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WebSite X5 Evolution RRP £39.99
Supports: Windows Vista / 98 / 2000 / XP
I admit to being an utter novice in website building. Having tried to create websites from scratch and failing miserably, or at the least getting very basic results, with the sites always ended up looking cheap and bereft of any good features, I decided to try out a package that tries to take the pain out of website creation. WebSite X5 Evolution is different to other web tools as it’s designed for beginners but has expert features such as baskets and checkout controls.
Right from the moment you start, the software takes you through a dazzling array of options, but never confuses you. The templates make it easy to think about where to place everything if you need some inspiration, though they’re not compulsory. This means that I managed to set up a simple but effective website in a matter of minutes (20 minutes if you're interested) using pre-defined templates and my own images.
Using the templates I managed to set up a small site like this one in 25 minutes, including uploading and going back to reformat pictures a couple of times. Though this in itself is quite basic, with more work, especially using your own templates, you could create some nice looking sites.
While the option is there for those who want to have a simple web design tool without thinking too much about where to put everything, this software will also be happy to let you design something from scratch. It will resize images and text, allow you to add multiple pages with easy-to-use links and generally look after you as much or as little as you want.
That said, there are a few areas that WebSite X5 Evolution could improve in. Firstly there's the shopping cart. Billed as a feature on the packaging, this only has basic support at best. It's a nice idea and does work well with Paypal, but it just doesn't feel comprehensive enough to use on a professional site and it doesn't guide you through the process of adding the cart to your page all that well.
Also, Website X5 will not help you if you don’t already have a site for uploading the finished files. However, if you set up some webspace with Freeola then you can use the FTP uploader tool built in to the program to put your site up and it works quite smoothly.
Despite the flaws, WebSite X5 Evolution is actually an easy to use piece of web creation software that lets you build personal and semi-professional websites in a short space of time. If you're a small business who wants to design a site cheaply but without looking cheap, then this is perfect for you. If you're an expert web designer, though, this won't satisfy you.
For beginners or those wanting a quick solution, this gets an 8/10.
Expect a walkthrough for the software soon.
Supports: Windows Vista / 98 / 2000 / XP
I admit to being an utter novice in website building. Having tried to create websites from scratch and failing miserably, or at the least getting very basic results, with the sites always ended up looking cheap and bereft of any good features, I decided to try out a package that tries to take the pain out of website creation. WebSite X5 Evolution is different to other web tools as it’s designed for beginners but has expert features such as baskets and checkout controls.
Right from the moment you start, the software takes you through a dazzling array of options, but never confuses you. The templates make it easy to think about where to place everything if you need some inspiration, though they’re not compulsory. This means that I managed to set up a simple but effective website in a matter of minutes (20 minutes if you're interested) using pre-defined templates and my own images.
Using the templates I managed to set up a small site like this one in 25 minutes, including uploading and going back to reformat pictures a couple of times. Though this in itself is quite basic, with more work, especially using your own templates, you could create some nice looking sites.
While the option is there for those who want to have a simple web design tool without thinking too much about where to put everything, this software will also be happy to let you design something from scratch. It will resize images and text, allow you to add multiple pages with easy-to-use links and generally look after you as much or as little as you want.
That said, there are a few areas that WebSite X5 Evolution could improve in. Firstly there's the shopping cart. Billed as a feature on the packaging, this only has basic support at best. It's a nice idea and does work well with Paypal, but it just doesn't feel comprehensive enough to use on a professional site and it doesn't guide you through the process of adding the cart to your page all that well.
Also, Website X5 will not help you if you don’t already have a site for uploading the finished files. However, if you set up some webspace with Freeola then you can use the FTP uploader tool built in to the program to put your site up and it works quite smoothly.
Despite the flaws, WebSite X5 Evolution is actually an easy to use piece of web creation software that lets you build personal and semi-professional websites in a short space of time. If you're a small business who wants to design a site cheaply but without looking cheap, then this is perfect for you. If you're an expert web designer, though, this won't satisfy you.
For beginners or those wanting a quick solution, this gets an 8/10.
Expect a walkthrough for the software soon.
I cant quite get over the fact that the gallery of created websites on the programme's homepage has "web designers". If only I'd realised sooner I could have skipped learning anything about web design and fired up basic DIY programme instead.
Hmmm... wrote:
> Interestingly it looks like the site is CSS based - which is
> supposedly a good thing! I'm still clinging to tables based sites
> which is very old hat these days.
It uses CSS but does so badly. Ironically it appears to use CSS to emulate tables. Not surprising I suppose though as the programme has a very table like approach to content management.
Hmmm... wrote:
> Interestingly it looks like the site is CSS based - which is
> supposedly a good thing! I'm still clinging to tables based sites
> which is very old hat these days.
It uses CSS but does so badly. Ironically it appears to use CSS to emulate tables. Not surprising I suppose though as the programme has a very table like approach to content management.
Can't believe you had the cheek to use B* free's web space on this forum!!! ;¬)
Once you get going I'm sure you'll get the bug.
When you've got into the swing of things, it's useful to have your own web space to post comments, photos etc. especially when you get your own domain name.
Careful not to use too many animations and marquees etc.
Text over a background image can also be hard to get right.
Interestingly it looks like the site is CSS based - which is supposedly a good thing! I'm still clinging to tables based sites which is very old hat these days.
Let us know when you have updated things...
Search Freeola Chat My Freeola Instant Site
Once you get going I'm sure you'll get the bug.
When you've got into the swing of things, it's useful to have your own web space to post comments, photos etc. especially when you get your own domain name.
Careful not to use too many animations and marquees etc.
Text over a background image can also be hard to get right.
Interestingly it looks like the site is CSS based - which is supposedly a good thing! I'm still clinging to tables based sites which is very old hat these days.
Let us know when you have updated things...
Search Freeola Chat My Freeola Instant Site
I think that first attempt can be labelled 'ugly', but as soon as I've finished my 'proper' site I'll send the link. This one has too many boxed areas and no real structure.
Let me know what you think, happy to have constructive criticism!
Let me know what you think, happy to have constructive criticism!
I think it's because they encourage so many images.
The default install language is German, so I'm not surprised if there are so many foriegn customers.
The default install language is German, so I'm not surprised if there are so many foriegn customers.
The gallery of 'created websites' at websiteX5.co certainly look impressive. A lot of foreign sites, but good none the less. The navigation on the one or two I viewed seemed to 'lag' quite a bit.
Hmmm... wrote:
> Wow 8/10 ! For most apps that would make it a 'killer'.
>
> As Dragonlance mentioned - a link to a demo site (or just a few
> pages) that you have produced is the real proof of the
> pudding ;¬)
>
> As for shopping carts - this is a real mine field and not easily
> resolved. It goes further than just adding an item to a cart.
> That's the easy bit, it also needs to integrate to a secure and
> approved payment processor - this is where it gets rather
> tricky!
It actually lets you integrate with Paypal, which probably gets around some of these issues. haven't tried a live one yet, but if I put a site up you can always pay me some money to try it out ;)
> Wow 8/10 ! For most apps that would make it a 'killer'.
>
> As Dragonlance mentioned - a link to a demo site (or just a few
> pages) that you have produced is the real proof of the
> pudding ;¬)
>
> As for shopping carts - this is a real mine field and not easily
> resolved. It goes further than just adding an item to a cart.
> That's the easy bit, it also needs to integrate to a secure and
> approved payment processor - this is where it gets rather
> tricky!
It actually lets you integrate with Paypal, which probably gets around some of these issues. haven't tried a live one yet, but if I put a site up you can always pay me some money to try it out ;)
I can use a free hosting site (I have a BT one at the moment) to show you a sample site. I'm actually working on one for the Church children's group at the moment but the software will let me set another example one up quite quickly too.
8/10 is for the audience, don't forget, it's designed for beginners to get a decent website up and running, not for experts who want something more beefy. I've added to the review to make it more obvious this is what I meant.
My problem is that I don't have time to learn how to get the best out of stuff like Dreamweaver at the moment, so this was perfect (and it was free as it was sent to me to try out).
I'll see what I can come up with tonight or try to find the one I created to try it out the first time, pretty sure I still have the files on the hard drive somewhere.
8/10 is for the audience, don't forget, it's designed for beginners to get a decent website up and running, not for experts who want something more beefy. I've added to the review to make it more obvious this is what I meant.
My problem is that I don't have time to learn how to get the best out of stuff like Dreamweaver at the moment, so this was perfect (and it was free as it was sent to me to try out).
I'll see what I can come up with tonight or try to find the one I created to try it out the first time, pretty sure I still have the files on the hard drive somewhere.
Wow 8/10 ! For most apps that would make it a 'killer'.
As Dragonlance mentioned - a link to a demo site (or just a few pages) that you have produced is the real proof of the pudding ;¬)
As for shopping carts - this is a real mine field and not easily resolved. It goes further than just adding an item to a cart. That's the easy bit, it also needs to integrate to a secure and approved payment processor - this is where it gets rather tricky!
Go on pb, produce a simple but 'nice' website so we can see what it's all about...
Obviously for your hosting I can recommend some free hosting from Freeola - it works for me! and you've already mentioned the 'upload feature' works smoothly, so there's nothing to stop you ;¬)
Search Freeola Chat My Freeola Instant Site
As Dragonlance mentioned - a link to a demo site (or just a few pages) that you have produced is the real proof of the pudding ;¬)
As for shopping carts - this is a real mine field and not easily resolved. It goes further than just adding an item to a cart. That's the easy bit, it also needs to integrate to a secure and approved payment processor - this is where it gets rather tricky!
Go on pb, produce a simple but 'nice' website so we can see what it's all about...
Obviously for your hosting I can recommend some free hosting from Freeola - it works for me! and you've already mentioned the 'upload feature' works smoothly, so there's nothing to stop you ;¬)
Search Freeola Chat My Freeola Instant Site
Do you have any 'screen shots' of said software or of created web site? They would be useful pb:-)
WebSite X5 Evolution RRP £39.99
Supports: Windows Vista / 98 / 2000 / XP
I admit to being an utter novice in website building. Having tried to create websites from scratch and failing miserably, or at the least getting very basic results, with the sites always ended up looking cheap and bereft of any good features, I decided to try out a package that tries to take the pain out of website creation. WebSite X5 Evolution is different to other web tools as it’s designed for beginners but has expert features such as baskets and checkout controls.
Right from the moment you start, the software takes you through a dazzling array of options, but never confuses you. The templates make it easy to think about where to place everything if you need some inspiration, though they’re not compulsory. This means that I managed to set up a simple but effective website in a matter of minutes (20 minutes if you're interested) using pre-defined templates and my own images.
Using the templates I managed to set up a small site like this one in 25 minutes, including uploading and going back to reformat pictures a couple of times. Though this in itself is quite basic, with more work, especially using your own templates, you could create some nice looking sites.
While the option is there for those who want to have a simple web design tool without thinking too much about where to put everything, this software will also be happy to let you design something from scratch. It will resize images and text, allow you to add multiple pages with easy-to-use links and generally look after you as much or as little as you want.
That said, there are a few areas that WebSite X5 Evolution could improve in. Firstly there's the shopping cart. Billed as a feature on the packaging, this only has basic support at best. It's a nice idea and does work well with Paypal, but it just doesn't feel comprehensive enough to use on a professional site and it doesn't guide you through the process of adding the cart to your page all that well.
Also, Website X5 will not help you if you don’t already have a site for uploading the finished files. However, if you set up some webspace with Freeola then you can use the FTP uploader tool built in to the program to put your site up and it works quite smoothly.
Despite the flaws, WebSite X5 Evolution is actually an easy to use piece of web creation software that lets you build personal and semi-professional websites in a short space of time. If you're a small business who wants to design a site cheaply but without looking cheap, then this is perfect for you. If you're an expert web designer, though, this won't satisfy you.
For beginners or those wanting a quick solution, this gets an 8/10.
Expect a walkthrough for the software soon.
Supports: Windows Vista / 98 / 2000 / XP
I admit to being an utter novice in website building. Having tried to create websites from scratch and failing miserably, or at the least getting very basic results, with the sites always ended up looking cheap and bereft of any good features, I decided to try out a package that tries to take the pain out of website creation. WebSite X5 Evolution is different to other web tools as it’s designed for beginners but has expert features such as baskets and checkout controls.
Right from the moment you start, the software takes you through a dazzling array of options, but never confuses you. The templates make it easy to think about where to place everything if you need some inspiration, though they’re not compulsory. This means that I managed to set up a simple but effective website in a matter of minutes (20 minutes if you're interested) using pre-defined templates and my own images.
Using the templates I managed to set up a small site like this one in 25 minutes, including uploading and going back to reformat pictures a couple of times. Though this in itself is quite basic, with more work, especially using your own templates, you could create some nice looking sites.
While the option is there for those who want to have a simple web design tool without thinking too much about where to put everything, this software will also be happy to let you design something from scratch. It will resize images and text, allow you to add multiple pages with easy-to-use links and generally look after you as much or as little as you want.
That said, there are a few areas that WebSite X5 Evolution could improve in. Firstly there's the shopping cart. Billed as a feature on the packaging, this only has basic support at best. It's a nice idea and does work well with Paypal, but it just doesn't feel comprehensive enough to use on a professional site and it doesn't guide you through the process of adding the cart to your page all that well.
Also, Website X5 will not help you if you don’t already have a site for uploading the finished files. However, if you set up some webspace with Freeola then you can use the FTP uploader tool built in to the program to put your site up and it works quite smoothly.
Despite the flaws, WebSite X5 Evolution is actually an easy to use piece of web creation software that lets you build personal and semi-professional websites in a short space of time. If you're a small business who wants to design a site cheaply but without looking cheap, then this is perfect for you. If you're an expert web designer, though, this won't satisfy you.
For beginners or those wanting a quick solution, this gets an 8/10.
Expect a walkthrough for the software soon.