Keeping a Blog or using the webspace of ISP...???

[Shadowdh]

Hi there all,

I would like to keep an electronic diary (probably as well as paper, hey I am old fashioned... well just old I guess) and was wondering how to go about it in the best way... given that I am not the most technologically gifted bloke around what is the best way to do it... should I use a blog provider (and if so which one is the best more to follow) or should I use the webspace that my ISP gives me and just create a page for each entry...

So far I am thinking the webspace thing will be cumbersome... especially if I am to update it from China... and I am probably leaning to a blog provider... can anyone recommend one that would allow me to upload from China, upload photos etc..??

Thanks for any info...

[liuzhou]

Thje problem with this kind of question is that the answer today may not be the answer tomorrow.

Yes, generally speaking, it is easier to use a blog service provider. I'm not going to recommend one, however, as the Chinese government tend not to look kindly on blogs in general (or anything else they can't control) so what is available today could be closed down tomorrow. I blog with Blog-City from China, but several months ago, overnight, it became unobtainable. Not my blog as such (http://liuzhou.blog-city.com), but all Blog-City blogs. I continue to maintain and access it using proxies, but, as you say, you are not technically minded.

You could register with a (controlled) Chinese blog service provider, but that would require reading Chinese. You don't indicate if you can or not.

Webspace supplied by your ISP would be unlikely to become blocked unless you really worked at offending them, but would have no facilities for structuring and propagating your blog without technical knowledge.

Really, it comes down to what do you want to do? Maintain an online diary for yourself or for friends and family? Or are you looking for a wider audience?

[stephanhodges]

If you've already got a web site of your own (your own domain), then you could install one of several very good and free blogging packages. Just don't use the word "blog" in your URL to the blog.

I might be able to provide you server space, but you'd have to have your own domain name. My server is in the USA. You can PM me.

[badr]

I'd recommend using one of the free blog services that are available. Avoid the big names like blogspot or blogger as they get banned quite frequently. There are a number of smaller names like xanga.com or livejournal.com.

[roddy]

The safest method is to set up your own blog on your own hosting package - only minimal technical knowledge is required, and many hosting firms will offer a one-click installation of major blog packages.

Failing that, go for a small or paid weblog provider, but bear in mind that a block is possible.

[Shadowdh]

Liuzhou - thanks for the advice... I have decided to go with a blog provider for now... its yahoo 360 and I am hoping that its ok for China... (btw I like you blog nice one)... if I have to use a proxy or it goes down I will deal with that when the time comes... I am not completely techy illiterate but I am by no means the most savvy either... I can read some Chinese but I am only a beginner there... ISP Webspace became a cumbersome idea and would mean a change in my account which I am not prepared to do right now so thats out... As for what do I want to do with it... well a diary for me and my family and friends but anyone can read it really... I am certainly not going to put any thing completely private in there... Thanks again for your info...

Stephan - I dont have a site of my own but am looking into it as it seems my ISP can hook one up for very cheap... I will take your advice on board... thanks for the offer of space... I have some but as I said the fiddley bits became to fiddley for me at the moment due to time constraints... (only one more exam to go... yahoo)...

Badr - thanks for the advice... I decided to go with Yahoo 360 for now and see how that works out before I go... that way if I need to make some changes or set up the domain as Stephan suggests I have time to do it...

Roddy - Thanks for the advice and info... I may yet be doing that if this provider proves unwieldy or otherwise...

Sorry for the delay in replying to you guys but exams have been hell... take care