Newbie Web builder questions

[BFD Deadeye]

Hi all,
Although my speciality is troubleshooting and building systems, I was recently approached by someone to build and maintain their website.

I have dabbled with HTML in the past, and can get around the code fairly easily. But I have never actually put a page up for all to see. I need to find a good web host, something that I will understand. They already own their own domain, and I have checked out Pow Web by the ad on PC MECH. Is that a good place for a beginner to start? Are the mail (POP3) accounts difficult to setup so they can get everything forwarded to their Outlook inbox? What kind of money should I charge for setup and maintenence? Any other suggestions?

It's going to be a fairly simple web site dealing with Railroad Artwork, and although they will have prices listed, there will be no transactions taking place on the site itself. I figured I would use Frontpage to get my basic layout, then edit out all the crap Frontpage sticks in the code after I have a viewable product.

I would appreciate any suggestions you fine folks can give me.

[tx2Step]

You need something with a master control panel. Makes uploads and working on the site very easy. Many services offer this type of setup. And if you want some advice, leave Front Page on the road side and get a simpler WYSIWYG program for coding like dida or hot dog, etc. They don't add all the BS that Front Page does. Microsoft has a poor bunch of code writing software, sticks tons of unneeded stuff in the files.

I set my clients up with their hosting with the aforementioned control panel. Then the front works much like any other windows type programming, file manager etc. Very clean and easy to use interface. Whatever host you decide on, check to see what type of control panel they offer. Of course you can also load with ftp, but with the on-the-fly types you can change it, then look at it online all at the same time.

The control panels I set up have very easy to use redirects for email manager. Many companies have this now days I think. Check around.

[Xayd]

I haven't used the host advertised here, dunno how reliable they are. I personally use http://www.extremepresense.com . Other than a couple of days around the release of variations of the code red virus just sucking up all their bandwidth, I can't complain about them.

No, it's not difficult at all to forward mail to any other address or set up other such things. Virtually any web hosting deal you come across will involve a web based administration panel for doing stuff like this. The interface is pretty similar to the web interface on a commercial router.

As far as the money goes, hopefully someone else will have more expertise, I too am a hardware person not a web designer .

[Blankman]

I'd like to throw something in....tx2Step, you mentioned dida and hotdog, how about dreamweaver? Ever use it? TIA

[mairving]

Dreamweaver is the best WYSIWYG editor out there but also the most expensive. Front page doesn't really write all that bad code. GoLive and some of the others are far worse. About the worst thing that it does is usually things like bordercolor and all of the font tags. The problem with FrontPage is that all sites look pretty much the same. With most hosts you can set up email as pop or just forward the email to their email address.

[tx2Step]

I haven't tried Dream Weaver, but when I started web design 14 years ago I started with dida and I'm glad I did. It is such a simple program that it gave me a much better understanding of how the code works and I didn't get locked into needing it. I prefer most of the time to write my own code, most people don't want to do that. But for cross browser safety and for my own tastes I still use dida as a start because it opens with only body, head etc set up as I want and I can put in everything else as I like. And I know what I'm going to get and the pages aren't loaded with tons of text and other such code that overwhelms the copy itself. It's faster and easier to update pages with simpler coding.

The biggest problem with front page and some of the others that do so much for you is they first handicap you when it comes to really learning the coding, secondly they rarely offer the best code for appearance in all the popular browsers.

A coding program doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, but if someone has the money it's (dream weaver) probably a good program. I agree with mairving, front page makes most sites created with it look like cookie cutter sites. I hate that.

I prefer to do custom work, I want every site I build to look different. Most of my clients prefer simple fast loading sites that their audience will enjoy. I guess it's just whatever you start with.

But I can say from personal experience that I know more about and understand better html and even scripting because I did not start with a program that did everything but kiss me goodnight.

As to hosting, we've had two down times in three years which is pretty good. There are plenty of good hosting folks with good prices.

[Penguin]

I use Siteaid. They have a freeware version and a pay version. The pay version is only $30. That is what I have. It has a built in FTP connection and makes uploads very easy. Just a few clicks.

Not sure if the freeware version has the FTP connection.

Take a look at www.siteaid.com

I think it is a very easy program to run and you can build a simple web page in a few minutes.

[glc]

I use Webaxxs for a host, the reliability is excellent, the features very generous for the price, and their control panel will do everything you need.

[gstope]

For an HTML editor I have used 1stPage 2000.

It has lots of built in scripts and best of all it is free. Their web page describes an update but It is an old message and I have not seen any info on the new version.

The link is http://www.evrsoft.com/1stpage/

[Eric H.]

i've been on powweb for about half a year- best service and support I ever got. Their control panel is easy to use- they have a screenshot link somewhere on the main page if you want to check it out.

it seems like every month they upgrade their package for free. good deal.