That is the question! I’ve been using FWPro3.5.15 for a long time. I was actually on the boards (mostly as a reader) when FW4 came out and decided at that time I could continue quite well without upgrading. However, my current computer (Powerbook G4 - 1Ghz - 10.4.11) is sadly on it’s last legs. (motherboard problem it seems-it doesn’t like to wake up after sleeping) And when I update to a shiny new dual core it will be running Leopard. Since I read that FWPro3.5.15 won’t work on Leopard I need to upgrade. I could use your input as to whether I should and update to FW4 or FW5? I am hesitant in my choice since FW5 is so new. I am not as computer or FW savvy as most of you are, but because FW is so intuitive I do alright building my site(s). What I need most (since this my business site) is a smooth transition from 3.5.15 to whichever version will take what I’ve already built and have it work on the other end without me pulling my hair out trying to figure out what I’ve done wrong, and will also allow me to update and make changes with the smallest learning curve. Thanks in advance for your advice !
I could use your input as to whether I should and update to FW4 or
FW5? I am hesitant in my choice since FW5 is so new.
Personally, I’d go straight to Freeway 5.
It may seem like a jump, but now it’s been released, Freeway 4 is
very much “yesterday’s Freeway”, if you understand me. There are
unlikely to be any new updates to FW4 now, so to keep ahead of the
curve you’d be better off moving straight to 5.
And don’t forget the incredible support of this list and Softpress in
general will help you make the transition.
As an end user, not overly technical or code savvy (and with no
connection to Softpress) I would echo Heather’s always positive
advice. The slight caveat is that you will find some glitches in the
transition of sites, mostly to do with styles. However, these are once
only problems and when embedded in FW5 you will enjoy an even better
experience and ease of web design than you do now.
I have used FW3.5 and FW4 Pro versions and found no real pain in the
transition. It will depend on how complex your web sites are. I tend
to work within the capabilities of Freeway and it’s Actions (including
third party ones) and not fiddle around too much with added code. Most
of my sites are now converted to FW5 and, as a copywriter whose web
design used to be a secondary service, I am impressed with the new
version. In fact, the latter is beginning to overtake my prime
occupation now that I’m supposed to be retired!
Colin
On 1 Apr 2008, at 07:12, Heather Kavanagh wrote:
On 1 Apr 2008, at 04:54, terrylynnemj wrote:
I could use your input as to whether I should and update to FW4 or
FW5? I am hesitant in my choice since FW5 is so new.
Sometime around 1/4/08 (at 07:12 +0100) Heather Kavanagh said:
Freeway 4 is very much “yesterday’s Freeway”, if you understand me.
There are unlikely to be any new updates to FW4 now
To put it just a little more clearly, I would be very surprised if
there were any more updates to Freeway 4!
Freeway 5 is now the current version. Personally I wouldn’t expect
(or want) Softpress to split its attention between that and the
now-outdated version 4.
I think the general view with any software is that you move ahead. I have an old piece of software - i didn’t move ahead, nobody else did and now it’s a defunct company and we’re all ‘locked in’.
Software is an evolving product.
If you like the product - support the company that makes it!
I totally agree - and the great pricing that Softpress offers makes it affordable. That price tag can be a hang up for me, even with the best intentions. But with Softpress - its easy and joy to be along for the ride.
I started with FW4Pro and I only created sites in family fun with iWeb and started to tweak it here or there. Now I have created THREE with FW and they are (humbly) awesome! I can’t stop visiting my sites because I can’t believe that I made them!!!
FW - rocks!
On Apr 1, 2008, at 6:08 AM, John-Paul Kernot wrote:
Software is an evolving product.
If you like the product - support the company that makes it!
I’ll ditto the remarks about the transition being an easy one. While not that much has really changed, the new features are very useful. For instance, I have used one of the new features to add a photo slideshow to my company’s site. Over just the few days since I added the slideshow there has already been and increase in the number of folks who stay on the site for over 30 seconds. The average number of pages and viewing time on my site has taken a jump as well. This will pay off in the long run.
All because I invested a little money and time with the update to Freeway 5. Go for it!
Thanks to all of you who responded to my question! I’m pleased to hear that so many of you are happy with FW5. I never doubted that FW 5 wouldn’t be great, just uncertain as to the method of getting there. FW 5 it is!