Joe
09-05-2003, 09:42 AM
I was browsing around http://www.webhostingtalk.com this morning, and found a new user question, that I was quite impressed with. For some reason, it really hit me that a LOT of people just starting out, have similar questions.
Here's the context of the question, without the original posters name:
I'm starting a website for our family. I have zero experience but I thought it would just be 3 simple steps:
1) Get a web host
2) Create the web pages on the PC
3) FTP it to the web server
Then, I would just repeat steps 2) and 3) as needed.
Not as easy as I thought. I'm stuck at step 1). It turns out, there are a million web hosting companies, a million packages/plans to choose from and a million details to consider. Finding this site has been a big help. There's a wealth of information but now I'm suffering from information overload and I still can't decide on a web hosting company.
Here are my requirements:
1) Large space - we're a big family with lots of pictures so we'll probably need lots of space to store them. One alternative I'm considering though is storing the pics on pBase.com and just linking to them from our website.
2) Large bandwidth - well, if everyone's looking at the pictures... But again, this may be solved by using pBase for the pictures.
3) Cheap - it's not income generating and I've kinda volunteered to take care of this so I want to keep costs at a minimum
4) Reasonably reliable - it's not for business so I guess site availability is not critical. I'm willing to sacrifice some reliability as a trade off for price.
5) Reasonable customer service - I don't know how important this really is to me. If I build and maintain the website myself and simply upload via FTP, how much support do I need?
6) Own domain name - of course, I'd like my own .com 'coz that would be cool (please excuse my ignorance). Some places charge for this and others don't. Why? Naturally, I'd rather not pay if possible.
Windows server vs Linux. What's the difference? If I create the site using Frontpage, does that mean I need a Windows server?
What else should I consider? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated! Recommendations on web hosting companies are more than welcome too!
The responses I would have LIKED to give, except it would break WHT's rules:
1) Large space. You probably don't need as much as you think you do. Very few sites require ALL the space they originally think they do.
2) Large Bandwidth. Bandwidth is a rather inexpensive "product" - get all you can for the best price. Even Cogent bandwidth is "decent" for small home/personal sites. HostPC uses multiple bandwidth providers, all through the Rackshack Datacenter and soon in the DV2 datacenter... very little Cogent.
3) Cheap. Don't judge a host on price alone... look at all the factors that make up a host, although inexpensive IS good, right? :)
4) Reasonably reliable? You're paying for a service - no matter what the price is. Reliability should be VERY important.
5) Reasonable customer service. Absolutely mandatory. Customer service should be available no less than 12-18 hours a day, 24 hours preferred. A toll free number is a +
6) Own domain name - of course. Most hosts will require this. Expect to pay anywhere from $9-$20 for a one year domain registration. You own it in this case.
Windows server vs Linux. What's the difference? If I create the site using Frontpage, does that mean I need a Windows server?
No, that does not mean a Windows server. Linux hosts can add "Front Page Extensions" - which gives you full compatibility. Linux hosts will cost less, and will be just as reliable, if not more - we're not prone to virus attacks.
Here's the context of the question, without the original posters name:
I'm starting a website for our family. I have zero experience but I thought it would just be 3 simple steps:
1) Get a web host
2) Create the web pages on the PC
3) FTP it to the web server
Then, I would just repeat steps 2) and 3) as needed.
Not as easy as I thought. I'm stuck at step 1). It turns out, there are a million web hosting companies, a million packages/plans to choose from and a million details to consider. Finding this site has been a big help. There's a wealth of information but now I'm suffering from information overload and I still can't decide on a web hosting company.
Here are my requirements:
1) Large space - we're a big family with lots of pictures so we'll probably need lots of space to store them. One alternative I'm considering though is storing the pics on pBase.com and just linking to them from our website.
2) Large bandwidth - well, if everyone's looking at the pictures... But again, this may be solved by using pBase for the pictures.
3) Cheap - it's not income generating and I've kinda volunteered to take care of this so I want to keep costs at a minimum
4) Reasonably reliable - it's not for business so I guess site availability is not critical. I'm willing to sacrifice some reliability as a trade off for price.
5) Reasonable customer service - I don't know how important this really is to me. If I build and maintain the website myself and simply upload via FTP, how much support do I need?
6) Own domain name - of course, I'd like my own .com 'coz that would be cool (please excuse my ignorance). Some places charge for this and others don't. Why? Naturally, I'd rather not pay if possible.
Windows server vs Linux. What's the difference? If I create the site using Frontpage, does that mean I need a Windows server?
What else should I consider? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated! Recommendations on web hosting companies are more than welcome too!
The responses I would have LIKED to give, except it would break WHT's rules:
1) Large space. You probably don't need as much as you think you do. Very few sites require ALL the space they originally think they do.
2) Large Bandwidth. Bandwidth is a rather inexpensive "product" - get all you can for the best price. Even Cogent bandwidth is "decent" for small home/personal sites. HostPC uses multiple bandwidth providers, all through the Rackshack Datacenter and soon in the DV2 datacenter... very little Cogent.
3) Cheap. Don't judge a host on price alone... look at all the factors that make up a host, although inexpensive IS good, right? :)
4) Reasonably reliable? You're paying for a service - no matter what the price is. Reliability should be VERY important.
5) Reasonable customer service. Absolutely mandatory. Customer service should be available no less than 12-18 hours a day, 24 hours preferred. A toll free number is a +
6) Own domain name - of course. Most hosts will require this. Expect to pay anywhere from $9-$20 for a one year domain registration. You own it in this case.
Windows server vs Linux. What's the difference? If I create the site using Frontpage, does that mean I need a Windows server?
No, that does not mean a Windows server. Linux hosts can add "Front Page Extensions" - which gives you full compatibility. Linux hosts will cost less, and will be just as reliable, if not more - we're not prone to virus attacks.