Side Image Maps vs. Tables

[UBF]

I'm currently working on a website that has a large image containing several smaller images. Each small image will link to it's own subpage and I'm left with two options as I see it (because I don't know CSS coding).

1) Use Image Maps (adding coordinates using Dreamweaver) or

2) Create a table with columns and rows and split the larger image into many smaller ones and then link each images to the subpage.

Both are fairly easy to do but from a SEO and design point of view I believe to have read that you should avoid tables as much as possible which in return points me to the image map solution.

But what do you suggest that I do (and why)? I would really like to hear your comments. Thanks !!

[webprofession]

Originally Posted by UBF

you should avoid tables as much as possible

I have also read this statement many times.
but I don't have SEO knowledge.
that's why I can't give reason for that.

Can any one tell me the reason?

[Cornbread]

Another myth, Googlebot can eat through those tables and easily read the text inside without any problem. Tables are fine, they are considered old fashion as they generate a lot of code but for SEO purposes Googlebot just ignores the tables and reads the text.

[chicgeek]

It's just the push towards web standards that discourages tables for anything but tabular data. Layout should be via CSS, not the HTML/PHP file.

As for an SEO point of view, I've no clue.