Karaoke Forums

Whats the deal with a start up site. How much? Where to go ? Who to trust? Things to avoid? Trying to keep it simple yet informative. I hope this will be easier than switching my rigs to computer based!!!

I know of a terrific hosting site... for $5.00 a month ($60.00 a year), you get
* 333 mb of storage
* unlimited mailboxes
* 24/7 tech support via web (can take up to 24 hours to reply to tech questions, but I've never needed over 20 mins)
* can purchase domain name, or transfer existing one.

email me buddy...

I also know that Phil does stuff herre to.

definately shop around! I went with my choice after researching for many moons!

Matt

Hmmm... Matt (knightshow) - Should I take offense? You are telling them about someone else and not me?

metalgod - I agree with him to one point. Shop around.

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of web hosting companies - many are resellers, this means that they are actually buying a certain amount of space from an actual hosting company. Then selling a portion of that space to others. Their rates may seem reasonable but they do not actually have complete control over the system. Then there are some hosting companies that specialize in large businesses, their rates are usually much higher.

Also, there are many many web designers out there, or at least call themselves web designers. Many of these use templates to develope a site, which is something anyone can do. Or the use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) programs, like MicroSoft Frontpage. Rates vary amongst these "designers."

How am I different?

First, I try to offer you hosting for what your actual needs are. Do you need unlimited emails? Most sites don't. Do you require X amount of storage or bandwidth? What features do you require? Why pay for something that you do not need! Also, I own and operate my own servers. They are set up in a datacenter that is monitored 24/7/365, however I have complete access to the set up and control of the actual server. I also, can create a hosting plan to meet your needs. Plus, you receive a FREE domain name with any hosting package!

Web Design, I have been involved in web design since 1989. I do not use templates although I am thinking of adding this feature as an additional offering to my clients. I am actually a "hard coder." I create each site by writing the scripts, html, and so forth into the page. I develope each site based on the clients requirements and desires.

Just my input.

Thank you,

Phill

_________________
Phill Cross
Webmaster, Host Provider & Part-Time “Technical” Problem Solver

KJ / MC


services provided by:
CROSS WEB TECH

Phil, I certainly meant no offense. I did find that the company I went with I believe offers a better deal, although to be honest, I didn't know you were in the hosting service until after I'd already aquired mine over two years ago). HOWEVER, they are an overseas company, and you can only deal with them vial web support, unlike you which is you're a flesh and blood person, can be reached a number of different ways, etc.

For simplicity and ease, I love the company I go with... due to it's amazing control panel.

I actually used a WYSIWYG editor from the beginning when I was on geocities but then actually began to learn the coding. Now, I'm like you a bit more. I hard code my site into html, and I'm slowly learning javascript, mostly thru the free script services. I'm taking a course, but it's slow moving!

As I had mentioned you in my first post on this subject, I was certainly not speaking out of turn. I was more speaking with my own experience on the hosting manner. I went thru another company initially, and hated it to no end.

Still friends??

Matt

Matt (aka knightshow) -

I was just kidding with you! I guess I could have stated it better. Yes, still friends...

I am glad that you are happy with your current provider, however if you ever need any of my services - check with me directly. I just might be able to offer a better deal!

What type of Control panel do you have? I offer several different variations of cPanel (the industry leader.)

By the way, I offer Only Unix/Linux servers - Microsoft servers have too many problems - as far as I have found.

Oops better get back to fixing the site...

Phill

servers? it's the same... I believe it's cpanel as well.

I'd love to open a dialog with ya come next year around September... we might be able to cut some kinda deal!

Matt and Phil, I've been playing around with a web site for the bar for the last couple of weeks (mostly some of the free website developer templates etc.) My question though is about bandwidth. I've been to Mats site quite a few times and am wondering how bandwith intensive it is since I don't want to end up short when I look for a host. Phil, when I'm ready I'll look you up since I'm just down the street

Hole in the Wall Tavern
Hollywood, MD

Of the few recommendation I have - testing the web site over a 28.8 modem before you take it live is probably one of the biggest. There are still a lot of people on dialup and it will cut the complaints a LOT if you do this first.

Why? I saw one web sites where a guy used a 2.3MB BMP as the background. He never realized it was a problem because he was accessing it locally. And yes, he was an idiot and new to web design.

Bandwidth is a generic term applied to a variety of things so I'm not sure what your question is.

Bandwidth intensive as in how many users can access at the same time over the bandwidth offered by the provider?
or
Bandwidth intensive as in how much data transfer you require in a month? (which is dependent on the number of users).

BTW, I agree with shopping around. I've seen good, bad, and horrible hosting companies and the family website may be just fine on 'Billy Bob's Hosting company' for $4.95 a month but I sure wouldn't put a business site on a company like that!

I host a lot of different things on my domain, not just the karaoke side of it. I also have a large collection of smilies that I let people use, as well as my "writer's site".

Here's the current statistics

UNIT ............... USED ........ FREE
disk space ......... 176 .......... 157
subdomains ....... 0 ............... 5
ftp accounts ....... 0 ............... 6
mail boxes ......... 9 .............. inf.
mailing lists ........ 0 ............. 20
databases .......... 1 ............... 0
parked dom. ...... 0 ............... 2
additional traff .... 0
transfer ( MB ) . 781.7 ........ 4338 (ya get 5 GB/Month!)

You can also check out the "Statistics" on my site, and that shows how much it's been accessed, how many page hits, storage used... all broke down per month! Pretty impressive.

I believe that the Control panel that Phil uses does the same things... as I THINK my control panel is the same as he uses.

I guess I'm asking about data transfer, most providers supply so much per month and then charge extra if you go over that limit. I realize that it's dependant on how many "hits" you get, that's why I was asking Matt how much he uses.

Thanks, Matt, I was just trying to get and idea as I have a picture page as well as team schedules for pool league, darts etc. plus the regular stuff.

I guess I'm asking about data transfer, most providers supply so much per month and then charge extra if you go over that limit. I realize that it's dependant on how many "hits" you get, that's why I was asking Matt how much he uses.

Thanks, Matt, I was just trying to get and idea as I have a picture page as well as team schedules for pool league, darts etc. plus the regular stuff.

one thing that helps on any kind of storage material other than pictures, is to have files "zipped"...

For instance, I have some "screen samples" of some of my homemade karaoke splash screens. the files themselves aren't that huge, but zipped, they're about a tenth of the size! really makes for fast and easy uploading.

If you're hosting pictures, I'd host both the regular picture (but crop it down to only 100kb or so), and then also a thumbnail. I was able to create some very small pictures that I use as thumbnails using both Microsoft Photo Editor that comes complete with the standard Office product (at my regular job), but at home, I don't have the full suite, so instead I used a shareware product called "Image Viewer 2" that I got from download dot com.

For your own purposes, Tom, you can use your WYSIWYG editor to put that tiny image as the original hosted picture, but hyperlink it to the "regular sized" photo.

Check out my photo page for some examples of how this works!

As for a hosting solution, I wouldn't go with anything other than what Phil is offering, or what I have talked about. The other stuff out there just doesn't seem to give you a value for your money. I LIKE what Phil has to offer, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd probably have gone that way. I love having a one-on-one interaction with my "web guru"!

Matt