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BOOK REVIEWS
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Dreamweaver CS3 Video
Training Book
If you work a lot with computers, you're
always on some arc of a learning curve. And
the kind of training that works best for you is
a very individual thing. If you've been
reading books, nosing around the Web or
sitting in a classroom, there's a good chance
that lynda.com has been part of your
training agenda. The popular publisher has
launched a series of video training books
that combines the best of their print and
video efforts.
The Adobe DreamweaverCS3 Video
Training Book by Garrick Chow packages
four hours of video training on CD with a
168-page printed reference designed to take
an absolute beginner from program launch
to publishing a well-designed site. The
included book serves as an index of the video
lessons with some background information
and screen shots of various windows and
dialog boxes. When it's time to apply what
you've learned in the videos it will be a
helpful memory-jogger, as well. Along with
the QuickTime videos, the CD includes all the
files that Chow uses in the tutorials. However,
there's really no need (or opportunity) to
follow along with Chow's presentations.
As is the case with lynda.com's other
Dreamweaver training publications, the
Video Training Book focuses on how to use
the program. Even though we don't get to
see much of the XHTML code created by
Dreamweaver, Chow frequently takes us
behind the scenes to see how the program's
complex tools build the cascading style
sheets (CSS) so important to modern Web
design. The example site used in the videos
is still table-based, however the coverage of
CSS in general is still quite good.
The subject matter is presented in a logical
order and the author offers a steady stream
of helpful tips for planning and designing
your site. For the most part, Chow is a
good presenter. He tends to speak rather
quickly (which may be a concern in cases
where English is not a viewer's primary
language), but the lessons never seem
particularly rushed.
One of the biggest benefits of the video
training approach is the most obvious: when
it comes to a graphic interface, showing
how to do something is far easier and faster
than explaining. Even though the bulk of the
presentations are nothing more sophisti-
cated than narrated, full-screen video
captures, watching a process is far simpler
than trying to follow written, step-by-step
instructions. Even though the program is, by
no means, a comprehensive course in
Dreamweaver CS3 you may be surprised at
how much you'll be able to learn in an
afternoon or two.
Adobe DreamweaverCS3 Video
Training Book by Garrick Chow
lynda.com > 168 pgs. plus approx. 4
hours of QuickTime video
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-44552-0 > $49.99
