buddhamaster

It really depends on what you want to do. What I mean is, do you want go freelance or work for a company? There are different ways to jumpstart your career and the approach depends on your choice of direction. Tell me more and I will try to throw some tips out there. While I myself have no formal experience in web developing, I know a fair number of web devs/designers and they probably hate me by now because I always have a question to ask Anyway, from a technical stand point: Once you get the hang of HTML and CSS, you might want to read up on xHTML and XML. Another essential requirement is mastering one (or more) of the server side programming languages such as Ruby or PHP just to name a few. Javascript is pain and suffering personified but you will need to have a fair knowledge of it. Good news is, there are libraries like jQuery to help you simplify your codes etc. I also believe that any good dev should have an underpinning knowledge of at least one CMS. There are many CMSs out there but as far as I know (don't take my word on it) TYPO3 has taken the world by storm (and it isn't easy to master). Read up on different CMS packages and choose the one that will suit your needs. Also, it is worth noting that one CMS has advantage over another in certain areas and this is why you need to have a list of requirements for your website and content to find that perfect sweet spot of balance and compromise. Hope it's not too chaotic as I typed it off the top of my head. This is what I think, but I bet I will get shot down by seasoned pros within 5 minutes of posting this

Lol true MAC = media access control. To add to the discussion: I agree about the virus part but talking about efficiency: PC doesn't necessarily need to run Windows. Make yourself a Linux partition and there, job done. If you need to, use Windows but for day to day tasks just switch to Linux. You can live without windows entirely because Wine does a pretty good job at running win based apps. I only got 2 apps that didn't work and they were games so it's not that big of a deal. I ran Debian, Ubuntu and PuppyLinux(from pen drive, so doesn't really count) extensively for a couple of years and never experienced any clutter or slow downs. It works like a charm. My point is: If you have a PC, Creative stuff and Gaming - Windows partition, Work - Linux.

Tell me about it. I am the only one that doesn't agree with the direction we're going in so I think I'm going to let them be and don't ruin what they have going on. I like playing complicated stuff because repetition gets boring after a while but cramming 12 different riffs into one song is just too much for me. I like to get a feel for the song and keep the overall flavour intact, play with it, get a groove on. Plus, these guys are not really keen on the clean tones and I am crazy about them so I think it's pretty obvious we need to part ways. I appreciate and respect their music, it just isn't something I would be happy to play in the long run. Going sideways with so many different riffs just doesn't sound right to me. I save it for jam sessions, not rehearsals if you get my meaning I like the music to be an experience and journey that seamlessly flows around. I just feel lost when we're playing together. Maybe I'm not up to the challenge of playing complicated metal music. Anyways, what kind of music do you or did you like to play?

I second the 'jump right in' advice. I'd just add one thing: Think about what you want to learn in Photoshop. Do you want to retouch or completely transform photos? HDR perhaps? Or do you want to create a layout for your website? Any ideas you can think of. Google for a tutorial on what you want to learn. If you will start doing things you don't really want to do or enjoy, the learning process will become a chore. I'd also advise you to read up on layers as it is the key to creating stunning work efficiently. Layers may seem indimidating at first but you'll learn to use them in no time. Also, check Adobe TV. While their videos are brief, they highlight core features of their programs. Google for 'Photoshop essential basics' and 'Adobe TV'. I'd give you a direct link but my post count prevents me from doing so. Hope that helps.

I have a low/mid range ibanez rg370dx but now it's all about my cheap stratocaster knock off. I got it dirt cheap (£40 for 13 year old squier with nicely matured wood) and I still can't believe how good it sounds! I still like to crank it up and shred away but nothing beats a clean single coil. The bubbliness, crystal clear and dynamic sound. Love it. How about yourself? Any particular Ibanez model you like? Do you play/used to play?

IMO the only advantage MAC has over PC is that it's built to physically last longer. Other than that, it's up to your wallet and personal preference. People say MACs are running faster and more efficiently. I've seen some MACs that were so slow and cluttered that I simply couldn't justify their insane price tag. It's probably down to the user to keep it in top shape. I personally prefer PC. I get things done twice as fast when compared to MAC. I run Win 7, Ubuntu and Debian for server purposes - works like a charm. My PC is long overdue for an upgrade but it still gets the job done. To me MAC puts too much emphasis on GUI and to do stuff that is more fiddly, I tend to work under the bonnet. For the £1000-1500 I would spend on a MAC, I can assemble a PC that will blow it out of the water. Both have their advantages but as I said, to me MACs reek of style over substance. Just my 2 cents. edit: proof read my post after posting it

I would say leave your chair and go outside for a little walk. Inspiration rarely strikes you when you're trying to look for it. I always get good (at least I think so) ideas when I'm outside and can't use my computer. Problem is, don't get distracted with anything or your concept will fall into the abyss of your brain forever and it's never coming back. If you insist on staying inside I would recommend going on pinterest. This board has images of literally everything. This place is nothing short of inspiring.

Hello everyone. I'm Pete, from Manchester UK. I have been doing a bit of web design couple of years ago until the love of my life - music, took over. Since then I abandoned my IT interests to pursue competence (perfection is impossible) in playing music although I continued my amateur graphic design work. I have learned to play a guitar, bass, piano and a bit of drums and sitar. I am commited to my hobby but I decided it's time to go back to my roots and pick up where I left off, especially the design part. I felt like I needed a new challenge and who knows, maybe I'll become a seasoned web designer in due time. I am not a complete novice to the subject, but expect me to ask a lot of questions; and what better place to ask than here? I stocked on couple of books and I know they become outdated rather quickly but I prefer to have a hard copy at hand for quick reference. I do my best to learn everything myself but let's face it - it's nice to have a backing of seasoned veterans to help me through. Make no mistake; I came here to try and help people with their problems as much as I can, not just pop in, asked the question and bugger off. That's it, I look forward to meeting you all. (has anyone even read that essay?^