More choices with offline blog editors

I use an offline editor to write nearly all my blog posts. This means I'm not dependent on a network connection nor the vagaries of the internet between my PC and the hosting service (TypePad for this blog), or even my own server where I have my WordPress blog.

Plus, I always have the original content on my local PC - peace-of-mind insurance if you can't connect to your blog host for some reason (or, nightmare scenario, a problem on the remote server means you lose your stuff and you didn't do a backup yourself).

But offline editors aren't perfect. In my experience during the past 18 months or so, one of the problems with those for Windows PCs is that they tend to be somewhat flaky. Crashes, peculiar behaviours, even puzzling interface glitches at times.

I use ecto for Windows as well as BlogJet, both of which you pay for (they do have free trial periods) and both of which are not bad in their different ways. Yet if you take a look at the numerous technical and usability issues continually raised in the support forums for both products, it's hardly surprising if you have less than full confidence in either of them.

Still, my editor-of-choice remains ecto for Windows, currently on version 1.8.8 and with a new version 2 in the works for release soon. BlogJet released a new version last month, currently 1.6.1.55. (I reviewed both of these tools in September 2004. A lot has changed with both apps since then, and I plan a new review sometime after the new version of ecto for Windows is released.)

One other editor for Windows which I've never really used to any extent is the free Qumana, currently on version 2.0.2.96. I tried it mid last year at Tris Hussey's urging but fell back to ecto, which I'm most comfortable with (ie, I know its quirks)

Now, though, there's a new cross-platform (Mac/PC) version of Qumana in preparation, planned for launch early next month. I'm trying out the by-invitation beta of it, the latest build of which I've just installed. My first acid test - writing this post with that beta.

What do I think? Well, I'll likely be posting the odd commentary as I play with it in the coming weeks, mostly focusing on usability.

On first use, it looks promising.

Powered by Qumana

Comments

[Tris Hussey]

Neville,

Thank you for giving our new beta a try. Arieanna passed on your feedback and we really appreciate it. If you have any questions, please let me know.

And to your readers ... e-mail info AT Qumana DOT com if you are interested in joining the beta program

[neville]

I think you have a good market opportunity with this tool, Tris, up against others such as I mentioned.

So I'll be kicking the tyres and taking it for a spin!

[Neil MacLean]

I used Qumana for a while and it worked well - though I didn't get any reply to a couple of questions I raised. You obviously did better there Neville.
Blogjet is great for newbies and you get a quick response on the forums.
Ecto of course is a great piece of software. I just didn't warm to the interface.
I have also used WBlogger with some success until it just failed on me one day for no obvious reason.
Most of the time though now, I fire up the Performancing extension in Firefox. It could hardly be handier. They've still got issues to sort out with the odd bit of annoying code and they have still to build in trackbacks. Also, intriguingly, they are looking at incorporating some sort of delicious functionality soon.
It's definitely worth trying. And it's free.

[Bart]

Try http://www.wbloggar.com/ pretty good editor for PC

[neville]

I'd forgotten about WBloggar, Bart. Tried it in late 2004 but it just wouldn't work past the install, ie, I could not get it work with TypePad.

There's also Blog Navigator Pro from Stardock, a sort of combo RSS reader and blog editor. I tried the very first version in Oct 2004. Ok, but not enough to make we switch.

Neil, good point about BlogJet being great for newbies. Unlike ecto for Windows, it's truly WYSIWYG (with code view if you want that instead). I actually prefer ecto's semi-code view with the WYSIWYG preview. Yet I think WYSIWYG is better from the writing point of view as you then concentrate on your content not the underlying technology. I gather the ecto developers are working on a more full WYSIWYG interface. I know quite a few folk who use ecto for the Mac (which it was primarily written for) and they all sing its praises loudly.

I've tried Performancing (and Flock). Very impressive. Yet I don't think I'd use a browser-based editor as my primary editor. Having said that, I've spent only a very little time with both so I have an open mind.

What the market's crying out for, in my view, is a reliable and robust offline blog editor for the Windows platform, one that is so easy to use, anyone can, but also with industrial-strength features for those who want to manipulate the code, etc. Let's say a Microsoft Word for blogs or a FrontPage-type app, but without the bloat ;)

[Guillaume du Gardier]

As you said Neville, Ecto for Mac is just great, you can even also include photos from iPhoto or MP3 files from iTunes directly in your posts, the interface is full WYSIWYG... But this Qumana seems interesting, I think I am gonna give it a try. Thanks for the tip !

[Clive Walker]

Qumana looks interesting for us but we'd want to use it with TextPattern. Any experience with this combination? or with Ecto/TextPattern?

[Netanel Jacobsson]

Nev, I work use all of then. But then suddenly discovered Anconia RocketPost which I find amazing. Just like a Word with drag and drop, links to wikipedia, technorati and much more.

[neville]

Thanks for that tip, Net. Looks interesting. I've downloaded the 30-day trial version.

There's another cross-platform editor I heard about from Larry Borsato - Bleezer (written by Larry, in fact). Java based, worth a look, too:

http://www.bleezer.com

Clive, re TextPattern, you'll need to ask the folks at Qumana. Re ecto, nothing I can see in the app or on the website re support for Textpattern.