TypePad v Squarespace, Part One

PART OF THIS BIG AWESOME CHANGE, I'm going to use a professional blogging platform. "Free" isn't really free, and WordPress and one-clicks are time-consuming with security updates, new releases and lack of tech-support. I like Media Temple hosting because they have someone I can call if there's a problem. I'd like a managed blog for some of the same reasons.

I'd like to spend more of my time writing instead of installing new platform versions, UI upgrades and dealing with backend issues. I want to write about love, life, work, stressers, society, crime, safety, dating and socialization (including education and travel)... occasionally sharing the other things that make me who I am.

I was thinking that this would be simple... I'd use TypePad. The professionals use TypePad. But I keep finding myself sitting in front of the screen with a funny taste in my mouth... though I like what I "hear" from people about the service... I think the sites look ugly. Some of them, REALLY UGLY.

Somehow, I got to subscribing the TypePad newsletter (I used to use Livejournal religiously; writing all of the time to collect comments from complete strangers, generally receiving the most comments from entries with camho-ish self-portraits), one day they announce several (I forgot the exact number) "new templates for TypePad users!"

Cool. New templates. So I took a look at them, and each one of them has multiple color choices. It's clear from the tone of the email, TypePad is proud of the new designs. They look horrible...

There are good things about TypePad... and what about Squarespace?