Why Hotdog

Why I Choose To Use HotDog.

You've already told us that HotDog is a great product, but that doesn't mean we've rested on our laurels. We want to give you more of what you want. By talking to our customers we get useful feedback that allows us to make a better product for everyone.

Here just a few of the reasons our customers continue to use HotDog Professional as their HTML tool of choice.

(you can find some of our most talented users everyday in the Forums They'd love to see you there!)

I initially began editing HTML using a rather powerful, free emacs-like text editor available for OS/2, Windows, and Linux called FTE. It did basic syntax hilighting for HTML and a myriad of other languages, and the only thing that I was unhappy with was that it only recognised older (HTML 3.2) tags.

I tried HomeSite 3.0 at someone's recommendation. I found the interface ungainly and inflexible, and really couldn't imagine paying for it, so I deleted it. So ends my entire experience of HomeSite (I haven't touched it since).

Then I heard from someone that a new editor called HotDog Pro 5.0 had just been released and it was supposedly a lot more powerful and flexible. As soon as I tried it, I was addicted.

I think the main thing that did it for me, besides the more or less up-to-date syntax highlighting (with the option to easily add any missing tags I needed), was the ability to customise so much of the editor. The interface also seemed to "stretch" a lot more. Everything could be resized or repositioned. I could organise my workspace exactly the way I wanted it.

All the other nice features (site management, link checking, FTP, HTML Property Sheet...) were just icing on the cake. I can honestly say what hooked me on HotDog Pro was that I could futz with the interface more. :)

What's kept me using HotDog (and never even bothering to try other editors available) is simple: these forums. The contact with the developers and the friendly support guys has kept me from ever questioning my choice.

Kevin Yank

I've tried a lot of other programs and I have just never been able to feel comfortable with them. Like Kev, a big reason was that I could customize my workspace how I wanted to. I could feel like I knew exactly what was going on at all times.

The support was also wonderful. It took me a while to find Sausage Island (speaking of which, I've always thought the Island should be pointed (via email or something) out to the buyer with every purchase from Sausage Software) but once I found it, it has always kept me coming back. The Island helps to fill the gaps that a program can't fill (when I can't figure something out etc.).

Tim

Simply put, its a professional level tool, it is as simple or as complex as I need it to be. It does everything I need, and many more things I have yet to even learn.

Bram

Myself, I'm not keen on change. The first HTML tool I ever used was HotDog 2. (I think your mascot attracted me initially). I kind of slipped away from HTML while in college and did more programming stuff.

But last year, I started to work at my present job and they were using FrontPage 98. I said..."Ack! You're using that!? Ever see what it does to the code?" They looked, we switched to HotDog. I didn't have trouble convincing them because around that time, my boss was trying to show off the site at a place that only used Netscape Navigator. They couldn't even view the site!

After using HotDog 5.5 for a while and getting into the forums, I realized that I've never, ever used a program with support as good as this! That's what has me hooked. (Plus the Dawg is still cool!) -

Eric
Da Miester

There are other tools around that do the same, some do certain things even better then HD, but developing pages with HD is most fun. When things are fun, then I get my stuff done quicker. Now that doesn't mean HD is a game, but if I compare it with VS for example (which does certain things better). Then VS feels like it's a stiff business meeting. Others try to emulate a more prettier, and Mac like outlook. Which make's it not a natural thing to use on a Win box.

So the bottom line for me is this: HD is fun, and gets the job done quickest.

Another thing is the forum. There's no other place like the Sausage Island.

Herbert Peters

Good question and takes some reflection! Not sure just when I purchased HotDog, but am looking at my upgrade registration from Pro 1 to Pro 2 in 1995. Like many others, I learned HTML from doing. Seeing what others did and how they accomplished their tasks. And HotDog gave me that. It did it and I learned (and for all of it, I keep learning)!

I have seen quite a change at Sausage over the years, but there has always been a family atmosphere, users were more than numbers, they and their needs were important. Customer and Tech support weren't always on the cutting edge, but we got through it (together). AND YOU JUST DON'T QUIT!!

I personally recommend HotDog to my clients desiring to do some or all of their web maintenance and use it as a learning tool. Competitively priced, there are now solutions for every level of web involvement. I will be using the software shortly for a four day class/seminar for a Professional Photographers Association on web presence and maintenance.

I find myself excited with each new release. I know HotDog will simplify and enhance those tasks my clientelle require of me to design and maintain their web sites. I know, from experience, Sausage will go beyond the norm to get me a product (tool) I can use in my day to day operation.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, "HotDog has been good to me, and that's a fact!"

Eric

I used to be a graphic designer about 6 years ago, when the Internet started to come up. Saw it once and was hooked for life. I immediately wanted to be a part of the webworld, and made my first pages with Netscape Composer. I found that Composer could do a lot, but not the really fun things. I started testing various HTML editors (Homesite, HotMetal ect.) but was never really satisfied with the way it looked, the way it worked, the options, and some other things.

Then, through a co-worker of my former girlfriend (I'm young, free and single at the moment), I ran into HotDog 4. I admit I never payed for this one, and I used it for about 6 months (thanx to Astalavista).

At a certain point I changed careers from graphic designer to Internet Developer, and decided to get my boss to buy HD5. So I'm a legal user now. The reasons I stick to HD are: it is fun to work with, it can do a lot of things I need the program to be able to (and now with 6 it can do just about anything), the forums are unique in its kind, and I think Sausage is the only software company that is so incredibly dedicated to its customers I would hate myself for using something else.

So keep up the great work you all are doing! and have a beer on me (after hours).

Menno
WebDesEyen

I didn't have to think long about why I love HotDog. I've been using it since HD3 and I really do love everything about it. I initially wrote HTML using Notepad. I'm totally anti-WYSIWYG so the first time I used HotDog, I was a little wary. But now, I refuse to use anything else.

HotDog has great features: syntax highlighting, syntax error checking, website management (one of my favorite features), document preview, and lots of other stuff everyone already mentioned.

The funny thing is, explaining how great and professional a program with the name of HotDog is to a co-worker. "HotDog? Huh?" But once I show them, they're hooked.

I love the customer service and tech support. I love the fact that the software developers often reply to comments made in the forum. I love that I can contribute to a program as great as HotDog through the alpha/beta testing phases.

I can't imagine being an Internet developer without my HotDog. I can't imagine why anyone would use anything else!!!

Keep up the excellent work.

Jennifer