domain names...website development...help!

[astrid]

I need to register a domain name. I've done a few searches and it doesn't appear to be taken, but I"m wondering what "companies" are the best? I'm thinking that cheaper isn't better, but can anyone recommend a good place to register my domain name?

Web development: I have an older copy of Dreamweaver software (can't recall the version now, but at least 5 years old) with which I"m rudimentarily familiar. I'm not looking for my website to do anything fancy, just basic pages, etc. Would this be okay for my purposes in 2008? I know that newer is usually better, but can I get away without purchasing software just to develop a pretty basic kennel website? Or can it be done with any degree of professionalism with Microsoft Frontpage?

Advice desperately needed....I'm clueless! Thanks bunches!

[6packofun]

I need to register a domain name. I've done a few searches and it doesn't appear to be taken, but I"m wondering what "companies" are the best? I'm thinking that cheaper isn't better, but can anyone recommend a good place to register my domain name?

Web development: I have an older copy of Dreamweaver software (can't recall the version now, but at least 5 years old) with which I"m rudimentarily familiar. I'm not looking for my website to do anything fancy, just basic pages, etc. Would this be okay for my purposes in 2008? I know that newer is usually better, but can I get away without purchasing software just to develop a pretty basic kennel website? Or can it be done with any degree of professionalism with Microsoft Frontpage?

Advice desperately needed....I'm clueless! Thanks bunches!

First, either of those programs will work for a basic site. You could go to the company's site to see if there are any significant upgrades that would make it necessary to go to a newer version, but I think you'll be OK. There are a lot of free helps and even basic layouts online that you can find if you scour the net a bit. :)

Not to mention content management programs that will do all the layout and style aspects for you and you can just plug them in, many times from the admin panel of your site through your web host. Joomla, for example, is free. Or PHP Nuke or whatever. I like http://www.opensourcecms.com/ for info on these. I do NOT know a lot about coding PHP, but can use these. Just depends if that's what you'd like for your site.

Second, you can purchase a domain name wherever you want, but I find it easier to do it through the web host company that I use. Two birds with one stone, ya know? If you're not ready to go live anytime soon, though, and just want to "park" the domain name so you've got it, any major name like GoDaddy or Register.com would be fine.

[Dana in OR]

http://www.Godaddy.com. They have hosting plans as well if you need that. But they are pretty easy to use if you just want to register a name, and inexpensive too.