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JennGM
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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I'm so frustrated with my free service. It's free, so my expectations shouldn't be high. I'm out of memory, unless I delete all my photos, I can't even link photos from other websites as they won't resize. I have few choices for layout, and it takes me forever to work with the interface. I've now fooled around with other services...Wordpress is easier, but slower and down a lot. Mary Ellen has me guest blogging on her Christmas blog and I'm in love with Typepad. I love not being knocked off or having to constantly log in or save changes like Blogspirit, the Unlimited photo access, easy switch from WYSIWYG to HTML coding...I could go on.
To me, blogging is about writing, not about struggling and wasting time with the formatting and such...which is probably why so many are using Typepad.
Here lies my question. I want to switch to Typepad...and as I have two blogs, I can see that the second option is the least one I want. Do most of you pay monthly? If you pay up front is there a price cut? I want to beg for this for Christmas....I dread the switchover, so I want to make sure it's final.
Thanks for any advice.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Bridget
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 2:23pm | IP Logged
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We paid for it up front because we had the money. I don't remember if there is a price cut. Typepad looked like it was the easiest when we were checking around. I don't have the brain power or time for anything that has a steep learning curve.
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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I paid for mine upfront and Lissa told me to get unlimited blogs--really made sense for my family. My blog sells my book, so that's how I justify the expense. It is also quickly becoming the backbone of my writing curriculum--my kids all have blogs. I'd definitely ask for it for Christmas. It doesn't take up space; you don't have to dust it; it feeds your spirit. Kind of like a subscription to audible.com which is what I am begging for for Christmas. Another idea, it's great for "scrapping." The kids' private blogs are very big hits with aunts and grandparents. Now that extended family is catching on, they are getting private blogs. I know most of your family is local, but maybe some of your sisters would like a blog--split the expense.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Ruth
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I really like typepad. I highly reccomend it. I have the lowest plan, and it seems to work well for us.
God bless. Ruth
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Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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shartlesville
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 4:15pm | IP Logged
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I don't know how much Typepad costs but I get WordPress free with my website hosting package.
I can help you get your own domain name and a year of hosting including WordPress (limited only by the space you are alloted on your website which is way more than you could ever use) for about $50 (actual wholesale cost, without markup).
You could choose to use the website/domain for whatever and set it up any way you want or you could just use the WordPress part of it. You would have to design and set up your own webpage, etc. unless you hire someone to do it or choose not to use it. The WordPress part comes with downloadable themes so you can pick what you want the blog to look like or if you know what you are doing, you can design your own.
The hardest part is learning how to tweak things in your side bar. You get a control panel and everything.
If you want more info or you are interested in going this route, send me a PM.
Blessings,
Krisann
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Krisann
DH Cris;
DC John, Elizabeth, Lilyann ^i^, Emily, Kate, Julia, Sam, & Jack;
DGC Kira, Auston, Travis, & Sarah.
My Blog: Isla del Esperanza
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Helen
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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Jenn,
I experimented (as you know) with Typepad.
But the new Beta Blogger is free and just as good as paying for Typepad. Really.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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amyable
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 7:48pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
| . I'm out of memory, unless I delete all my photos, I can't even link photos from other websites as they won't resize. |
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No advice Jenn, just an ACK!! from a fellow blogspirit user. You're out of memory?? This does not bode well for me either!  How do you know how much space you have?
If I'm going to have to move soon, I'd rather just do it when I can instead of being surprised and having to do it at the last minute. Is it just photos you can't upload or do you have to stop posting too?
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Marjorie
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| Posted: Nov 29 2006 at 8:13pm | IP Logged
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Jenn, have you been reading my Christmas list? (Actually, I haven't mentioned it to my hubby as my computer time is in the basement and far from him.) I have Blogger Beta right now and while I like it much better than I did the original version it doesn't seem as user friendly as Typepad. I would love to put in my reading lists, links to other blogs etc., but it is tedious. Helen, how would you compare the two services? I am tempted to try the free month, but don't know what capabilities come with what level. I would really like to use the Christmas holiday break to play with it before I buy myself a gift :-)
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Yours in Christ,
Marjorie
Lettres de mon Moulin
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Erin
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 12:13am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
| My blog sells my book, so that's how I justify the expense. |
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Well that is a very good idea, if you wrote a book you could justify the expense.  
Elizabeth wrote:
| I know most of your family is local, but maybe some of your sisters would like a blog--split the expense. |
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Another great idea, particularly as Elizabeth suggested getting unlimited blogs.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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KC in TX
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Jenn,
I just skimmed the responses and didn't see the answer, but there is a discount if you pay up front. For instance, it's 8.95 a month for 12 months or 89.95 (I think) for the whole year (like getting two months for free).
I really like Typepad and if I have questions, our resident expert (Lissa) has been able to answer.
__________________
KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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JennGM
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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amyable wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| I'm out of memory, unless I delete all my photos, I can't even link photos from other websites as they won't resize. |
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No advice Jenn, just an ACK!! from a fellow blogspirit user. You're out of memory?? This does not bode well for me either! How do you know how much space you have?
If I'm going to have to move soon, I'd rather just do it when I can instead of being surprised and having to do it at the last minute. Is it just photos you can't upload or do you have to stop posting too? |
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Amy, when you log on it will tell you how much space you have used. Currently I'm at 9 mb, and my limit is 10. And I've gotten warnings that I was over my limit, so I had to delete files. Yes, I would have to stop postings until I removed excess files. And it takes so long to edit and delete...I don't have the time!
Marjorie wrote:
| Jenn, have you been reading my Christmas list? (Actually, I haven't mentioned it to my hubby as my computer time is in the basement and far from him.) I have Blogger Beta right now and while I like it much better than I did the original version it doesn't seem as user friendly as Typepad. I would love to put in my reading lists, links to other blogs etc., but it is tedious. Helen, how would you compare the two services? I am tempted to try the free month, but don't know what capabilities come with what level. I would really like to use the Christmas holiday break to play with it before I buy myself a gift :-) |
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I haven't talked with my dh either...but your reasons are the same as mine. I can't set up lists easily...everything takes so long. I am semi-computer savvy, but short on time.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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fsuadamson
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Jenn,
I have recently started my blog with Typepad and after Dawn helped me learn how to set up my booklists with pictures I was hooked!!! 
I think their prices are very reasonable and I really love the privacy factor you can set up with the children's blogs (password protected)! 
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Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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J.Anne
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I started with blogger but was desperate for Typelists. I hesitate to spend so much on this, but really, it has made such a huge difference in my life - and it is only about as much as a pizza. There is a price break if you pay all at once. I think you would like it. Also, you can play with it for a month, set up your template etc. and see if you like it. The first 30 days are free. Maybe I'm being selfish because I would love more posts from Jenn! :)
Jennifer
As Cozy as Spring
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Helen
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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Blogger beta now has typelists and template layout just like Typepad. I find it easier to maneuver around beta blogger because bb also gives full access to the template code - something you have to pay a premium for at Typepad. (the most expensive)
blogger and beta blogger are very different services.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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amyable
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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Helen wrote:
Blogger beta now has typelists and template layout just like Typepad. I find it easier to maneuver around beta blogger because bb also gives full access to the template code - something you have to pay a premium for at Typepad. (the most expensive)
blogger and beta blogger are very different services. |
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The one thing I can't figure out with Beta Blogger is what I *love* about Typepad and Blogspirit - the ability to put in an ISBN number and get visuals/covers for a book list. Is this possible in Beta Blogger without a ton of html coding on my part?
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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organiclilac
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amyable wrote:
The one thing I can't figure out with Beta Blogger is what I *love* about Typepad and Blogspirit - the ability to put in an ISBN number and get visuals/covers for a book list. Is this possible in Beta Blogger without a ton of html coding on my part? |
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I do not know about Beta Blogger, but with Blogger, I figured out the html, and keep a copy of a cover image link and a text link in a convenient spot - like a saved draft in my email. Then whenever I want to make a link, I just copy and paste, and then insert the proper ISBN in the correct spot in the link. I'm sure it's not as convenient as what you describe, but I can still be fairly efficient with this method.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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Helen
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amyable wrote:
| The one thing I can't figure out with Beta Blogger is what I *love* about Typepad and Blogspirit - the ability to put in an ISBN number and get visuals/covers for a book list. Is this possible in Beta Blogger without a ton of html coding on my part? |
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Amy,
I've never tried.
They have 'lists" and "link lists"
Give me an example of code and I'll try it on my blog.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Helen
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amyable wrote:
The one thing I can't figure out with Beta Blogger is what I *love* about Typepad and Blogspirit - the ability to put in an ISBN number and get visuals/covers for a book list. Is this possible in Beta Blogger without a ton of html coding on my part? |
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I've never tried Amy. But, if you give me an example of the code you are accustomed to using, I can try it out in the "list" or "link list" place.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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amyable
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organiclilac wrote:
| I do not know about Beta Blogger, but with Blogger, I figured out the html, and keep a copy of a cover image link and a text link in a convenient spot - like a saved draft in my email. Then whenever I want to make a link, I just copy and paste, and then insert the proper ISBN in the correct spot in the link. I'm sure it's not as convenient as what you describe, but I can still be fairly efficient with this method. |
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This is what I remember doing (poorly) when I was using blogger.  With blogspirit and typepad, you can just put in an ISBN in a special place, and they find and link the book cover image *for* you. I always had problems with the other way for some reason.
I have a "play around" blogger beta blog, so I'll have to go back to Amazon Associates and see what kind of code I'm supposed to put in (I have forgotten). I was just hoping with the new blogger it would be super easy. 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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amyable
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| Posted: Dec 01 2006 at 10:30am | IP Logged
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OK, I've thoroughly fooled around with Beta Blogger now - I'm quite impressed with myself that I was able to create a 3 column template out of a 2-column!
I'm trying to get it to look like a Typepad blog - beta blogger is definitely easier than regular blogger in that regard, but not as easy as I remember my free month with Typepad being. But it IS free.
I'll link to it: Among Women at Beta Blogger
The posts are all just saved posts from my other blogs that I'm planning to delete, and the images are uploaded into posts because that is the only way I could figure out how to upload it to blogger to use in my template. I'm sure there is a better way, but I don't know it!
Just thought I'd share for those contemplating a move.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Topic: Blogging...Can We Talk $$$?
