Bloglines v. Google Reader

Bloglines: I had some initial issues with bloglines. While it is ultimately easier on the eye and offers more options for presentation of information, it is in no way made easier for beginners.

Case in point, I spied a blog by Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential, "A Cook's Tour") among the sparkly new fun available on initial signup. However, when I went to add the feed, it would not take. And when I plugged his name keyword into the add/search function in an attempt to find what it lost, bloglines gave me information I did not need, or claimed that it was showing ' 1 of 1' - but displayed a blank page. I had to go outside bloglines to find and add this information.

I've adjusted, though, and made bloglines work.

Google Reader: not really any startup problems on the bloglines level, but it's just an ugly and crowded interface after the clean spaciousness of bloglines. There are a multitude of options along the bottom of the posts, some of which could bear explanation. However, I love the idea that I can be in gmail, with 'teh google', and flex easily into Reader without having to 'open up a can of' tab. One-stop is certainly a plus, if we want to talk convenience. It's just not an easy read - yet.

One thing I will say: I think both of these options will significantly change the way I look at information. I definitely like the fact that blogs update in the reader, eliminating much of my need to travel directly to websites. Wow.

- Tara