Richard+Dysinger



//PBwiki vs. Wikispaces // //Setup // //I thought both were exceptionally easy to use. The truth is, even an elementary student with access could use these sites to create wikis. Both require activation through a working email account and both offer ways to upgrade, some for a price. It seemed like they were basically the same with juts different layouts, like Wal-Mart and Target, I suppose. // //Invitations // //Invitations on wikispaces was weird for me at first and took some time for me to get that they could only come in as an author. PBWiki offers more chances to control how others are invited or in what role they have. They have various roles including writer and administrator. I like the idea of different control options. // //Editing // //Both of the sites use ////WYSIWYG. Editing is very straight forward with a tool bar that is similar to Word or excel. Very easy to use for both of them. After rewarding the information more clearly it seemed like PB offered more options for editing but they would costs money in the form of a monthly service charge. Not sure if I like the idea of having to upgrade to get access to more functions although it makes senses from a financial standpoint. Templates are offered by both but again it seems like some of the functions require you to pay at PBwiki. I don’t like that. It feels like every time you start to gain a better idea of what you want to do you hit a roadblock. If money were not n option, it would be fine but with so much freeware out there, why waste cash. // //Page history // //Both sites show you the history of the wiki. One is hidden in a tab (wikispaces) and the other is right there at your page. It’s kind of cool that you can just quickly look at it without clicking tab or moving to new screen. That could be helpful to someone in rush. // //Change notifications // //PB sends an email which is good so you can be notified when changes are made. This could end up clogging your email though. It took me a while to realize this. I kept thinking that it would show somehow on the wiki itself but then I checked my email and found several notices. Wikispaces was more difficult to realize until I noticed the RSS notification. That definitely makes it easier to use than PB with its emails. // //Pics and Media // //Wikispaces offers very easy inclusion of media. So easy that it took me less than five seconds to get my first picture up and running on my page. I loved the simplicity of it all. // //And…. // //Overall, I like wikispaces because it doesn’t require additional service charges to get the majority of functions and I have been messing with it quite a bit so I am more familiar with it then PBwiki. This is not to say that both won’t be helpful; but overall wikispaces feels a little bit easier to maneuver and use. Both are highly similar and offer almost the same features. //<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">