So, I’ve had a blog for a little over a year now (ever since Lifli gave a free copy to all .Mac users). And I’ve started to look at other options for software.

I’ve stuck with iBlog since I got it, primarily because if its integration with .Mac . It doesn’t require me to have an additional webhosting account. No need for access to server side scripting (cgi, perl, sql, etc….). And its easy to use, mostly standards compliant (and the free thing was a plus too). But, it does have its limitations, no built in comments/trackback/feedback system. which requires the use of 3rd party services like Haloscan – not that the Haloscan system is bad or doesn’t work, it works very well – but the use of a “off-site” commenting system is one more factor in page load times, if Haloscan is down…my page takes longer to load, while waiting for Haloscan to time out…if their site is slow, page load times and page functionality are affected (I realize..that since most people who actually come here regularly are friends/family that it doesn’t really matter.)

So..I’ve been looking around.. sort of (in that I’m not bound and determined to switch by any set day…or ever). I’ve looked at what other sites use … Judi uses MovableType and seems to like it a lot, to the point of recommending it to some of her clients. Livejournal. Typepad, and Blogger.com use their own system that seems to tie you to their servers and their services, not necessarily a bad thing, but not something that appeals to me. There’s other options out there like blogwave, RadioUserland, and numerous others.

At this point, I think that if I were to switch, it’d probably be to movable type. I know I can’t use it with my .Mac space, but, Godaddy has web hosting which includes php/perl/mySQL for $9.95 a month (and since they are already hosting the teppers.net and kaelkicksass.com email accounts, as well as being the registrar for those domains.. I know they’re reliable.. they even offer blog software as part of their hosting package (something called Nucleus..never heard of it, haven’t really looked into it). So, for slightly less than what my .Mac subscription costs me each year… I get a more flexible webhost. Granted, I’ve had the .Mac account for so long, that I’d probably still keep it, for the email account and because the one click integration with iPhoto (and the homepage templates/slideshows for iPhoto) is something I haven’t seen anything else come close to.

Anyone who wants to, can get me the “Movable Type Bible“, written by Rogers Cadenhead, to help me learn more about how to use MT.