I'm going to jump in on this one if I may.
I'm not new to computers or the internet in general. I've been 'at it' for almost a decade and one thing always rings true for me as I assume it does for others at my level, is that there is always a learning curve, even to something familiar.
That said, working in IT over the years (starting with Win95) gave me a good worn saddle to use when I decided a few years ago to purchase my first domain name. I got lucky and have only had to change hosts once, mainly because I found a cheaper deal with more to offer. As soon as I got my domain, I spent days looking around for web hosts. Immediately, I got a sense of urgency when I realised I would have to run the site on Apache, which required Unix hosting; something completly foreign to me.
Getting familiar with the web 'in a new way' was foreign to me, but as Andrea_r stated, I too "like to jump in and start pushing buttons"; so off I went.
It started as HTML, simple enough, but tables were daunting. Moved to SHTML so that I wouldn't have to code as much and place my then "side-bars" on multiple pages.
Then I discovered scripting. No, not the hand written in notepad type of scripting many of you are more familiar with then myself, but just scripts in general that would achieve the goals I wanted. My first script installation and usage? It was Greymatter, yes, even in the year 2000 I was trying to blog, and I still have yet to run a proper blog of my own, but thats a different story.
Fast forward to 2006 (and the eventual point of this post) and I have since worked with a vast array of CMS and Blog scripts in my travels. Notably, my work with XOOPS (www.xoops.org) over the past two or three years, so much so that I became the Community Support Leader fielding dozens of questions per day at times.
I became very involved in that community and was actively learning new IT skills along the way, partially by choice, but more out of curiosity. I have since leaned away from that system in the past year. Development took a 4 pronged fork in the road and it still needs to get back to one coherent piece.
As I was learning the inner working of XOOPS, I quite accidentally fell into the realm of PHP and MySQL. Previous experimentation with other scripts had me familliar with database tables and the odd tid-bit of PHP code, although I admit I was fudging it along the way only to get the results I needed at the time. I still don't know all that much, in fact I know very little and just enough to be dangerous.
My point is that I one of my initial reactions to this particualr thread of posts was to scream "Install Linux!" all the while remembering that I too am a complete "noobie" when it comes to many, if not all things Wordpress, much less WPMU. I came in wet behind the ears, so to speak and I am still toweling myself off.
Wantingt to avoid the typical Linux baby faced, knee jerk reaction, I opted for what you see here, an entirely long-winded post with little to say about nothing and everything all at once, based on entirely one thing; I started at ground zero and still feel as though I am in that very same place; despite my experience.
I have since my early years installed and ran a "flavour" of Linux; but only when I felt ready. Based on that and just discovering WPMU last week, I instinctively knew I was going to have to ask my host to enable VirtualHosts for sub-domains on my account. It took a matter of five minutes for them to respond and with pleasure I might add.
No, WPMU is definably not for the faint at heart when it comes to Apache, PHP and MySQL all of which I learned how to configure through my own personal Linux experience.
Firstly, most people will not need to know this higher level of understanding until they get to the point where they are running their own Vhost or Dedicated Server solution through their provider. It certainly helps to have least dabbled in the experience.
Secondly, if you have any experience with hosting your own domain (new or old alike) you will find that WPMU once installed, really is a matter of personal experience and comfort. You will find that it runs just like any other typical vanilla flavoured Worpress installation with some really nice features for multi blog support as a service to others.
Don't be fooled. Its a hell of a lot of work when you get right down to it, because WPMU is meant to run as a blogging "service" for others. I realise now that I will eventually be upgrading my account to accommodate for more traffic and space as needs arise. For now, shared hosting will ave to do. My headaches have just because, but the pain is more pleasurable then any I've felt because I think I'm ready for this next step in my personal development.
In a nutshell WPMU, which can be run aa a single user blog, is intended for the services and community minded type of webmaster.
On a personal note, I hate blogging. Not that I hate blogs, I just can't seem to get a knack for doing it. One thing I can do however is set up and maintain a website; although my skills are incredibly weak. I know whats in store for me.
Once I got my WPMU install to run, which didn't take long, I quickly realised I was in way over my head. That's not stopping me though, because those buttons are flashing red white and green and just begging for me to start pushing them to see what happens next.
Oh, and one point for the newcomers. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't get put off if the response isn't quite what you expected. I've had my "bad response days" where I'm tired of fielding the same old questions. I've been on both sides of the spectrum. I helped the newcomers to XOOPS for some time and now I find myself starting fresh; only with a new layer of experience to fall upon.
drmike and andrea are but 2 of the finest and knowledgeable people I have found myself to rely upon when I do a search for information in these forums
It's tough, I know, because I'm a newbie too!
Stew Brennand
(Maybe one day I'll figure out the point of this post; I guess I just had an urge to write) I'm sorry its so bloody long, trust me, it's condensed!!!