I would like to create a few web sites and find a hosting service. While I am not quite the pointy-haired manager in the Dilbert strip, it has been quite a few years since I have been hands-on and written any code (and definitely have never done any HTML, XML, or web-based work).
So, I am looking for a site that is a primer on what to look for (and watch out for) from web hosting services (with perhaps some stats on reliability/longevity, etc.). I know that there a quite a few free hsoting services out there but the concept of "something for nothing" makes me a bit nervous and I am unsure how to evaluate/compare various hosting services. If the free services really are a viable alternative that is great; however, if not, I am not even opposed to paying a bit (but cost would have to be minimal as my sites are not really commercial ventures). I registered 4 domains a while back (seemed like a good idea at the time but I never got around to creating the content). So, I am looking for a service that will allow me to host several domains.
1. One of the domains is fairly static text with a bunch of pictures that will change more than the text but not every week.
2. One of the domains will require some forms to be filled in by the user and the data stored. The forms would have some fields that are pull downs based on either an internal table lookup or a search of an external site. But most of the fields would just be fill-in the blank with some rudimentary edits. Subsequently, the data would be used to perform some calculations and display results on the site. (I do realize that I may even have to hire somebody to handle some of this database stuff if I cannot figure it out myself).
3. One of the domains will have text that changes weekly (and maybe a picture or two).
4. The fourth site will have some text and some pictures but be fairly static all the way around.
I do not want to start a religious war about free vs. non-free providers but would welcome your personal recommendations (as well as pointers to more basic "how-to-get-started" info). I also do not want to start a religious war about my-provider-is-the-best-and-yours-is-terrible but would again welcome your personal recommendations (and why you would recommend a certain provider). I do realize that different providers and different plans will meet different customers needs better than others. So, for anybody that can provide a recommendation, I have tried to provide some info about my needs above and would also share that all 4 domains will be low-traffic sites. The picture and database sites will have more storage needs than the others but we are still talking small gigabytes rather than terrabytes (again, this is not really a commercial venture).
All of the sites will benefit from the availability of easily created/maintained/deleted email accounts. Perhaps 100 email accounts per site (maybe 200 for the database site).
Also, I run Windows and know nothing about Linux (again really really really not trying to start/continue that religious war, but just want to find the solution that will work best for me).
Thank you for your asssitance.
So, I am looking for a site that is a primer on what to look for (and watch out for) from web hosting services (with perhaps some stats on reliability/longevity, etc.). I know that there a quite a few free hsoting services out there but the concept of "something for nothing" makes me a bit nervous and I am unsure how to evaluate/compare various hosting services. If the free services really are a viable alternative that is great; however, if not, I am not even opposed to paying a bit (but cost would have to be minimal as my sites are not really commercial ventures). I registered 4 domains a while back (seemed like a good idea at the time but I never got around to creating the content). So, I am looking for a service that will allow me to host several domains.
1. One of the domains is fairly static text with a bunch of pictures that will change more than the text but not every week.
2. One of the domains will require some forms to be filled in by the user and the data stored. The forms would have some fields that are pull downs based on either an internal table lookup or a search of an external site. But most of the fields would just be fill-in the blank with some rudimentary edits. Subsequently, the data would be used to perform some calculations and display results on the site. (I do realize that I may even have to hire somebody to handle some of this database stuff if I cannot figure it out myself).
3. One of the domains will have text that changes weekly (and maybe a picture or two).
4. The fourth site will have some text and some pictures but be fairly static all the way around.
I do not want to start a religious war about free vs. non-free providers but would welcome your personal recommendations (as well as pointers to more basic "how-to-get-started" info). I also do not want to start a religious war about my-provider-is-the-best-and-yours-is-terrible but would again welcome your personal recommendations (and why you would recommend a certain provider). I do realize that different providers and different plans will meet different customers needs better than others. So, for anybody that can provide a recommendation, I have tried to provide some info about my needs above and would also share that all 4 domains will be low-traffic sites. The picture and database sites will have more storage needs than the others but we are still talking small gigabytes rather than terrabytes (again, this is not really a commercial venture).
All of the sites will benefit from the availability of easily created/maintained/deleted email accounts. Perhaps 100 email accounts per site (maybe 200 for the database site).
Also, I run Windows and know nothing about Linux (again really really really not trying to start/continue that religious war, but just want to find the solution that will work best for me).
Thank you for your asssitance.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram