Web hosting?

[gussy1]

Which is better? I want to set up a small website for a friends amusement arcade. Money is not really a major problem so I don't know whether I should buy a decent PC (actually the one I have now will do), get a DSL/ADSL line in and host the site myself OR just use one of the standard hosting companies.

1) Could someone please give me a quick pros and cons description of each?

2) Also if I keep it in house, should I change my OS to Unix based or will XP Pro do?

Cheers

 

[BillAtCDA]

I've got a little experience with this. I started up a website for my church a year ago, using a host. I'd say getting a host is the way to go. My reasoning:
- there's no hardware expense,
- let someone else maintain the hardware, and
- faster connection (they're usually on a backbone).

Try pair.com or aletia.com. They've got reasonable prices, and come highly recommended.

 

[dakoz]

i would suggest 2 very good hosting companies... with major bandiwdth... lots of space... php support... sql support
+ many tools n stuff and also very cheap

http://www.matrix-studio.com

http://www.powweb.com

 

[mwolf00]

Another consideration... Ifyou host your own site, you need a good firewall (which you need anytime you go the DSL route). You'll also need regular backups (which hosts do every 24 hours usually)... Get the Best Answers! faq333-2924
"A witty saying proves nothing." - Voltaire
mikewolf@tst-us.com

 

[cian]

DEFINITLY with a host, let them to all the hard work of keeping software up to date, monitoring the server, backing-up data etc etc etc etc etc.

Uplinkearth.com are very cheap and excellent support etc
dzones.com are also very good and quite cheaply priced.


É
::

http://www.endamcg.com

 

[gussy1]

So they can be relied upon to keep your site up and running and not move stuff around and kill local links etc.

 

[mwolf00]

Your local links should be relative! But, yes, if they screwed stuff up regularly, they wouldn't be in business... Get the Best Answers! faq333-2924
"A witty saying proves nothing." - Voltaire
mikewolf@tst-us.com