's not correct info because I was just learning how to use front page.

[dots]

FrontPage has been discontinued.

Since when?  I just used it to do my work webpage back in May.  I really hope that's not correct info because I was just learning how to use front page.

Very recently...it was on MS website...they have replacements.

I decided to go with Winklet...I asked a few photographers and it was either that or a really expensive BluDomain website.

It was pretty inexpensive and pretty idiot-proof.  I will share it when I am done.

[Jessie]

I did an online tutorial in HTML and used Dreamweaver to do some mediocre webdesign back in the day.

[dazie]

If you're really desperate, you can make a page WYSIWYG in Word.  It'll do the trick, but it won't have many bells and whistles.

I've not heard of either of the ones you mentioned, but maybe it's cuz I'm not a photog.

I have Dreamweaver, so if you need help, let me know.

[Dry then Catch]

You can VIEW PAGE SOURCE of simple pages you like and uhh plagiarize code. 

[ReBurn]

FrontPage has been replaced with Visual Web Developer.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/

It's a free tool, but I think it's kinda overkill for simple websites. Plus, it tries to force you into an IE only sort of situation. If you can swing it DreamWeaver is a good tool to use, in my opinion. But it is still kinda heavy. I do like BigDun's suggestion of finding a template. Then all you really have to focus on is look and feel and not so much of how it all works.

[ReBurn]

I've looked at this in the past, but I didn't build anything meaningful with it:

http://www.nvu.com/index.php

[Jessie]

Domokun is rocking out to some irish folk music I'm listening to right now.  Hilarious.  I needed that.

[ReBurn]

That's how he rolls.

[meredith]

Yeah templatemonster or www.oswd.org if you want to go with something pre-built.  You can always tweak beyond the template for a more unique look.  (or templatemonster may sell some with exclusive rights, don't remember).

Easiest thing beyond that, TBH, is probably to get a friend who can belt out a nice design for you.  Dreamweaver or VWD.. you have to buy or steal a copy.  Nvu is just the Netscape/Mozilla Composer pulled out into a standalone app as was done to Firefox.  It's not all that great for web pages post-1998, as Composer has been practically untouched.