Web design

How to Start a Home-Based Web Design Business, 3rd (Home-Based Business Series)
$18.95
I've read a few interesting reviews of this book and can see that it stirs contrasting emotions. Some reviewers praise it and others seem to hate it passionately.

I'd like to try and give it justice.

Is the author of this book a good web designer?

Emphatically, NO.

He is clueless.

In fact, If I were to follow author's own advice and have examples of someone's bad web design ready to show to my potential clients, I would definitely use his entire portfolio as a demonstration for what truly horrible websites may look like.

On the other hand,

does the book provide helpful business advice to web designers who wish to go it alone?

Oh, yes. Definitely so.

It's all based on common sense, and his ideas work; clearly, the author is an excellent salesman, considering that he's had a great number of paying web design clients, all the while being one of the most terrible designers ever to grace the world wide web with their work. This book is not about web design or web programming, it's about setting up and selling your web design services. If the author could repeatedly sell his mediocre web design service using his business tactics, think of what you can accomplish if you make websites even slightly better! Sample legal paperwork is excellent and very useful for anyone in the business, and advice on how to handle tough cases is practical and easy to relate to.

The quality of author's web design skills doesn't have much to do with the quality of the book, and the book, I am certain, can be helpful to many. I am glad I've read it.

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition
$40.00
A bit too long, he could've provided the same information on less pages but I definitely recommend the book. It's worth reading, especially for anyone who's doing web stuff.

The Design of Sites: Patterns for Creating Winning Web Sites (2nd Edition)
$59.99
Thank you for prompt shipping. Book was in like new condition, as promised. Would definitely buy from this seller again!

WebPlus X2 Website Maker
$79.99
I purchased this for my personal website. After using Front Page for several years, this app is a breeze. It does have a couple of frustrating limitations:
Photo galleries are limited to 64 images
You can place captions on photos, but are limited to font size and caption placement
When creating a sub page, the navigation links on that sub page spread across the navigation area, making the font very large in some cases it just doesn't look right. For example:
Home page: index.htm
Pages: Pages 1-6
Page 2 has sub pages 2.1 and 2.2
When you click on page 2.1 sub page to view, the navigation links (options to select other pages) will show: Page 2.1, Page 2.2, and Page 2, and Home, spread across the entire navigation area (master page determines overall layout of your navigation area)
On the plus side: page hyperlinks are automatically created (or removed) as you build your site. Easy to edit the hierarchy of the pages by simply dragging to new location, master pages easy to edit and apply to all or select pages within website