I just got Macromedia Studio MX 2004. it has Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Freehand, and ColdFusion. Are there any beginnig tips anyone has for me? I'm planning on using mostly flash, but other tips would be appreciated too.

Skip Dreamweaver, learn HTML. Skip fireworks, use Photoshop. Dunno 'bout Freehand and ColdFusion. For Flash, www.flashkit.com.
Ok. Those are my tips.

If you have any more in-depth questions, let us know. It's easier to answer a more narrowed question.

I probably wasn't gonna use those anyway.... I got this thing for free.

Skip Dreamweaver, learn HTML.Have you even used dreamweaver? Its packed of so many features, and so user-friendly. Its great. and this also somplifies making a web page about 8x over.
Skip fireworks, use Photoshop.fireworks is an extremely user-friendly program. a lot better than image ready in my opinion. Its vector based. so you can always change stuff around.

As for Freehand. Ditch it. It doesnt really do anything.

As for ColdFusion Ditch it. Its basically a complicated web-server software. the only major website that uses it is myspace.

Pssssh, user-friendly. You make that sound important or something. :P
Yes, I've used those programs, so I do have semi-educated opinions. Although, I didn't use them to any great depth.

Not everyone wants to get there hands dirty with code on every single application out there so sometimes having something user friendly is a good thing.

If ever I say anything that starts with "Psssssh", automatically categorize it as a sarcastic comment or joke. And, if ":P" is embedded anywhere in what I say, take the comment light-heartedly, because I only half-meant it.
...
:P

I learnt HTML and made my first sites with notpad and paint. Dreamweaver was a major upgrade. It stilll lets me 'get my hands dirty' but speeds the process up LOTS.

I learnt HTML and made my first sites with notpad and paint. Dreamweaver was a major upgrade. It stilll lets me 'get my hands dirty' but speeds the process up LOTS.yeah, definetly.