Six Apart has announced the licensing plan for Movable Type 3.0, but it's much more limited than the permission granted previously for non-commercial use of version 2.
Here at stblogs.org, I have the option of keeping the MT 2.63 in place permanently under the current free-use license; upgrading to MT 3 and buying a license -- at about $450 for the first year, or finding alternative software. Being a cheap guy, I'm pleased to report that there are alternatives. I'm going to look into WordPress and other open-source CMS packages.
Since we have the freedom to stand pat on our current MT installation, there won't be any rush to change to another system.
Would 3.0 have advance posting (so that you could publish a post on Monday, for example, and have it actually appear on Friday)? That's one feature Blogger has that I wish MT had as well.
I haven't looked into MT3's features in detail, 'cause the price is so off-putting.
Sorry, that was an idle question.
I looked at the WordPress screenshots this morning and they look really nice.
Dear RC,
Thanks for the update. I'll look at wordpress. Will it entail tremendous agony to transfer? Would it take all of the template adjustments etc.? I'm rather used to 2.63, so getting used to another system may be hard, but I'll do it. Adaptability is the keyword in this game. Thanks so much for all you do.
(And yes, $450.00/year is a ludicrous price for what amounts to a personal piece of software. What could they possibly be thinking? Rampant corporate greed will end up destroying them. )
It probably will involve reinventing all the templates, so I'll do some experiments on my home machine first before committing to WordPress, and do the transition on this blog first (www.stblogs.org/main). Once the new software is working well, I'll use it for any new blogs.
It may turn out that WordPress is lacking some features that we like in MT, so there may be reason to wait for a later version of WP.
Yeah, I agree, there's absolutely no reason for anyone to 3.0. The feature difference is ridiculous; nill.
I am just getting comfortable with what I have. It is hard enough packing all these boxes and moving to California. So I am already dealing with enough change right now. My degrees are in Theology, Philosophy, and I have some graduate experience in Music and Liturgy. This hardly prepares me for a technological pulpit. I will abide by all the expert advice out there, but I may lean heavily on you for advice.
pax+
we'll go with the flow.
That's why we pay you the big bucks, RC :-)
One issue: the MT-Blacklist plugin (blocking and removing comment-spam) hasn't been adapted to work with WordPress yet.
will go with the flow also.
*RUDE INTERUPTION*
Hey, does St. Blogs host Christian weblogs?
(Please reply.)