Basically there are three version of wordpress; when I say three I mean you have three options to use wordpress as a platform. The first one is the one that you are given for free at wordpress.com. The website itself is using WPMU or wordpress multiuser. The second is the stand alone version, and the third is the WPMU stand alone version. For the purpose of this article we will only about WPMU.
I have basically spent about 36 hours studying WPMU and comparing it to wordpress stand alone version. We will not talk about the free wordpress option being offer at wordpress.com because it is just basic, which is mainly geared for simple blogging. The WP stand along version gives you more control over your blog (capability to upload plugins, custom themes, and applying all sorts of hacks.
My name purpose for trying out MPMU is to see if I could build a social network around it, the more I digged into this matter the more I become shy about from it due to the following reasons:
1. Buddypress is a set of plug ins that is supposed to allow WPMU have the capability to build a social network (comparing to ning.com), but the problem is Buddypress is still in its infancy stage. There are not many Buddypress theme out there at all, designers are still working on it because it is still new in the market.
2. Not many Premium themes are available for WPMU, the stand alone version of WP offer a lot more.
3. If you are thinking about growing your WPMU to be the next myspace or facebook, then please stop and think a little – WPMU is built to be able to scale, but the problem is you have to have a strong server farm working in the background to support it.
4. It will be extremely hard to offer free blog service because there are blogger.com and wordpress.com, they are already offering these service with much more features than your WPMU; the bottom line is you will have to play a long catch up game with less features.
My feeling is neutral for WPMU and Buddypress, I hope to see them grow because they are free platforms that have the potential to enrich our every day lives. As of the moment it is hard to build a social network with WPMU Buddypress because it does not give you enough control over the privileges of your members.
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Nice article. I agree!