Build Your Own Web Site Or Use A Template?

Apple’s .Mac lets you make your own web site. Apple’s iLife ‘06 has iWeb to do even more.

What’s left? More templates for already easy-to-use Mac applications. It’s a point and click world.

So, you want to build a web site, right? It’s got to be easy because you don’t want to dirty your fingers in XHTML or CSS code.

You’re in luck. The Mac has a few choices which get you an attractive and competent web site with little effort.

First, let me touch on .Mac. If you’re a member, you can upload photos and create your own web site by selecting a template.

That’s where the fun begins. Apple’s .Mac templates are attractive, but not stunning.

If you’re an owner of a new Mac with iLife or purchased iLife ‘06, then you have iWeb, Apple’s web site production application.

”Production” isn’t the correct word to use with iWeb. It’s basically a point and click operation.

Apple’s iWeb templates are attractive, easy to set up, easier to navigate, and work well with .Mac or any web site host.

The problem, of course, is that there’s only so many templates in the iLife package, so your simple iWeb template web site looks about the same as everyone else’s web site.

Enter iWeb templates and web site tools from everyone else but Apple.

It’s all point and click with many more web site styles from which to choose.

The Mystic Store by 11 Mystics has a couple of dozen templates for iWeb, some are free, all-- to varying degrees-- are attractive and affordable.

What surprised me is the lack of a growing market for iWeb templates. iWeb has been out since January. iWebTemplates.org still has a Coming Soon sign on the door.

iLifeStuff, promoted in August in MacWorld doesn’t seem to be around anymore.

Is there a market for iWeb templates or not? Viola!! Ask and you shall receive. Lamavia has a handful of attractive and affordable iWeb templates.

What else can you do if you want to build a personal web site, but don’t want to become a professor of XHTML and CSS?

Two of our favorite Mac applications are RapidWeaver and Sandvox.

Both applications come with many built-in templates which make web site creation a mostly point and click operation. Select a template, select a page type, add content or photos or movies, click to upload to .Mac or a web site host.

RapidWeaver has been around longer as a Mac application, is more mature as a web site creation tool than Sandbox, and has a thriving template development community.

Among our favorites are Rapid-Ideas, Blue-Ball Design, SeyDesign, RapidWeaver Themes, Bench Design, among others.

Truly, web site development these days is mostly point and click, especially for the non-pro Mac user.

Do you have a family web site? What tool does the job for you? What problems have you encountered? Share your experience with other Mac360 readers in the Comments section below.

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