Normal Mode and Expert Mode in MX2004

[NosNevets]

In this case I think the appalling way MM is treating us WAY trumps any
"netiquette" issues. In fact, I think more people should be posting the
question. Maybe them MM will get the message. This upgrade SUCKS. DW is slow,
Flash is unsupported and Fireworks is buggy (at least on my Mac).

I have been a MM customer since MacroMind days, but this last year -- starting
with FlashCom Server BS. I happen to know that they plulled all the sr.
programers off Flashcom server and onto Breeze. Breeze being nothing less than
a slap in the face to thier core developer customers. Now we are essentialy
competing with our technology partner. If there were any viable alternative
I'd drop them like cheating spouce

[sueshe]

I joined to post here. I am researching the MX2004 issue for a Web Authoring
class I am enrolled in. I happen to have been fortunate enough not to have
purchased MX2004, but I was curious so I ran the tutorial. There are quite a
few students who cannot complete the assignments because of this "no normal
mode" problem.

Some people in the class purchased 04 because it was what was available to
purchase. How unfortunate for them as they are beginners and are taking an
on-line class taught from MX version 6. No one anticipated the problems, I
guess because it is a community college, and there isn't the budget for new
software or time to do a great deal of research on changes in new versions. So
I will give some input from a new user/student's point of view:

This is a big mistake removing the normal mode--although I would assume that
there should be supporting reference materials to compensate. Having done
research on this, however, I find the general opinion that there is not.

Does this omission of beginner friendly and functionality set the future use
of Flash as a developer's tool, and not a supporting application for designers
and new users? Wouldn't this be considered exclusive? I can't believe they
would do that, so I am still confused. Perhaps, as you say, the "behaviors"
will help this issue. The problem still remains that the new version is too
far removed from the MX version for students to be able to use functionally...a
loss of a (non) valued market???

Because of this issue, the school has approved purchasing MX 2004, however, I
will submit my comments on upgrading to this version as I think it is a waste
of money for the school. I am sure this lack of functionality will set the
program and budget back.

Any comments on this issue would be greatly appreciated. It would be really
nice if they weren't so rude, either.

Thanks.

[Jeckyl]

If the school wants to update to MX 2004 .. then they need to be prepared to
update their course material.

If they are not, they should stick with the older MX, and advise students to
get MX.

Those students that bought MX 2004 may have to ask to be downgraded to MX
(unless the can use the school's copies of MX).

It is a tricky situation .. any time there is an update to a new version,
things are going to change (otherwise its not much of an update, is it :))
... so you have to decide on whether to update software + courseware or not.
You cannot do half-and-half or you'll end up in a mess.

Even if it wasn't the normal mode change, there would just as likely be
something else that is done differently between verisions that may cause a
problem. And if it wasn't in the MX->MX2004 update, it might happen in the
next one. Its just the nature of education and software .. the dilmea of
sticking with the old software that is understood and have resources for
teaching, or updating to the latest software and having to redo your
resources.

Not an enviable position.