MovableType 4.2 is Disappointing

By Jian Shuo Wang on 2008-06-08 22:26 · MovableType

I am trying to migrate Wendy’s blog from MovableType 3.2 to 4.2 Beta, however, after about an hour, I still cannot import the files into the new system. So… I have to get back to MovableType 3.2.

So far, I still believe MT 3.2 is the best blogging software on the earth - simple, fast, and reliable. I don’t like MT 4.0, I don’t like 4.1, and now I don’t like MT 4.2 Beta

4 Comments

Hi Jianshuo, I know you are a big MovableType fan. Have you considered or tried using WordPress before? I've been using WordPress and I personally believe WP is the best blogging software -- all versions.

— Susan · 2008-06-14 02:02

@Susan, I believe I will be with MovableType no matter what. I have many great and close friends in MovableType team, and I started to use it since 2002. I will continue to provide feedback but I don't think there is a reason to switch.

Above all, blog is all about the content, instead of tools. Even notepad can make a good blogger.

— Jian Shuo Wang · 2008-06-14 12:57

Definitely do not move to MT 4 unless you absolutely have to. I've been using Movabletype for years (since version 2!). The leap from 3 to 4 brought snazzy UI and an awful user experience. It's so slow that I dread doing anything on my sites beyond posting a new entry. Even that feels like pulling teeth.

As you said, a blog is all about the content, not the tools, but MT 4 is a tool that keeps me from blogging rather than helping me blog more. It's really that bad. I'm hoping MT 4.2 is better than 4.01 and 4.1. Otherwise, it's probably time for many of us to seriously consider another platform.

Please, if you have friends at the MT team.... PLEASE.... tell them to stop expanding MT and start improving it. If you ask me, I think they should scrap the entire 4th generation and start over.

— Rob · 2008-07-02 03:08

@Rob - You now have a friend on the MT team: me.

I am sorry the move to MT4 was unpleasant for you. We realize just how big a shift it was, and we are committed to making it better. That is why we stopped to take stock in what we had built with MT 4.2. Not only is MT4 fast, and I mean fast it also takes us back to some of the things many users loved about MT3:

* flat, grokable templates

* a unified template management/listing screen

Plus it gives you tons of new features that give admins unprecedented control over the publishing configuration of their sites.

But the proof is in the pudding. Check out the latest release candidate and if you don't like it, I would like to know why so that I can work with the team to fix it. My email is byrne at sixapart dot com.

@Jianshuo - what problems did you have exactly and how can I help? Keep in mind that the upgrade process did have a bug or two during the beta period so that might account for your difficulty. The release candidates have been *much* more stable. But please, if you need anything just let me know!

— Byrne Reese · 2008-07-22 03:53