In the WordPress world many of us, especially those like me who teach people how to use it, are often explaining WordPress.com vs WordPress.org to people. The answer, simply, is WP.com is a hosted service where you can have a WordPress-powered blog/site and WP.org is where you download the WordPress software to install on your own servers.
Seems simple to us, but we’ve also been doing this since before WP.com existed so we can make the distinction easily.
As for features, WP.com doesn’t give you all the features of installing WP yourself, but you don’t have to worry about installs, updates, or servers. Now the question often asked is whether we want or need both services…
Well, it is not like all those thousands of *.WordPress.com sites are going to be happily redirected to new domains. I can only think that rebranding the software would be the (inelegant, or even downright ugly) solution
What do you think? Am I blowing this up to be a bigger problem than it is? Is there a better solution? Please share your thoughts in the comments …
link: Is WordPress.com Bad for WordPress? | The Blog Herald
Yes, I think we do. WP.com serves a niche for people who just want a free blog or people who want to have a professional blog, are willing to pay for add-ons like CSS editing and domain mapping, but not have to mess with servers etc.
The issue isn’t whether the two can co-exist, because MoveableType and Typepad do just fine, it’s how will Automattic brand the two options.
I think all WP.com really needs is a new name and branding. That’s it. Both niches are valid and required, the only problem is the confusion surrounding the name WordPress.
Tris Hussey is a writer, teacher, blogger, and speaker on all facets of Internet life, WordPress, and social media. He is the author of Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Blogging Projects to Start Blogging Like a Pro and Using WordPress.
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Agree, I wish they had different names.
Explaining the .com vs. the .org to some of our non technical Consignment Pal Resale Directory members is confusing.
It's just not as clear as 'Coke Zero' which makes perfect sense.