And regarding the url, how was I wrong saying that you don’t get a normal website name? It says right on SquareSpace’s website that your url will include the “squarespace” name in their $8 a month package.

I applaud SquareSpace for doing what they are doing. I just hope they add more features in the future. There is a Photoshop plugin called Sitegrinder for example, which allows you to create a website mockup in Photoshop. What you see in your psd file is how your site will look when it goes live. Awesome idea, but it only allows you to create very basic sites, has too many limitations, and seemed unnecessarily confusing at times. It would be great if SquareSpace could implement the design aspects of Sitegrinder into their system somehow.

I know I’m rambling (kind of in a hurry), but I just wanted to respond to those who didn’t like what I had to say. I wasn’t trying to detour anyone from using SquareSpace, I was simply stating my opinion based on my observations and short trial. I will probably subscribe one day, but still waiting for it to have more features.

The templates are just the starting point. All can be customised depending on your level of creativity or expertise. There’s certain amount to get most people up and running within minutes.

No real steep learning curve. Plently of FAQ’s and videos to get you started. Reading some of these comments it’s clear that some haven’t looked through these resources.

For example, GraphicsGuys’ comment regarding the URL. It’s extremely easy to use your own addresses. In fact there’s a very well written FAQ detailing the steps.

I can’t recommend them highly enough. It’s a great solution for those who don’t want the headache of hosting their own.

It’s too expensive. Sure, the cheaper plans are great, but who the heck wants their url to look like this: http://www.YourSiteName.squarespace.com? Not me and either should you if you want any of your visitors to take you seriously.

I would think most people who need a serious website (no matter what it is) would need at minimum the $20 package. I personally would need the $30 package.

Currently I pay around $70 a year for hosting through one of the best hosting companies around (great support, great up time, and easy to use). I also am allowed UNLIMITED websites with that single account! Not sure why “$20 a month for SS is cheaper than self-hosting” Bob Nolin? Try shopping around. Again, I pay $70 a year for unlimited sites!

While I really want to give up on wordpress, I just can’t see the justification in paying $30 a month for a CMS just because it’s easier. WordPress has some killer new themes coming out; way better than any of the templates Squarespace offers from scratch. Actually Squarespace’s default template is the only one that is worth messing with in my opinion. The others are god awful.

So lets say I make the leap into SquareSpace. $30 a momth x 12 months = $360 a year. Since I definitely can’t afford to move my other 4 sites to Squarespace due to the cost, I’m stuck with 2 bills (my current hosting bill, and Squarespace). Not feasible. Now if SquareSpace had better deals for adding multiple sites then horray. I believe their discount is something like %12 off, not much of a bargain if you ask me.

One more point that noone seems to be addressing. $30 a month x 12 months = $360 a year. Lets say you want to keep your site around for a long time. $360 a year x 20 years = $4320. With that money, why not just pay a designer to build you a killer site and call it good.

If SquareSpace would do the following, I would make the leap and quit ragging on them:

1) Add some java script features to the site building tools. Many of the latest wordpress themes have these very cool image sliders, carosels (some even auto scrolling), and very nice smooth flowing pulldown menus and buttons. Why not have a drag and drop image slider for gallery based websites?

2) Offer real deals for multiple sites and lower pricing by 1/3 atleast.

3) Have better templates to choose from. The current ones are just horrible if you have any design sense.

All in all though, I would have to say what they have to offer is a good thing, just wish it was a great thing.

As for cost, even $20 a month for SS is cheaper than self-hosting, plus I don’t have all the headaches of having to maintain the software (applying updates and patches constantly). My business is photography and graphics, and WordPress frankly sucks in the online gallery department. They keep tweaking the damn “Dashboard”, but what it needs is some world-class graphical support…which Squarespace offers.

As to the comments about themes, I don’t find that an advantage of WordPress at all. Having to customize php and ccs scripts–not my idea of a good time. But coding is necessary if you want to do any kind of customizing with WordPress.

As they say, a camel is a horse designed by a committee. WordPress is blogging software designed by a mob. Yuck.

I am through with open source.

As a Mac user, I need to know if I can access and successfully use all the Squarespace features from my Mac (OSX 10.2.4 ).

Any input will be appreciated.

I’ve had RapidWeaver, Movable Type, and WordPress sites, and I like Squarespace hugely better than any of them. Very empowering to be able to create a site on your own, and then mess with it to your heart’s content.

Amazing service from the company as well — fast, cheerful, and genuinely helpful.

I have less than zero interest in messing with HTML, let alone CSS. I’m a content guy, and I find that tech questions give me headaches. Yet I love having a web presence, and I love being able to enjoy my webpresence freely. WordPress was a pain for me. WordPress.com was OK, RapidWeaver is nice but you’re stuck working from just one computer (I love being able to get to my site from any computer), and Movable Type is ‘way too much of a bear for me. Squarespace really answers my prayers. I was up and functioning in less than an hour.

Using Squarespace for my web adventures is as much of a relief (and fun) for me as working on a Mac instead of a PC is. I’m amazed it isn’t far better known than it is. I think a lot of people who are struggling with WordPress (and WordPress.com) would be far happier on Squarespace.

Check out my own Squarespace sites. Handsome and fun. My personal one makes use of an untweaked Squarespace template, while the business one (caution: it’s a little racy) was designed for me by a design team I hired.

http://raysawhill.com

http://rapturehouse.com

I fully agree with Mary, finally some publicity for these guys… I am a new media consultant and have tested (from the user point of view) many platforms out there and stayed with Squarespace throughout the years. I just love the ease of use of the platform.

With regards to templates, I had mine redesigned by someone who is way more creative than me but am sure we’ll see a lot of choice soon.

I always advise to try Squarespace to my “non IT” clients and business contacts and those who have tried loved it.