HEY EVRSOFT: I'll pay for FP3

[dailen]

Granted you've had us in waiting for years and neglected us from the website updates we probably deserved, but I'll never turn. 1st Page 2000 is the best damn editor I've ever seen or used and I've used 'em all (including PHPed which is pretty damn good). Anywho, if you actually read this I thought I'd tell you that I'd pay for FP3 if finances are the problem and if you treat your loyal fans right I'm sure many others would too!!!

People love 1st Page not just because its free, but because its a great editor! Right now, I think I'd be willing to hand over US$50 for a copy of FP3!!! Heck, I'd probably pay half that just to be able to beta test it!

I've struggled long and hard, preaching the gospel way of 1st Page! I've converted people from Frontpage, Dreamweaver, Notepad (damn those guys are stubborn!), HTML Editor, PHPed, ACE HTML, MS Publisher (don't ask), and more. Now, here I am, under-the-gun, having prophesied the coming of...uhhh...a new version. People are staring into the sky as though waiting on Jesus to return. But must we wait for the Apocolypse of the internet before we shall see it? I pray we shouldn't...

Give us 1st Page 3...we've waited and waited...don't let us down.

Your disciple,
~Dailen


EDIT: Typos

[joey]

I'll pay for FP3

Why would you pay for software that will most likely have:

- lots of bugs
- no tech/developer support
- no updates (unles you call a new version every 3-4 years an update)
- made by a company that is nototious for ignoring its customers/users

Could someone shed some light on this issue?

[MikeParent]

After this month I am buying either VB.Net or Dreamweaver MX :-)

[DCElliott]

You know, its kinda sad. we have here one of the most dedicated groups of beta testers possible - people who would help ensure that what goes live isn't buggy and would really stress the product. But no, I guess they are hoping that it will get enough testing in house.

But everyone know that developers can't possibly use a product in all the ways users can and will. Even stupidly. The only way to make a bombproof product is to test test test.

So listen up, guys, or else ole Napoleon is gonna meet his Waterloo!

[Hunkah]

Free sells me, I would not have tried 1st Page if it had not been free. I fell in love with it. I was using a ...um "free" (not paid for) version of another program that I "borrowed" from a share-your-warez type of a program. I don't do it often but I don't buy unless I try. After I tried 1st page I uninstalled Dreamweaver ...oops! I said it! I though dreamweaver was good but, I thought that 1st page was much more user friendly. I hate programs that take a year to learn how to use. SO I will not buy dreamweaver, nor any other as long as there is freeware, I will be happy. I know the thing about software doesn't write itself, but there is always a free alternative. ...and again free sells me. But holy crap, 1st page is taking its sweet time.

[MikeParent]

Ultradev rocks for pure coding though. I dont use the wysiwyg features at all. The integrated FTP is very sweet too.

[MikeParent]

Criminy! How do you get by without line numbering? I mean you can use Ctrl+G for quick fixes and stuff, but... goodness! I also like syntactical highlighting... have you ever used notetab light or some such editor.

[xxx]

Joey said Why would you pay for software that will most likely have:
- lots of bugs
- no tech/developer support
- no updates (unles you call a new version every 3-4 years an update)
- made by a company that is nototious for ignoring its customers/users


Well, you could well ask why would anyone pay for HomeSite? It has all of the features listed above (save for the updates)...and more! You could say that about a host of other "Pay me a lot of money for this editing software!" programs, too. Yes, and some free ones as well (NoteTab is exceptionally mysterious and monumentally do-it-yourself in all versions).

I had HomeSite and was running on Windows98. I could not keep that program lit for more than 10 minutes before it crashed my machine. I asked on the Homesite help forum what could be done. Answer: HomeSite has a 'system's resources allocation' problem with Windows98, and we are not considering fixing it. Oh...well as Paulie 'Walnuts' would say, sorry--can't say it here.

1st Page has run well for me. I am, as so many are, waiting for the next version of it. It is far easier to get the hang of than HomeSite, it's FTP function is far and away better than HomeSite's. All of the shortcuts are reliable and easy to understand. 1st Page is just very user friendly.

So, Joey, I would have to conclude that you have far more forebearance than I do, if you prefer the other software guys to 1st Page, you have got to have more charm than most of my friends and me. We can't get anywhere with the 'other guys'.

[joey]

> Well, you could well ask why would anyone pay for HomeSite?

I think you missed the whole point of what I said...

Given EvrSoft's (NEvrSoft?) previous track record with updates, bug fixes, and lack of response to e-mails, would you really want to pay money to such a fly-by-night operation?

I would venture to guess that the new version of 1stPage will appear about the same time as some members (moderators) of this forum receive their "Free Hosting For 1 Year". :eek:


>1st Page has run well for me. I am, as so many are, waiting for the next version of it.

Keep waiting... but in the meantime if you absolutely have to have a free HTML editor (that is being actively supported), try these:

HTML Kit - http://www.chami.com/html-kit/

AceHTML Free -
http://freeware.acehtml.com/ (http://freeware.acehtml.com/)


>We can't get anywhere with the 'other guys'.
Check out TopStyle 3.0 (http://www.bradsoft.com/) if you are interested in a top-quality editor with excellent support.


*NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the products mentioned above.

[xxx]

My fragile point runs thusly: You can pay $100 for Homesite and get ignored ("no, we won't fix that"), and get a buggy program (won't run on Win 98). You can pay $0 for a text editor and get the same treatment. Which one leaves you worse off? The answer is Homesite because you paid good money for an imperfect program with bad service.

If I get something for free and it's not perfect I keep in mind that it was free to begin with so I can't complain too much. So...there are no manuals (but there is a real forum where you can actually get answers unlike Macromedia's Homesite forum). So, there are bugs (like 6 Buttons...) but there is discussion about how to fix it and how bad it is (unlike my problem with HS and Win 98).

So, 1st Page may have problems, but you may have noticed that the expensive programs do too. I have found answers here and I paid nothing. With the others, I have gotten no answers and paid as much as the market would bear.

If you've had good luck with chami and Ace, great! Some people like Arachnophilia, too. And some folks swear by NoteTab. Top Style has been great for CSS, and I got the Lite version (free), haven't tried their text ed. However, despite its shortcomings I remain most impressed with 1st Page.

[joey]

>You can pay $100 for Homesite and get ignored ("no, we won't fix that"), and get a buggy program (won't run on Win 98).
That's why I download and thoroughly test the trial/demo version of a product before I make a purchase. Caveat emptor, always. :)


>If I get something for free and it's not perfect I keep in mind that it was free to begin with so I can't complain too much.

If you scroll up in this discussion, you will see that I asked: "Why would you pay...". Also, EvrSoft has stated that they are working on a pay (i.e. not free) version of 1stPage. :eek:

As for complaining, I feel that users have a right to complain when they are being lured into a bait-and-switch scheme intended to market third-rate web hosting.

But like I said before, keep waiting... I know that *free* is a very powerful word. :D



--------------------------------------------------
Just my $0.02

[ByteWizard]

Eversoft has not established a track record of support worthy of my financial support. They should provide a trial version, demonstrate their level of support for a pay-for product and if the whole package is worth the price, I will gladly pay.

[polliwogfrog]

Well,
like my Daddy always says...
"IF IT AIN'T FREE, I AIN'T BUYING IT!!!!!"


hee hee

:joy:

Polliwog

[gwmbox]

Originally posted by xxx
My fragile point runs thusly: You can pay $100 for Homesite and get ignored ("no, we won't fix that"), and get a buggy program (won't run on Win 98). You can pay $0 for a text editor and get the same treatment. Which one leaves you worse off? The answer is Homesite because you paid good money for an imperfect program with bad service....


I ignored the first part but have to have my two cents worth here. I have been using Homesite myself since version 1.2, and currently use version 4.5 and have always run it on Win 95 and then Win 98 - still on 98 actually - been hesitant to move to XP - anyhow never had a hang, never had any problems - so you may find its not Homesite but your setup - I know their support says it is a problem but heck never been a problem for me - I am using Win 98SE though in case you are using the first edition?? My PC is a AMD TB1.4 with 256MB SDRAM - so resources is not a problem - maybe that is the issue - dunno? What are you trying to run it on?

I have also had near immediate responses to any support issues in regard to Homesite so I am not sure why you are having any problems - an no I do not work for them.

And why my interest in 1st Page - well like everyone else I am always on a hunt for a better more featured editor, or in this case a FREE one, I have steered many that could not buy Homesite to 1st Page and I also provide hands on training to many using 1st Page or Homesite - depending on their budget of course :)

Thx

[xxx]

To gwmbox's point above-

I really had a difficult time with HomeSite and Windows98. I have spoken with quite a few other people who were using 98 and they said that they had no problems at all. Some did. I also spoke with a large group of avid computer users who put forth the following possibility. It could have been proprietary version of 98 made for HP, and/or one specific line of HP machines. I know that all versions of 98 were not the same, and when a large manufacturer purchases it from MS they may get some special features that could interfere in some way with the working of other programs.

I had an HP Pavilion bought 4 yrs ago. It used the latest Intel chip at the time, and I had 256 Megs of RAM. As the people at HS explained to me, the amount of RAM had nothing whatsoever to do with the performance of HS. It was the "allocation of system's resources", in other words CPU time that was given to all the programs that are running in the computer. HS would demand CPU time in the wrong sequence and the machine would hang.

I was surprised by the response from HS that they were aware of the problem but they were not going to fix it (their words). Not very good customer service, so my impression of them was that once you bought their product, you are on your own.

Since then I have bought a Dell with an Intel P4 and 512 Megs. The program works well and I have upgraded to HS5 (for $30).

After going back to HomeSite, I miss the features of 1st Page especially its easy FTP functions and user friendliness. HS works but it's FTP functions are very complex and the interface can get cumbersome due to its huge capabilities (for instance, right clicking on a part of your HTML work brings up a mammoth array of choices, only one or two of which I use often). 1st Page was well organized while being full featured.

Capabilities are great, but if too many choices start getting in your way you start feeling like" paper or plastic, white or wheat, what color do you want, regular or menthal" when all you want is to go. Youknowwhatimean?

Finally, I was up and running very fast with 1st Page. It was so logically laid out that the lack of a manual was not a big deal, you could figure out just about anything. With HS I have read the ******* manual and bought an extra book and it's still very hard to master.

I am just as curious as you are to see what 1st Page will come out with now. Will they become too complex or keep their rational bent? I want to find out. If it is still as good, I may keep HS as a backup :D .

To be utterly truthful, the very best text editor I have used (reliable, simple {to a fault}, cheap {comes with}) is Notepad. Got a problem with interface/FTP/code? Look in the mirror for customer service!:D

[gwmbox]

Fair enough and agree with you - I just thought I'd make the point that I have been using Homesite with no probs at all.

I also agree 1st Page is better for newer designers, especially with the different levels of user interface available. I myself have been using Homesite for years and hence have very good experience with it and all its features, including FTP - its a personal choice really.

Anyway as you and many others have stated 1st Page is a first rate editor, but it is buggy, but for free I am not complaining just anxious to see what the new version will be like - if it ever gets done???

Notepad is a good tool, but limited as well, I am a coder at heart and notepad has been used many times by myself, but the extra features available in software like HS and 1st Page eliminate many repetitive tasks - time is money :)

So anyway I'll keep dropping in here every now and then and see if the new version ever gets released.

Thx

[IceGemini]

Isn't it ironic that Evrsoft, a company whose product is trumpeted for its userfriendliness, is not friendly to its users? (i.e. No site updates, little communication, hermitism, isolationism, etc.)

[theflinger]

quite frankly i will use 1st page always and dont care if there is a new version, and i have never seen it crash, either.

and i will never pay for it, course that may be cuz everything is free in my world...

muahhhahahah

[tmmoose]

I know it is free software and you usually get what you pay for,but First Page was the best I have ever found for free.
I love free stuff..it is what keeps me looking to see if the new free version is avaliable yet.....I have a lot of patience..but not an infinite amount.I am not sure if I would purchase a copy at any price,the wait has just been to long..and I am now into other software..

[Freon22]

Well everyone else has said something so its my turn. I use Ultradev 4, Homesite 5, and 1st Page. I have found that each one has its good points and bad. But yes I think that I will buy 1st Page if they come out with a new ver, I have gotten a lot of uses out of it so far and lets me see I payed 00 and how much did I pay for my other programs $$. So the least I could do would be to buy it. Its a nice user friendy program, some of the other programs has such a long learning curve. Ultradev said it makes database web program easy. Right maybe later, it will after I learn how to hand code it first then go back and spend a few months learning the program. So for now 1st page is still my best editer.

[-TheDarkEye-]

i think ill be switching over to dwmx.

im just starting to get used to it and there are only two things that it doesnt do that fp2k does:

1. no vertical ruler thingy.
2. no pl/sql sytax highlighting. this may be something an ext with take care of tho.