The Web Host Guy

How to choose a web hosting provider?

Starting a website can be a very gratifying experience, but choosing a reliable hosting provider might not be so pleasurable. This is mainly because some hosting providers do not live up to their promises and sometimes even choose to elude their customers. Very close attention should be taken when choosing a reliable web hosting provider since there are so many to choose from and several might not provide all the features you require to host your site effectively.

Just as you would have with any normal service, web hosting providers also know pretty well how to dazzle their potential clients with useless promotions and too good to be true offers. Unsuspecting consumers are drawn by these offers and only realize too late in the game that the service or package that they have purchased is not adequate for hosting their sites. To avoid such unpleasant situations you should know that there are basically three features that are important when opting for a hosting provider. These include the amount of storage space, the amount of bandwidth included and the number of databases provided. So if a hosting provider offers a good amount of storage space together with many databases but neglects to provide a decent amount of monthly bandwidth, that package might not be a good option since you will be restrained by this limitation. The recommend alternative is to choose a hosting provider that offers a reasonable all round service because this will insure that your site can function relatively well without any restraints. When you find such a hosting provider establish what other services or functionalities you might require to insure that they can cater for your needs, paying special attention for hidden or extra charges. Such functionalities could include, upgrade options, email accounts, add-on domains, a control panel, number of domains permitted, backups and site builders just to name a few. Another extremely important facet of a hosting provider is their customer service. Nothing demonstrates a host’s competence more than the manner in which they resolve customer inquires or problems.

Now that you know what to look for, take your time when searching for a hosting provider. There are so many to choose from that rushing into things will only harm your chances of finding the best deal possible. Remember to also search for user reviews on the hosting provider you chose to verify that they live up to their promises.

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St. Patrick’s Day Dotster Coupon

Starting today through March 18th 2008, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and save some green!
Spend $85 or more on Dotster hosting and receive 15% off your order. Sign up here and use coupon code GOGREEN to save big on Dotster’s most popular hosting and VPS plans.

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iPowerWeb review

iPowerWeb.com is one of the most renowned hosting companies in the world and a leading eBusiness website hosting provider. With more than 700.000 sites hosted on their first class servers, iPowerWeb manages to provide the best solutions while maintaining affordable prices.

Analyzing the hosting plans provided by iPowerWeb was extremely rewarding seeing as they provide excellent solutions at very competitive prices. Recognizing that the hosting business is a very competitive market, iPowerWeb managed to promote a good alternative consisting of above average specifications while maintaining the prices very satisfying. The Business Pro plan available for only $6.95mo, when purchased using the 24 month payments option, is a good solution for anyone requiring a good hosting package. The only limitation we have to point out right from the beginning is the $30 setup fee required from clients opting for the 3 month and 6 month payment package. Either than that the Business Pro plan offers impeccable specifications such as 600gb storage space, 6000gb bandwidth and the possibility to host 25 domains. Other interesting specs include 2500 email accounts, a free domain and 100 free subdomains. Overall the Business Pro hosting package is a good value for money alternative considering its very low price and generous proportions.

The iPowerWeb dedicated server offering comes in the form of three separate plans. Starting at $129mo the IPOWERWEB CPS 100 is an interesting solution but expensive when considering the setup. Powered by an Intel Celeron D 3.06GHz processor with 512mb DDR2 Ram, 80 GB SATA hard drive and 500gb transfer, this might be considered an extremely costly package. The IPOWERWEB CPS 200 only sees improved the storage space to 250gb and the bandwidth to 1000bg. Once again the plan is plainly overpriced especially when noting the price $149mo. The last vdedicated server option is equally disappointing and a poor solution for any serious customer.

iPowerWeb.com just like most professional hosts provides a good customer service that is very accessible and friendly. The site does require some work especially the products section which fails to provide all the important information a customer would require before purchasing a hosting package. We also felt that the site was extremely complicated to navigate and many inexperienced users might consider this unbearable.

The payments can be issued using a credit card (American Express, Discover, Visa, and Mastercard), checks, and Western Union. Unfortunately Paypal payments are not accepted which could represent an obstacle for many customers especially from abroad.

At the end of the day we believe iPowerWeb to be a possible solution for individuals looking for an affordable long term solution. For those requiring monthly payments iPowerWeb transforms itself into a very expensive solution, even though it offers a good hosting plan. In the end that hardly compensates the extra money a customer will have to pay. On the other hand the dedicated server plans are unforgettably horrible and plainly overpriced. We leave this review with a mixed feeling of satisfaction and disappointment to which we can only give on word of guidance. iPowerWeb.com is a good host with a few significant flaws that require some work.

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Free hosting vs paid hosting

You have finally decided to start your very own website. After surfing the internet looking for attractive hosting solutions, you learn that there is such a thing as free hosting. Knowing perfectly well that free is always a good thing, you become unsure whether buying hosting is a worthwhile investment. If this describes your current situation don’t worry. In this article we will discuss the various essentials associated with free and paid hosting so that you can make the right decision.

Free hosting services are a great alternative for many reasons and if you only require the bare minimum to run your site this might be a viable solution. In most cases free hosting providers only offer the most basic requirements since their services are generally intended for novices or individuals experimenting with their first sites. This is because free hosting providers do not earn money from selling their services but rather from advertisements. To keep their services lucrative they do not only have to show the most publicity possible but also clamp down on any excessive use from its users. In the end free services have become increasingly unappealing to the general public as consumers normally prefer more control and better services. Currently it is quite hard to find a good free hosting provider since most have disappeared.

Purchasing hosting has become a common practice and in today’s truly universal internet, many people prefer this option for a very good reason. When you purchase a hosting account you are guaranteed a few basic certainties like stability and total control over your files. Another good reason to use a paid hosting provider is that they are becoming ever more affordable. With the increase in server capabilities and drop in hardware prices, nowadays there are basic hosting packages obtainable for a few dollars. These hosting providers will also offer additional services like, email accounts, user control panels, site builders, site statistics and many other useful tools that will make building a site significantly easier.

The only advice we can give you is pretty straight forward. If you want to experiment with a website or maybe try learning everything there is to know before spending money, free hosting services are an acceptable option. On the other hand, if you are serious about having your own site and want a truly stable experience and robust solution, paid hosting is the only sensible alternative.

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What is web hosting?

The internet has many interesting and wonderful things on offer. Certainly one of the most noticeable is the possibly to set up and run a personal website. But in order to benefit from such an experience you require a hosting account. People comfortable with the modern workings of the internet might know perfectly well what is intended by hosting account, but for the less knowledgeable things aren’t so crystal clear.

A hosting account is in practice a collection of tools located on a server, especially designated to provide sites with the necessary elements required to be accessed from anywhere around the internet. In simpler terms, if you want to have a site on the internet you will require a hosting account.

There are a few very important fine points that should be taken into consideration before opting for a hosting provider. One of the most important characteristics is the amount of space provided to store files and the quantity of bandwidth available for transfers. Most affordable hosting solutions offer a limited amount of storage space which in most cases is more than adequate. In the majority of cases only larger sites that have many files and require a lot of space for data should worry about storage. The term bandwidth is used to illustrate the amount of data that can be transferred to and from a hosting account. Hosting providers set a monthly bandwidth limit to prevent their clients from hogging all the resources available carelessly, making the server in which the site is hosted sluggish. The problem is even more evident if there are many sites hosted on that same server.
Other important elements that should be offered by hosting providers, especially if you pretend to host a more complex site, include database support and specific application development platforms like PHP. These packages are require if you intend on installing a blog, forum, online store, image hosting site or any other relatively complex site.

The internet is filled with affordable hosting providers that offer their services at very reasonable prices. Nowadays most providers will setup and have a hosting account ready for use within a few short minutes. In the end the best advice is not to opt for the first alternative that you run into. Search for at least three plausible options and make a comparison to determine which are the most affordable alternatives and the best solutions.

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What is domain name?

One of the most important pillars of the internet is the domain name. You might have heard of them before or even read about them on the internet numerous times. But what exactly is a domain? This article will explain precisely what a domain name is and what it is used for.

If you are looking for a simple explanation we could consider a domain the name that identifies a particular computer on the internet. Domain names are nothing more than a sequence of numbers that make up an IP addresses. The domain name in text form, as we are more accustomed to see on the internet, is preferred since it is easier to remember, but it is exactly the same as the numeric version. This specific type of domain name is also commonly referred to as hostname.

To purchase a domain name you need to acquire the services of what is commonly called a domain name registrar. These businesses offer their clients the opportunity to purchase and register a domain name for a yearly fee. Prices vary considerably between the various registrars especially depending on the top-level domain preferred. The top-level domain is the last part of a domain name. This might seem rather complicated, but it really isn’t. For example, on the domain name www.yoursite.com, the top-level domain is (.com). Currently there are three types of top-level domains available. They are the country top-level domains (.us), generic top-level domains used normally by certain organizations (.biz) and the less commonly used infrastructure top-level domains (.arpa). If you are interested in starting a website you won’t have two worry about the last option, most people usually purchase a country or generic top-level domain which can be acquired using one of the many domain name registrar available on the internet.

Now that we have determined that a domain name is in fact the location of a site, or at least part of it, we can take a look at the following example (http://www.yoursite.com). We know that yoursite.com is the domain name and (.com) the top-level domain. But when everything is connected like (http://www.yoursite.com) it is called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

As you can see, domain names are extremely important for the survival of the internet. Without them organizing or even finding a site on the internet would be quite impractical. Thanks to domain names, the internet is a more enjoyable experience.

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BlueHost review

BlueHost has been providing hosting solutions to thousands of business and personal web sites since 1996. With a solid reputation, BlueHost provides the most vigorous internet hosting plans that permit individuals and businesses to obtain first class services at a fraction of the cost.

BlueHost is a leading provider of hosting solutions that has seen its popularity grow especially in the blogging community. Extremely easy to use, BlueHost can accommodate the needs of individuals and small to medium sized business without breaking a sweat. Just like many modern hosts, BlueHost has decided to create only one robust package that offers its customers highly quality hosting at very affordable prices. The plan costs only $6.95 per month, includes a free domain and benefits from totally free setup. Included in the price are 600gb disk space, 6000 monthly bandwidth, unlimited domain hosting and 2500 email accounts. Other notable features that shouldn’t be overlooked include the 50 MySQL databases, 100 FTP accounts, 2500 parked domains and free site builder. This plan also includes FrontPage, CGI-BIN, PHP, PERL, Ruby, anonymous FTP and many website scripts that enable inexperienced users to install fully working sites in a few minutes. All accounts offer the extremely popular Fantastico control panel that will make configuring the hosting options a breeze. New clients that desire to test the hosting plan can use the live demo feature available on the BlueHost site which permits users to test all the functionalities before making an order.

The Bluehost support staff is very friendly and always ready to assist whenever a problem arises. Accessible 24/7 customers will be satisfied to know that a reliable team of professionals are only an email away. A support ticket system is available for more technical questions whilst a revolutionary live chat option is also provided on the main site. For a personalized service a toll free telephone number is also offered. The information found on the support page offers a comprehensive list of articles that will provide answers to the most common questions.

Clients will be pleased with the many payment methods accepted by Bluehost.com which include all major Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, Discover), PayPal, Checks and Money Orders.

Webmasters interested in monetizing their sites will be pleased to know that Bluehost provides one of the most rewarding affiliate programs currently offered by any hosting provider. With a $65 payment for each referral this could be a good solution for making extra money. Individuals interested can sign up and use one of the pre-made banners provided.

Bluehost uses only the best top quality technology and that reflects directly on the stability of their hosting solutions. With all the very generous features, outstanding customer support and affordable prices, we consider Bluehost to be one of the top hosting providers currently available. Customers can rest assured that when relying on Bluehost their expectations will be met with extreme professionalism and dedication. When searching for a hosting provider, be it for and individual or a business website, remember to give Bluehost.com a try.

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Apollo Hosting Review

Apollo Hosting is a first class host that has been in business since 1999 and provides reliable services for over 30,000 customers worldwide. Located in Austin Texas, Apollo Hosting is a company with a good understanding of the hosting market that prides itself in providing first class solutions to all its customers.

ApolloHosting.com is a leading webhosting provider and a good alternative for individuals looking for affordable solutions without having to abdicate of the much essential stability. When talking about hosting providers one has to understand that competition is extremely fierce so caution has to be taken before making a final choice. Apollo Hosting offers a range of Linux and Windows shared hosting solutions, being the first the most recommended. The Personal plan, which comes in three distinct packages, is available for a reasonable $6.96mo but that is only true if the 24 month payment option is selected. Starting with 50gb storage space, 500 bandwidth, 20 hosted domains and unlimited e-mail accounts, the Personal Value plan is a good alternative for individuals looking for inexpensive hosting. The Personal Business plan offers 300gb storage space, 2000 bandwidth, unlimited hosted domains and unlimited e-mail accounts all for $13.96. As for the third option, the Personal Ecommerce Pro, 400gb storage space, 3000 bandwidth, unlimited hosted domains and unlimited e-mail accounts is offered at $20.96mo. A rather negative aspect we have to point out is the fact that there is a $9.95 setup fee which is only waived if a customer opts for the annual payment option.

The Business hosting solution provides a mix of reasonable solutions being the virtual private server (VPS) the only worth mentioning. Starting at $31.96mo it isn’t the most affordable alternative available on the market but it does offer the basic tools commonly found in such packages. With a very stingy 15gb storage, 500gb transfer and 256mb ram this might be a inadequate solution for most webmaster interested in a VPS. For a more serious alternative the Advanced VPS is an option given the 50gb storage, 1200gb transfer and 1024mb ram but for such a package the price tag of $71.96 could be considered extreme.

Apollo Hosting has an interesting lineup of dedicated hosting plans. The first aspect that really made the dedicated hosting option unattractive was the $99.94 setup fee. With the only reasonable offer being provided by the Control Delux plan for a whopping $244.94mo, we are sure most webmasters will think twice before purchasing it.

Apollo Hosting is a reasonable hosting provider that is dedicated to its customers and their satisfaction. We thought that the prices were rather high especially when analyzing the VPS and Dedicated hosting plans. The $99.94 setup fee required when purchasing the Dedicated hosting is in our opinion expensive and an enormous drawback especially seeing as most host do not charge for similar services. In the end ApolloHosting.com can be a good hosting solution but we recommend caution since there are plenty of alternatives that might offer similar services for a fraction of the price.

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IX Web Hosting

IX Web Hosting has been in business since 1999 and hosts over 170.000 domains. During the years they have managed to build a trusted and a reliable service that is respect by many satisfied customers from all around the world.

IXWebHosting.com has developed a great line of very attractive hosting plans that reflect the many years of market experience. With the ambition to continuously improved performance, reliability, versatility all while maintaining prices low and affordable, IX Web Hosting has proved numerous times that they are always working on new products to provide the best hosting solutions found anywhere on the internet.

Hosting plans are well measured and consist of an excellent value for money. The first plan, the most affordable, represents a good basic offering that will provide a reasonable solution for anyone wanting to host a simple site. With a price of only $3.95mo, the Expert Plan is one of the cheapest hosting solutions we have found while still providing the same options as it competitors. Customers should be aware that this plan does not offer a Database such as MySQL or PostgreSQL which in some cases might be a big drawback.

The real fun only starts with the Business plan and in our opinion represents the best solution IX Web Hosting has on offer. With 500gb storage, 35000 transfer, 100 MySQL databases, unlimited subdomains and 5000 free email accounts, most demanding webmasters will be more than content with this option especially when noting that the price is $6.95mo.

IX Web Hosting has one more hosting plan, the Unlimited Pro, which is a superb package for small and big online business that are looking for effective answers while affectively minimizing overhead. A well balanced hosting plan, the Unlimited Pro offers some of the most generous features we’ve have ever seen. With an affordable price tag of only $12.95mo the 4,000gb data transfer combined with the unlimited disk storage and 3 completely free domains, IX Web Hosting has proved yet again that quality doesn’t have to cost a fortune. All plans come preconfigured with an easy to use control panel which permits an individual to configure all aspects involving the hosting account.

In case of troubles IX Web Hosting has a very responsive technical support staff that is always ready to provide assistance when needed. Just like it would be expected, support is provided 24/7 which unfortunately is very uncommon with other hosts. For extra support an extensive customer guide with detailed explanations on how to configure the hosting account is also available should it be required.

After analyzing everything IXWebHosting.com has on offer we are satisfied and extremely impressed. With the affordable plans on offer customers are sure to save money and benefit from one of the best hosting solutions money can buy. IX Web Hosting is reliable, stable, robust and extremely affordable. All in all we are extremely pleased and would always recommend IX Web Hosting to anyone searching for a good, affordable host.

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HostMonster.com reviewed

HostMonster.com is one of the oldest web hosting companies that has been providing consistent solutions to thousands of business and personal web sites since 1996. With a first class infrastructure comprised of an excellent data center equipped with top end servers, HostMonster is considered one of the most reliable hosting providers in the world.

When it comes to hosting, HostMonster chose to provide only one robust internet hosting plan that is intended for both businesses owners and individuals. The package on offer is extremely full-bodied and provides a high powered service at a fraction of the cost. The hosting plan has successfully presented customers with an affordable and completely functional solution whilst still managing to maintain the performance characteristics that will satisfy even the most demanding individuals. As mentioned before the packaged is very affordable seeing as it only costs $5.95mo, but that is not all. HostMonster has taken the liberty to include all the best applications and features not to mention the generous bandwidth, to make this one of the best deals found anywhere on the internet. The package includes an enormous 600gb of hosting space, a mind blowing 6000gb of data transfer, 100 MySQL databases and unlimited parked domains. Most people would be more than content with these characteristics but HostMonster thought it wasn’t good enough. Some of the extra features include unlimited email accounts, unlimited subdomains, unlimited FTP accounts, free sitebuilder and to make the deal a whole lot sweeter, a free domain. Because HostMonster really wants to help turn every site into a profitable business all hosting plans include free search engines submissions, free $50 Yahoo credit and a free $50 Google credit, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

HostMonster offers reliable hosting services but it is also known for providing exceptional customer and technical support. With around the clock server monitoring, mirrored storage backups and UPS power backup the changes are most people won’t ever need to contact the friendly customer support. Potential customers can contact sales support 24/7 by calling the toll free sales number. Furthermore the site is conveniently structured so ordering shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes.

Payment is easy and convenient and all major credit cards are accepted. Other payment options available on the Agora Shopping Cart include 2Checkout, AgoraPay, Authorize.net, eWay, iTransact, LinkPoint Connect, PayFlow Link, PayPal, PayPal IPN, Plug ‘n Pay, ProPay, PsiGate and Verisign PayFlow Link. The payment options offered are considered by us one of the best on the market since it supports nearly all services imaginable.

We highly recommend HostMonster.com to anyone looking for an affordable and reliable hosting solution. The hosting package is literally phenomenal since it represents a great deal and manages to provide all the true features needed to run a website. We were unable to find any negative aspects be it in terms of price, reliability, quality or content. HostMonster.com receives a score of 5 out of 5 and is regarded by us the best hosting provider reviewed up until this point.

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