9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor
- 36 Comment
I was a happy camper using the WordPress Rich Text Editor when I started blogging. But, as time went by, like a caveman discovering tools for the first time, I explored desktop blog editors. Performancing for Firefox was my first stint with an editor other than WordPress. But, soon I could see the productivity I gained from a desktop editor.
- Write offline: You can write and save drafts even when you are online. You could do this in a notepad or a text editor you like, but with a desktop editor all you have to do is to hit Publish as soon as you have an internet connection. No copy-paste.
- Manage multiple blogs: If you write to multiple blogs, own or guest authored, you will know the pain of having to switch to different admin tabs to post. With a desktop editor, it is as easy as a simple toggle!
- Rich formatting: Depending on the editor you use, you may end up getting additional
formatting options than what you get in the WordPress editor. For eg: Adding tables to your posts is so easy with Windows Live Writer. - Image Management: Provides better image management such as adding effects, resizing, rotation, etc.
- Easy editing: Text or code view, if you write long posts, it is much easier to do the editing in a desktop application than the window in a browser even if you could resize the length of the box in WordPress, nothing beats the full screen text window option available in some desktop editors.
- Quick View of Posts: Again, it is very easy to very quickly view your recent posts, drafts, etc from multiple blogs from one interface.
- Preview: Current WordPress release have taken this functionality away but you could add this back with a WordPress plugin. Web preview of posts comes standard in most editors.
- Spell Checking: Again could be achieved in WordPress with a plugin but comes standard in desktop editors.
- Integration: Most desktop editors offer tight integration with various web services such as Technorati tags, del.icio.us, Flickr, YouTube, etc making inserting tags, bookmarks, pictures, videos, etc. from these services in a post a snap.
A couple of good free desktop editors are Windows Live Writer and Post2Blog if you would like to try one. If you use Firefox, Performancing for Firefox, now renamed to ScribeFire could be your first stop like mine before trying an all out desktop editor.
What editor do you use? Have I missed a better reason to use a desktop editor? I’d love to hear it.
This is my first post here and glad to be contributing back to the great community here. Thanks Mathew, for the opportunity to connect to your wonderful readers.
I also write more technology related topics at ShanKri-la – where technology meets daily life!. My goal is to make your life on the Internet a little bit easier, a little bit manageable and a little bit more enjoyable.
Random Posts
36 Comments on this post
Trackbacks
-
Jake said:
I have played with simple blog editors such as KBlogger in the past. However, I now simply use Kate when I am writing blog posts offline.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:46 pm -
Jennifer said:
I think BlogDesk deserves mention. I used them for a very long time.
Picasa is also good for Blogger people.
I new am a Live Writer user though.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:07 pm -
Mark said:
Hi K-IntheHouse, I was wondering: do any of these editors have the ability to save content (like code) for future pasting? One thing I use is the Firefox add-on Clippings, where I can select from a list of things I’ve saved like when I add an image I use a particular style.
Ever since I upgraded to WP 2.2 I haven’t figured out how to alter the quicktags.js file, which is how I’d save such code for my posts. But now it doesn’t work so I use Clippings.
I’ve used Quamana, which seems to work pretty well (not the pasting part though). And I’ve given Zoundry a try, but have trouble with it not uploading my images so I don’t use it anymore.
(Hey cool! I see that we have the subscribe to comments plugin activated! Thanks Matt!)
July 8th, 2007 at 8:38 pm -
Matt said:
actually im terrible with installing plugins, Lee did it.
Thanks Lee!
July 8th, 2007 at 11:07 pm -
Mark said:
Hehe…thanks, Lee!
July 8th, 2007 at 11:08 pm -
Matt said:
Im guessing it works well, it only took you a minute to respond! lol
Great, I love it
July 8th, 2007 at 11:13 pm -
K-IntheHouse said:
Jake.. great to see a linux user.
@Jennifer.. I briefly checked out BlogDesk after your mention and it looks like a worthy option. Windows Live Writer (WLW) becomes more powerful with all the plugins available.
July 9th, 2007 at 5:52 am -
K-IntheHouse said:
Mark,
I am kind of looking for that functionality as well in WLW. I believe Post2Blog which was made free recently had the ability to save and insert snippets, links, etc. I used Post2Blog for a little bit before switching to WLW and do miss the functionality.
The way I overcome this problem right now is to just copy the relevant content as it is to a draft
in WLW and just go from there.Far from perfect but works for me until I find a better solution. Firefox Clippings sounds good but it would be one more place to tidy up now and then so I can actually find what I need. I used Google Notebook Firefox add-on for a little bit as well for this but soon got overcrowded with my clippings. 🙂
July 9th, 2007 at 5:57 am -
Techsplorer said:
Well, after reading this post I started giving WLW another chance (the last time I played with it I didn’t even bother posting the—erm—result. I must say one of us (WLW or moi has gotten smarter in the intervening time.My only complaint about WLW thus far is I wish I could create templates of the various kinds of blog posts I do (book report, Comment Friday, Thursday Thirteen, etc) to use as starting points. I suppose I could just copy the relevant parts from past posts to start from, but when some little change doesn’t get made it’s embarrassing!Oh, and the “Insert Amazon Link” plug-in is next to useless: you have to know the ISBN/ASIN before you can use it; I need something smarter, such as the Amazon bookmarklet I’ve been using!
July 9th, 2007 at 7:24 am -
K-IntheHouse said:
I agree, Techsplorer. I think you came to the right person. 🙂
I found a plugin that does just that.. templates! Here is the plugin.
I am yet to try this myself but it looks like it’ll do the job.Thanks for asking the question as I’m going to use this myself extensively.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:53 am -
K-IntheHouse said:
Mark,
I found a Text Template plugin for WLW that could get you closer to what you want.
“It lets you save “snips” of HTML. From phrases you use, to moods, links, terms and more. Apply Categories to your templates to allow for easy sorting and filtering. You can even givem them their own icon…”
July 9th, 2007 at 7:57 am -
TVs Worst Adverts said:
Thanks for this K-IntheHouse, I’ve been wondering about desktop editors for blogs for a few weeks now and this is just what I’m looking for.
Cheers.July 9th, 2007 at 1:27 pm -
K-IntheHouse said:
I’m really glad that it helped you out.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:55 pm -
Matt said:
this article definitely got a great response! thanks for writing it k-inthehouse
July 9th, 2007 at 3:43 pm -
IngaOz said:
I have no idea where I live LOL This is first time i read about tools like these. Surely will need to try one. Thanks for great post!
July 9th, 2007 at 5:43 pm -
Mark said:
Hey K-InTheHouse: thanks for checking up on that. I’m excited. I’ll have to give this a try. 🙂
July 9th, 2007 at 6:20 pm -
K-IntheHouse said:
Matt, I am overwhelmed by the kindness of the folks here and glad to be of help to some. And looking forward to posting more stuff in the coming weeks. Maybe a full blown review of WLW is in the offing if there’s enough interest!
IngaOz, 8 months back I didn’t know what WordPress was! The will to try new things is all that matters! Cheers.
Mark, you are welcome! Let me know how you like it.. may be I can get a tip or two from you. 🙂
July 9th, 2007 at 8:43 pm -
Jenny Gomez said:
I have started with Qumana, and couldn’t live without it..I LOVE it.. LOVE IT!! But then I heard about WLW, and I’ve been using that.. I like Qumana because I’m comfortable with it.. but I’m giving WLW 2 weeks, If I don’t feel As comfy with it as I do the other.. then I will go back to Qumana.. so we will see.. 🙂
July 10th, 2007 at 8:13 am -
K-IntheHouse said:
Hey Jenny.. sorry I missed your comment. I have heard about Qumana from a lot of people but I haven’t heard a comparison with WLW. So, I would love to hear your views on it. Thanks for the comment love. 🙂
July 13th, 2007 at 5:51 pm -
Missy said:
I use http://www.scribefire.com
The only functionality i wish it had is a timestamp feature, like wordpress has. Other than that i love it, use it daily for all my blogs. It is a great time saver and just a neat tool really. (also it is totally free) Missy.
August 18th, 2007 at 4:53 pm -
K-IntheHouse said:
I used Scribefire while it was performancing and it proved to be a handy companion at most times. As you said there were just a few things that would make it a must have! Note to Performancing people. 🙂
August 20th, 2007 at 5:37 am -
Esselle (Essie) said:
Wonderful post and comment thread! Thank you all. I am SO ready to take this step. I use WordPress. I had no ida there were so many desktop blog editors!
My only wish here is that everyone who shared their experiences with different editors would have said what platform they blog on, i.e.WordPress,Blogspot, etc. Now some of you did say, and I really appreciate that.
ScribeFire sounds promising. I use Google’s Notebook for clippings of all sorts and its very ease and handy quality made the outcome such a mess that it’s become nearly dysfunctional. I export it all to Google Docs and sort it there, keeping what I want at hand in the Notebook but that takes *time* and I am off topic. Thanks, everyone!
November 15th, 2007 at 9:04 pm -
K-IntheHouse said:
Esselle.. thanks for stopping by and taking the time to share your thoughts!
I should have mentioned that I am a WordPress blogger and have found Windows Live Writer very useful. i kind of went through the same path in trying to use Google Notebook but then it just got messy to keep track of stuff. (it is slightly better now that it has tag/label support)
Cheers!
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:33 pm -
Delores said:
I use w.bloggar. It doesn’t upload to all blog server sites like it claims to, but for off-line editing, it works well.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 am -
Tami said:
Why anyone would would use Windows Live Spaces is beyond me. I mean, there aren’t even any custom templates. Who wants to be stuck with the measly offerings they have.
February 10th, 2008 at 1:12 am -
Daily Common Sense said:
I’ll definitely consider blogging off line more often…
February 17th, 2008 at 11:18 pm -
Webster12 said:
I wanted to use windows live writer but I cn’t install it. is there any good desktop blog writer out there?
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 am -
Tony said:
I have been using Windows Live Writer for about 6 months & think it’s great. Have used it on both WordPress & Blogger & reckon it’s much more convenient & easier than the online editors.
I give it 10 out of 10September 17th, 2008 at 2:08 am -
Fosia said:
Thanks of shairing entry of desktop blog editor. I like this entry.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:35 am
[…] I have taken the plunge and posted my first post at BAYB yesterday – 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor. If you hop over there and read it, leave a comment that you came over from ShanKri-la and may be […]
[…] 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor – This really intrigued me, because I never knew that there was actually a way to manage multiple blogs from your desktop. I haven’t tried any of these programs yet, but I intend to. This sounds like a worthwhile tool, possibly a real time saver. How to Test if a Webdesign Works or Not – Jens writes about how to go about testing your new web/blog design by getting feedback from your readers. […]
[…] wonder how many of you switched to desktop blog editors or even tried one after reading my 9 reasons to use a Desktop Blog Editor last […]
[…] guest blogging at Blog About Your Blog last week and loved the response to my first post about 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor. Following the same thread, I am talking about 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop RSS Reader. Please leave […]
[…] reading Blog About Your Blog’s recent post about desktop blog editors, I decided to give Windows Live Writer Beta a try. Apart from Nutshell Journal, I also help […]
[…] 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor […]
[…] Weblinks BloGTK with Kubuntu Qumana – ein kurzer Test Qumana Desktop Blog Editor für Windows & Mac 9 Reasons to Use a Desktop Blog Editor […]