JUST FOR FUN: PERSONAL SITE BUILDERS
Not interested in setting up a full-fledged online store? Don’t need database hooks, backup tools and marketing software? If you just want a simple, inexpensive Web site for your own personal use, you can turn to one of the many online site- building services aimed at consumers. Popular portals Lycos and Yahoo! still offer those tried-and-true consumers’ services. Also Tripod and GeoCites. Similar tools are available from companies’ such as Homestead Technologies and the U.k- based Moonfruit.
Lycos has two site buildings services, and both have been around since the internet’s late-nineties heyday. Angel Fire is intended for teenagers and other young internet users, whereas Tripod suits more mature site builders. If your reading this piece, chances are you’re better fit for tripod, which offers five different site-building plans, ranging from a free, ad-based plan that gives you 20MB of disk space and 1GB of monthly bandwidth to a $19.95 a month plan with 150MB of space and 30GB of bandwidth. All But the free plan have a additional set-up free, ranging from $10 to $15.
Tripod’s tools are wonderfully comprehensive. Even with the $4.95 a month Plus plan, you get a wizard like tool that helps you easily build site using a wide variety of templates. You also get a massive library of images, scripts, and simple animations as well as both CGI and HTML editors for creating more advance content. You can quickly add audio and video to your site, install search boxes or upload files. And with the services new blog builders, you can create your own drop-dread-gorgeous Web log in a matter of seconds. Literally.
The only drawback is that Tripod’s tools are entirely HTML-based. While your building a site, you cant drag and drop, rotate, and move elements as you can with the Java and Flash based tools that others services offers. And since you have to wait for the browser to load a new page each time you make change, the process is far slower.
In addition to its Site Builder tool¸ Yahoo stills offers its familiar Geocites service, which has served costumers for as many years as Angel Fire and Tripod. GeoCites offers three different plans; a free, ad-based plans, with 15MB of disk space and 3GB for bandwidth; a $4.95 a month Plus plan, with 25MB of space and 5 GB of bandwidth; and an $8.95 a month Pro plan with 25MB of space and 10Gb of bandwidth, your own domain named, and five matching e-mails accounts . The Plus plan carries a $10 setup free; the Prop plan, a $15 fee.(* prices and offers may change)
Geocites may lack blog builders like Tripod’s, but its Java based Page builder is far more nimble than the core Tripod service, letting your quickly and easily drag and drop elements as you create your site. And you can just easily augment your site with the news headline, counters. Web cam feeds, weather updates, and even an icon that indicate whether your online and ready to receive instant messages.
Homestead service is even more elegant. You’ll have to spend a few minutes downloading and installing its Java based client, but once its up and running, you can freely drag, drop and move site elements; draw from a library of over 1.2 million images; insert metatags; create and manage forms; and, if need be, write your own HTML. You won’t find a blogging tool, but you do get the Animation Factory, a library of animated icons, and Gif works, a tool for editing animations and images. The service cost from $6 to $27 a, month plus an initial setups fee of $20, but free trial is available.
Without a doubt, Moonfruit is the slickest of these online site builders. Its flash based tools run inside your browser, letting you edit your site in real time, moving elements from place to place as if there are icons on Windows desktop. There’s also an impressive image and icons and animation library, and a nifty jukebox tools let you easily upload MP3 to your site. Pricing ranges from $5.99to$13.99 a month, and though theirs no free trial available, you don’t have to pay an initial setup fee. Tripod, from Lycos, offers a large choice of site building tools like those shown here. But they are all HTML based rather than using Java or Flash for quiker response.
Not interested in setting up a full-fledged online store? Don’t need database hooks, backup tools and marketing software? If you just want a simple, inexpensive Web site for your own personal use, you can turn to one of the many online site- building services aimed at consumers. Popular portals Lycos and Yahoo! still offer those tried-and-true consumers’ services. Also Tripod and GeoCites. Similar tools are available from companies’ such as Homestead Technologies and the U.k- based Moonfruit.
Lycos has two site buildings services, and both have been around since the internet’s late-nineties heyday. Angel Fire is intended for teenagers and other young internet users, whereas Tripod suits more mature site builders. If your reading this piece, chances are you’re better fit for tripod, which offers five different site-building plans, ranging from a free, ad-based plan that gives you 20MB of disk space and 1GB of monthly bandwidth to a $19.95 a month plan with 150MB of space and 30GB of bandwidth. All But the free plan have a additional set-up free, ranging from $10 to $15.
Tripod’s tools are wonderfully comprehensive. Even with the $4.95 a month Plus plan, you get a wizard like tool that helps you easily build site using a wide variety of templates. You also get a massive library of images, scripts, and simple animations as well as both CGI and HTML editors for creating more advance content. You can quickly add audio and video to your site, install search boxes or upload files. And with the services new blog builders, you can create your own drop-dread-gorgeous Web log in a matter of seconds. Literally.
The only drawback is that Tripod’s tools are entirely HTML-based. While your building a site, you cant drag and drop, rotate, and move elements as you can with the Java and Flash based tools that others services offers. And since you have to wait for the browser to load a new page each time you make change, the process is far slower.
In addition to its Site Builder tool¸ Yahoo stills offers its familiar Geocites service, which has served costumers for as many years as Angel Fire and Tripod. GeoCites offers three different plans; a free, ad-based plans, with 15MB of disk space and 3GB for bandwidth; a $4.95 a month Plus plan, with 25MB of space and 5 GB of bandwidth; and an $8.95 a month Pro plan with 25MB of space and 10Gb of bandwidth, your own domain named, and five matching e-mails accounts . The Plus plan carries a $10 setup free; the Prop plan, a $15 fee.(* prices and offers may change)
Geocites may lack blog builders like Tripod’s, but its Java based Page builder is far more nimble than the core Tripod service, letting your quickly and easily drag and drop elements as you create your site. And you can just easily augment your site with the news headline, counters. Web cam feeds, weather updates, and even an icon that indicate whether your online and ready to receive instant messages.
Homestead service is even more elegant. You’ll have to spend a few minutes downloading and installing its Java based client, but once its up and running, you can freely drag, drop and move site elements; draw from a library of over 1.2 million images; insert metatags; create and manage forms; and, if need be, write your own HTML. You won’t find a blogging tool, but you do get the Animation Factory, a library of animated icons, and Gif works, a tool for editing animations and images. The service cost from $6 to $27 a, month plus an initial setups fee of $20, but free trial is available.
Without a doubt, Moonfruit is the slickest of these online site builders. Its flash based tools run inside your browser, letting you edit your site in real time, moving elements from place to place as if there are icons on Windows desktop. There’s also an impressive image and icons and animation library, and a nifty jukebox tools let you easily upload MP3 to your site. Pricing ranges from $5.99to$13.99 a month, and though theirs no free trial available, you don’t have to pay an initial setup fee. Tripod, from Lycos, offers a large choice of site building tools like those shown here. But they are all HTML based rather than using Java or Flash for quiker response.