Geek TypePad Blog

Decision on TypePad

Ok, well, after looking over things for the last hour or so, and examining my options on TypePad, I have decided that this will be the last post done on both sides of the Blogsphere by me. I just cannot justify blogging on Geek Blog and Geek TypePad Blog. this is not to say that TypePad isn't an awesome service, it really is, but I just can't justify moving off the Blogomania servers were I have most of my stuff. I would rather save the $15 US a month and renew my dwightwallbridge.com domain, though the other attempted business one registered at the same time will be left to expire due to the fact I cannot register the business name. I also want to get myself on a much better footing as well before I get into this. I will of course finish posting what is here by the 11th, no worries. Email me for a discount code, by the way.

TypePad to debut Monday

Ok, so when I got home I had an email from Ben Trott that he sent to all of the TypePad beta testers, telling us the service is now ready to launch, and that it will do so on Monday. The pricing is also set, ranging from $5 to $15 a month, and they have also put up a comparison chart between the three levels of service. They all have a 30 day trial, and 2 months free if you pay for one full year. That, though, is where the similarities end. Basic doesn't have photo albums, which I know I would use a lot, and doesn't have the added security of PGP on email links(no idea what that is) not to mention the lack of advanced template with that. I guess we can tell what I wouldn't use. Having spent about a month in the service without too many problems, I would recommend either of the two higher level services for any new blogger.

TypePad day 4: TypeLists

Now we come to the most useful of all the TypePad features, in my mind. TypeLists are like blog rolls, but on speed. Not only can you do people lists, but you can do music and book lists too, both of which produce images of the covers, and link to Amazon, which as I have blogged before, it is possible to have them link to your associate ID so you can get a little cash to cover the costs of the service at the same time. For instance, on the music one on the Geek TypePad Beta Blog, I have Johnny Cash, Darryl Worley and Kenny Chesney, while on the books I have pretty much every book in my house. I only wish I could do a more thing so people could see a full list, not just the 15-20 I have listed there. Overall, this is the best feature I found in beta.

TypePad's next 2 days

So, why wait, you might say. Why not post yesterday. Well, that's because the 2nd day was moblogging, and I have very little experience with it other than to ensure that the blog by mail works. Beyond that, it is all foreign to me, and I really do not know what all it entails. I do, though, admit that I am familiar with the third day, Photo Albums. The set up for creating a photo album is great, with an easy to use interface allowing you to interactively move pictures throughout the album, add titles and names, and then to add using the Template builder I mentioned Monday, though I honestly wish it were easier for the last one. Right now, you have to publish the photo album, then go into template and check that you want the album, then go into layout and decide where it should go. There should be a link when publishing that says 'Publish and insert' or something. As well, I worry without a site folder view that when working in template builder, they will not be able to locate the correct info.

TypePad launch possible

Ok, so the word has gone out that there is likely about a week left of the TypePad beta, but first we will have what they are calling the five days of TypePad, where us the beta testers who have used the service can tell you all about the daily selected feature of the service. At the end of the week I am told we can talk about anything, post screen shots, and we will have access to pricing information. Todays feature, for instance, is the template builder. This is a decent set up, with the ability to either have it arrange your blog itself, which might be problematic if their code gets a bug, or you can edit the templates yourself ala Movable Type. It allows you a little control, or a lot. It's up to the user to choose what they want, but the choice is a nice thing for the non geek.