mt with plugins vs. typepad: which do you prefer?

Okay, I've rebuilt the entire old WWdN database, and made significant progress on the relaunch of WWdN:2.0. I owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to Mike Pusateri, who pulled the entire WWdN databse, pre-fuck-up-by-wil, including all the comments and everything, and put it into a 38MB text file for me to import back into WWdN. Thanks to some help from Movable Type support, I was able to put the old entries back online, and add the WWdN:iX entries to the pile. (Don't bother looking at WWdN; they're not in a public directory, yet.)

So this is a HUGE step toward relaunching WWdN, and now I find myself at a bit of a crossroads. I'd like to solicit some advice, if you don't mind, from the bloggers who still read me.

 

When I return to WWdN: 2.0, I have a couple of options: I can domain-map WWdN to TypePad, so you're visiting wilwheaton.net, but I'm managing the content from TypePad, or I can switch back to MT 3.2, and hope to mimic as much of TypePad's functionality as I can via plug-ins, while duplicating the super-easy WYSIWYG editor with ecto, and something as-yet-undiscovered for Linux.

The thing is, I've grown to REALLY like the TypePad interface over the last several months. The WYSIWYG editor is hawesome, and adding new sections to the right side of my blog (like the synidcation buttons, the book and music recommendations, advertising, etc.) is as simple as clicking a few links and pasting a little bit of code. I really like how easy TypePad has made everything for me; it's allowed me to put my energy into creating content that hopefully doesn't suck, rather than mashing away at annoying code that never seems to validate, anyway.

And that's where this post comes in. If you're an MT 3.2 user, what are your must-have plugins? If you've used them both, is MT 3.2 more or less useful for managing enclosures (for the RFB) than TypePad? Have you been able to make MT 3.2 act as sort of a CMS, the way I've described above? (Please don't bother telling me to use WordPress or Drupal or whatever CMS you totally love. I've done a lot of research, and I've determined that it's going to be MT 3.2 or TypePad.)

There are some changes coming with the redesign that I think you'll all like: no more lame fixed-width fonts and cells, a mobile version, better integration of things like flickr and technorati, and some of the really cool things that we're doing with metroblogging.

I'm still working with my friend on all that stuff, so the re-launch of WWdN isn't going to happen right away (surprise), but I can at least see the soft glow of a new and super-cool website on a distant horizon.

Comments

[Scrofula]

I'm with JSc and phriedom, I think you should use whatever you feel most comfortable with and which gives you the least hassle.

[fza]

My vote is for Typepad, as it is easy. It definitely looks better than the old site as well, but what we're here for is your blog and Typepad does it very well. Very very well. Very well.

[kraigus]

Best tool for the task, Wil.

As others have said, it sounds like your decision's already made for you, you just have to realize it: TypePad.

WordPress folks: dudes, he already said he wasn't interested, give advocacy a rest some time. :)

[Mog]

Doesn't really matter WHERE you post it or how, it's the content that we read.

[Heidi Ohlander]

You've been using TypePad for awhile now. Us readers have adjusted to the look of the TypePad. Why go back to WP?

My Vote? TypePad.

(After WWdN is back up we'll all spam you with love letters about our favorite CMS.) ;o)

[Banzai]

As a linux sysadmin I say use what works best for you. If a tool is easy to use and gets the job done then you'll like using it and thus use it more. The hell with "cool".

As a reader it's not the look or feel, it's the content. We'll come to read you whatever you use and wherever you are.

[Arthur]

I would suggest movable type over typepad for reasons totally unrelated to ease of use.

With Movable Type you agree to their terms of service and install the software. If you were so inclined, (security reasons not considered) you could never upgrade and you would just have to abide by the TOS you agreed to before MT's installation.

With Typepad they could change their Terms of Service and force you to agree to it in order to continue it's use.

Although it would probably never happen, if you were to say something that SixApart REALLY did not like, they have the option of changing your TOS and forcing you to self-edit from then on.

Also there's something to be said about actually running your own site. It's like geek credentials. :D

As far as plugins for MT; I like several of the plugins at markpasc.org such as typekiss and open id comments (lets livejournal users comment.)

Also the photo gallery plugin set at majordojo.com (which includes by default several popular plugins as well.)

[Sharon Williams]

I just started reading your stuff within the last couple of months, so, I like typepad. But no matter what anyone tells you, follow your heart, your gut, because ultimately it is you that has live with the choice. People who like what you have to say are going to read whatever, wherever you post.

[Wednesday White]

You might as well keep with TypePad at this point (just take regular backups in case you change your mind). It seems to do well by you, it takes stress out of your life, and there's certainly some latitude for indulging the tinker-urge in the appropriate tier.

Your work seems the better for having made the interim transition. Whatever makes your life easier.

[dansroka]

You said regarding Typepad "... it's allowed me to put my energy into creating content..."

That is the answer to your question.

[Mudboy]

I've tried most of them as well. Typepad was the best of the hosted solutions I tried. Wordpress made me gag, and the coding was... *shudder*

I settled on e107 ultimately for reasons other than style or ease of use, and wouldn't really recommend it to anyone who didn't have a specific need.

Geeklog was my runner up, but had missing functionality for my purposes. Again, not a fan of the coding, but oh well.

In the past I've used PHPNuke, PostNuke, Slashcode, Drupal, and a few others that were installed and deleted within days or hours. Plus a couple of pure Forum systems.

The conclusion I've come to is if it works, use it. If typepad fits the bill, and you are currently using it, then just keep on keepin on.

[netnomad]

I'm kinda in the same boat you're in Wil, maybe not to the same extent, and I think I made a comment to this effect earlier.

I have a blog on a domain running Wordpress that gets a half million hits a year, and another little dipshit blog on Blogger that gets 1% of that.

Thing is... if the stuff that is available to us now, like Blogger and Typepad, were available to me back when I started poweredbycoffee.net, I would never have poured the hundreds upon hundreds of dollars of cash into hosting it that I have. The turnkey solutions like Blogger and Typepad (and others) are light years ahead of where they used to be, and I've always said that if my hosting company ever goes tits up, I would be blogging on a freebie or a low-cost solution like Typepad in a heartbeat. But for now, Wordpress is running, my domain is running, all is well with the world, and I won't go into damage control mode until there is a reason to.

You have a reason. WWDN 1.0 went tango uniform. As for me personally, as long as I have an RSS feed, I don't care what you use, because I will read you through RSS anyway.

You just gotta follow your heart and use what YOU like. Ham is ham whether it's on rye or a white bun.

[omegapoint]

I prefer using MT because I like to tinker with the look of the site. I find that the look and artwork can be a good way of expressing myself when I don't feel like writing. I suppose it comes down to whether or not you're trying to make a personal statement with the look of the blog as well as the content.

[mdstudio]

I'm a web designer but not a blog expert by any means.

I agree with the majority about going with what is easiest for you. If you want to just write, then stick with the easiest option.

However, based on using MT, I personally really like the control and design options. Sure, content is king but I like to be able to have a blog that looks really unique. Considering you're a fellow artistic and geek, you might enjoy that kind of control. I do though probably my visitors couldn't care less.

Once you set up your MT templates, it's pretty quick and easy. I discovered that a podcast (tvseriesfinale.com) had gone wonky yesterday and I changed the file name on several templates and updated the site in about 10 minutes.

Just my $.02.

I enjoy your writings and podcasts. Thanks for both.
Trevor

[*ginevra]

BTW, you CAN mix up the templates and CSS if you like - check out something like pvr blog, or lots of other featured weblogs.

this message brought to you from a Six Apart employee, who loves WWDN.