Without Macromedia software, the internet would be a very different place. Despite starting as a graphics company, Macromedia has consistently been at the forefront of leading-edge Internet technology. It has also provided the affordable Macromedia software to harness it.

Macromedia’s impact on the Internet began with the Macromedia application Dreamweaver. Until Macromedia Dreamweaver software came out, programmers were still creating hypertext markup language (HTML) by using Notepad because other HTML tools were not user-friendly. Macromedia Dreamweaver software addressed many of the web programmers’ usability concerns.

As Macromedia Dreamweaver software grew in popularity, Macromedia began a series of acquisitions starting with SplashWave, the makers of the application that would become the Macromedia Flash software. In a move that would assure the popularity of the Macromedia Flash player software, they began giving it away for free as a browser plug-in.

Today it is one of the web’s most popular browser plug-ins and is the basis of many Web2.0 technologies. Macromedia later bought Allaire and moved into enterprise web computing. In 2005, Macromedia was purchased by Adobe.

Macromedia software is still for sale today, but it has been upgraded and is now sold by Adobe. If you want to buy Macromedia software and are concerned about the Adobe/Macromedia software merger, remember these three things:

1. Macromedia Flash software is very important to Adobe and will continue to receive research and development funding as well as technical staffing.
2. If you are looking for the Macromedia studio software, it is now part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 (CS3). The Macromedia Fireworks software and the Macromedia Contribute software are both packaged with Adobe CS3.
3. Much of the Java/enterprise-level Macromedia Software has been discontinued.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know which Macromedia software you want to purchase

If you are looking for Macromedia software, ask yourself what type of Macromedia software you need. If you want the latest and greatest, it is available from Adobe. If you are looking for an older version, you can try to find a used version of the product on the Internet.

I recommend: If you want Macromedia software, the best thing to do is go to the Adobe website and purchase the Adobe CS3 product. However, if you must have Macromedia studio software, go to eBay where you can purchase a used copy.

Check support for Macromedia studio software

For support, you would think to visit Macromedia.com. Software, however, is now only available through Adobe. As a matter of fact, the Macromedia.com software website no longer exists; you are immediately redirected to Adobe.com. Since the Adobe/Macromedia software merge has already occurred, the amount of support for older versions of Macromedia products is waning. This is something to consider if you are interested in purchasing older versions of Macromedia software.

I recommend: Check the Adobe website for Dreamweaver MX Documentation. As long as this information exists, there is some level of support for older versions of Macromedia Dreamweaver software. It is also possible to get Adobe Dreamweaver downloads on the Adobe website. At some point, the old versions of Macromedia software will no longer be available. When this happens, Adobe CS should be purchased.

You can purchase an upgrade for Macromedia software

If you know the old Macromedia software versions and want to purchase a copy, you can always do so. If necessary, you can always purchase an upgrade to Adobe CS at a later time.

I recommend: If you want to start with Macromedia Studio software or any other Macromedia software product, keep in mind that you can purchase this product on the Adobe website. This will allow you to obtain a legally licensed copy of the latest version of Adobe CS at a reduced cost. You can also find upgrades on websites like Amazon.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ensure you have a licensed copy of any Macromedia studio software. Some will argue that because of the Adobe/Macromedia software merge, it is okay to use Macromedia-branded products for free. This is not true.
• •  Macromedia Flash software can be difficult for beginners. Consider getting training for anyone who needs to use this product.
• •  Macromedia Flash software is great for Web2.0 because it does many things well, from graphics to database applications to games.