Domain Registration + Web Hosting Services

[Daniel A.]

Web Hosting has to be one of the most 'fragmented' businesses around.

There are just so many companies and resellers out there.
How can one possibly evaluate and choose?

How about you people out there who are bloggers or have an online business.
Which Web Hosting provider are you with? How many years have you been with them?

I've been happy with mine for a few years now running a major forum that has been going for 6 years.
The OP does not understand the business, as was pointed out you can analyze till your head is spinning and read all the reviews they mean little in real life.
When looking at the host all I care about is the server slow or down often, am I paying for basic support or 24/7 the cost is very different.
In slow are they loading to many to a server, can they grow with the server space or do I need my own.
Registering a name is minor and once registered can be moved all your doing is protecting the name.
Host can be changed in a matter of hours.

[A320]

Actually I'm a computer technician and understand enough to know that my main concerns are speed, downtime, and website programming language that the company accepts. I also understand that some (like godaddy) have fee's hidden in their TOS should the time come and you want to transfer to another host.

In any case it looks like I'm going to go with GreenGeeks. Their prices seem to be very competitive and pretty much offer everything I need to get this all started up. I do appreciate all the feedback so far, there's been some good info in the thread.

[dave2012]

I've used Network Solutions, Domains at Cost and GoDaddy for domains. All but one are now at GoDaddy.

I've always used US based web hosting myself as they always come in cheaper than here at home. We have a dedicated server and just moved to Singlehop which is very competitive. Hosting has gotten cheaper and cheaper over the years. Back in the 1990's a dedicated host was well over $1000, now it about 15% of that. The main concern with a shared hosting is how other sites on the same server effect yours. Some hosts cram a lot of customers on one box. To me thats a crap shoot so your mileage will vary. Google is your friend anyway as there are lots of reviews of customers experience with most host providers.

[m3s]

There are some good arguments for registering your domain separately from your hosting. Also, as I mentioned, "privacy" (in the form of the information not being published) comes automatically for private individuals for .ca domains - it is a feature of the entire .ca domain, not individual .ca registrars, so they won't be selling an unneeded cloaking feature for those domains.

How do I take advantage of that? I just looked up my .ca domain on whois and I see my full name, phone mail and email address..

[NorthernRaven]

I believe it is now the CIRA default for individuals. Check with your registrar - I believe there is an option to reverse the privacy setting, and you may have somehow toggled it, or missed a request when they changed over, or something. Look into the details before changing the setting - I think this will trigger a 60-day lock on registration detail changes.

[Daniel A.]

Mine don't show my personal information just the host.

[m3s]

Did you pay for it or by default?

[Daniel A.]

Default

[A320]

Regarding the privacy discussion, My info is FULLY displayed and my host (ended up with Greengeeks) is telling me that it's BECAUSE of the CIRA that it's not private. I'm very confused and not to happy about this. I don't want my info plastered on whois. Any suggestions?

[avrex]

I agree with you.

According to this link, your personal info should not be displayed on the whois.
Is my information displayed under the .CA WHOIS?

If this is how this 'crappy' whois system works, I would personally consider putting in 'fake' info.