In late Spring 2004, CIT and Undergraduate Library staff led a ConsiderIT session, “Engaging Students with Blogs,” and attendees requested follow up information about currently available web logging software. In response, CIT has compiled two feature comparison tables that describe three blogging services and four blogging applications.
Using a blogging service generally doesn’t require any software other than a web browser. Users have no administrative control over the software itself, but have some control over a blog’s organization and appearance. Depending on the particular service, blogs can be hosted either on the service’s servers or on the server of one’s choice (e.g., www.unc.edu). Users purchasing a paid account with a service typically will have no banner ads on their blogs, more features at their disposal, and better customer support from the service. The services reviewed are Blogger, LiveJournal, and Radio Userland.
Downloadable blogging applications require the user to have access to server space (e.g., www.unc.edu). Most of these applications are comprised of CGI scripts that must be installed and configured in a user’s cgi-bin folder. Although they are packaged with detailed instructions, applications can be difficult to install, prohibitively so for the novice. Blogging applications afford users fine-grained control over their blogs, and most applications are open-source or freeware. The applications reviewed are Blosxom, Greymatter, Movable Type, and Thingamablog.
