I’m at a blogging software crossroads. Currently I use Movable Type Version 2.661 (the free version), though I’ve not updated the software (don’t have the technical knowledge). I have a hosting package that costs $20 a year for 100 megs of space, plus other benefits. But space is the issue. My blog currently uses 64 megabytes, the accumulation of 28 months of blogging. Oh, and for some reason, I am no longer receiving notification by email of new comments, though I have that preference turned on. I turned it off, rebuilt all files, and turned it back on and rebuilt. Still not working.
I think I have a pretty good hosting deal, but Husband doesn’t. He’s got a special friendly arrangement, though, so I don’t know if his expectations are realistic. His arrangement is something like 500 megs of space and uber-gigs of bandwidth for something like $60 a year.
I’ve briefly researched services like Typepad. I love the bells and whistles. The thing is, to keep my url means paying for the fanciest package. And I need server space for other documents that are not blog-related. I emailed Typepad and asked if this was part of any of their packages but never got a reply.
What to do, what to do? I’m not technically adept at all, aside from butchering HTML and CSS for my own simple purposes. I did use WordPress once for a now-defunct blog, but a friend set that up. The nice thing about WP is it takes very little space. But can one import entries from another blog? If I switched to WP (or to Blogger, Bloxsom, Typepad, etc.), I’d want to move the entire blog. That’s moot, though, since I don’t know how to install this stuff anyhow.
Now that I have Flickr, I don’t need space for images (another space hog). For images that aren’t my own photos, or that I’ve downloaded, I’ve reduced their file size to the minimum possible. They now constitute 2.4 megs of server space used, and I’m being very judicious about adding more.
I’d be interested in your feedback. I’m currently at 74% of my disk space, and I get these annoying warnings whenever I hit 80 or 90%. In summary, my wishlist is:
- keep my domain name (ideally keep the blog address exactly as it is)
- have extra server space for other html documents and the current image file
- if I switch to another publishing software, it must be able to import the old blog entries
- if I switch software, it must be non-geek user friendly — or I need a geek guardian angel willing to handle installation and maintenance
- comment notification by email
- a reasonable price (though I haven’t defined “reasonable” yet because it is in part negotiated with Husband)
Ideas, anyone?
your post is very serendipitous for me. I have just been looking at doing the same thing; so will be coming back here to see what you learn. I would not mind giving up the name I currently use and coming up with something new, as this is all new to me anyway, but want a place to write, post photos or things illustrative of the topics. For me it has to be simple to use, something I know will remain mine and be reliable. It’s a confusing world this business of blogging.
Kathryn,
If it’s server space you’re looking for, I’d like to suggest the web hosting company that several friends and I have been using both for business and personal sites for a number of years.
They’re quite generous with their space AND bandwidth for a reasonable price, and make transfer of your domain name quite simple as well.
http://www.webintellects.com/solutions/linuxwebhosting.htm
will take you to the plan comparison page of WebIntellects.
I don’t blog myself, but I am aware that all of the sites provide necessary tools for doing so as part of the package.
Best wishes,
Robin
I don’t always like powweb, but it is $7.77/mo. for 5 GBof storage and 300 GB/mo. of throughput, and that’s tough for me to argue with. I am currently using 100 MB of my 5 GB of storage. I’m also only using 220 MB of bandwidth right now, but then I do have a less popular blog.
As far as software goes, I like Nucleus a lot, but one of the nicer features that it has – the ability to change to a predefined skin on the fly – isn’t supported by powweb’s implementation of perl or php (I forget which). Were I you, I’d look at Serendiptiy. It seems okay, feature-rich and stable.
I’m a non-techie personified except for writing a little HTML, but I am happy mostly with Typepad for what I use it for. I don’t have a domain name, however, and I don’t have storage needs like you describe. I’m going to watch your comments, however, because maybe some of the leads will be of interest to us all. I loved your reflective surface #1, but I like all your photos, for that matter.
Hmm. I was just poking around the powweb site and discovered that they now have a feature to install different blog packages automagically. I’ll give one a tryout and let you know how it goes.
Check it out! New blog, quick and simple.
Here’s another one. I’m liking this new powweb thingie.
I know next to nothing about this stuff, but I did want to throw out my blog provider because it’s not at all well-known but they might be worth looking into. http://blog-city.com
What I like about them the most is that they are a small company (based in Scotland, which is why their English reads a little funny sometimes!) and they respond promptly to every inquiry. I’ve been with them for two years and counting and they’ve given me amazing customer service. And they are constantly tweaking with and improving their services. (I bought my domain name and have it forwarded to the blog domain, so that’s always an option for keeping your domain name).
Anyway. Might not be what you’re looking for, but if you decide to go the Blogger route, it might be worth looking at blog-city as a comparison.
Kathryn:
Check Typepad again if you can. They have been rather good as far as my experience goes. They are also rolling out a new product that encompasses even more rich features that might help ease your blogging, The service is called Project Comet. A short blurb is here:
http://www.sixapart.com/comet/
All the best,
N
Interesting post, I didn’t actually know that there was blogging software out there. What exactly does it DO???
I use blogdrive for both of my blogs, and it’s nice. If you want to see the “marvels of it’s technology” I’d suggest looking at my real blog, peelings.blogdrive.com The one I put on here used a different template.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ll find something better than blogdrive, so I’ll be watching to see what you decide! 🙂