Macromedia Studio MX 2004 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: 7 books in 1
Review: I just bought Macromedia Studio MX 2004. Yet, all I got was a CD and a good luck. Well I could root around trying to use the product, get a book with insight on how to handle the product efficiently. There are many good books on each item in the Studio. If you buy them individually the price is almost seven times the price of this book. Then you have to compare and contrast to integrate the information.

This book brings all the advantages of the other Dummies books. There are clear examples and pictures on what the screen should look like. The added plus is that this book shows how to integrate all the individual products in the studio. There s a good introduction, contents, index and tabbed pages so you can see where one sections stops and the next begins.

There is no CD. However the advantage is that there no trial programs to interfere with the real product. I have tried a few of the items and I am pleased with the results.

Rating:
Summary: Very Useful; Maybe a Bit Too Much for Dummies
Review: Macromedia Studio MX All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies is definately a value-packed, thick, useful book. There is good reference material and getting-started info on Dreamweaver MX, Fireworks MX, Freehand 10, Macromedia Vlash MX, & Cold Fusion MX along with two sections on design basics and integration of studio components.

As I said, with such a breadth of information the book is definately a bargain. However, that advantage is also the book's primary downfall I feel. It says 7 books in one, but if that is true it is SEVEN SHORT BOOKS. Each book is definately not the standard "For Dummies" length. This lends itself to make it 7 abridged-sized books. The adbridgement comes by removing all of the discussion on the more advanced features of the program. Unfortunately the extreme basics are also belabored.

All of that means that the book will be useful to help you get started in Macromedia Studio, but after you have a little more than a few hours of experience in the software suite you will find the book increasingly useless. Because the features which a mildly seasoned user will find difficult to master are not covered, this book is not such a great value if the purchaser already has mild to moderate background experience with MX software.

So with that review in mind take it or leave according to your lot. If you are new to Macromedia Studio MX and want some help for the first month or so getting up and running, this is a great resource. But if you have already pushed through the growing pains of climbing the learning curve, you may want to pass on this one for a more advanced text.

Rating:
Summary: Not enough information
Review: You would be better off buying a book about a specific Macromedia application rather than trying to save money with this "all-in-one". There is simply not enough information in order to explain the concepts well enough. This book explains something once and then goes on to the next topic. I would compare it more to the Help section than a tutorial.

Instead, I would recommend the SAMS Teach yourself Flash in 24 hours - it is more comprehensive and easier to follow. If you think you are getting a steal with all 7 books for the price of one, don't buy this book.