Techies/bloggers: should I move my blog to Movable Type?

[Fixated]

I run http://kicktheleftist.blogspot.com. What are the advantages and disadvantages? I don't know tons about html at all, so keep that in mine. Thanks, DUers!

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. I thought Movable Type was a pay one

Mine is on blogspot too and I don't think you can have pictures in it unless you give them $

Is Movable Type free and can you put pictures?

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. kick to wake the nerds

[grasswire]

3. I'm interested in this topic, too

Especially from anyone who's using blogspot in its various forms.

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. I think blogspot is hard if you want your blog to look different

I got tired of the default look and fooled with mine some, but it took way too long.

I want pointnclik ease with friendly cartoon helpmice.

[dawn]

5. I use Movable Type. It's free, but I donated $20 for a "key."

The key lists your blog on their website whenever it is updated.

Movable Type is great, although it can be a bit tricky to install. You have to edit a few cgi files, but it's fine if you just follow the directions they give you. You also have to make sure your server supports the latest version of Perl and has MySQL database access. I think you can use a different database, but I am not sure.

If you don't want to dive in and use MT, you can use TypePad, which is a paid service owned by the people who make Movable Type. It is similar to blogger in that you can host your blog on typepad's server.

I am very happy with Movable Type and have used it for over a year.

on edit: You can display pictures using Movable Type because you host your blog on your own server/domain. You can do the same with Blogger if you host your Blogger blog on your own domain, instead of using blogspot.

[grasswire]

7. agh, this sounds awful

Someone should realize that people who write often aren't technically adept. Right brain left brain ya know.

So what's for bloggers who don't want to write html code to get a good-looking and easily updated blog?

[dawn]

9. It's really not that bad!

You don't have to know HTML to use it. The templates that come with it use CSS and HTML, but you don't have to know it.

I still think it's one of the better blogging systems out there. Trust me, I'm no techie. I do know HTML and a bit of CSS, but other than that, I am completely clueless.

[Melsky]

6. I have live journal

I've been very happy with it.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/melsky/

They have a free service. If you want to change the look of your blog its 25 bucks a year. There's no ads at all, even on the free ones. They have free software which will format your html for links and pictures.

If anyone here has a live journal, make sure to put Democratic Underground on your interest list!

http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=democratic+underground

[grasswire]

8. another question....

....will blogspot allow you to add a paypal link? Or is that against the rules?