I know what I wanted – what does a technophobe want in a host?
In Concepts | 8 comments | permalink
Let me tell you about Eric Gehler. We’ve been working together for a number of years now…. and he is afraid of things that look like “techie crap”.
By that, I mean if you throw an instruction manual for a script at him he will hide under the couch until it rots away or someone comes along and picks it up. It’s good for me because I use him as my guinea pig. For example if Eric can mange to install one of the Website Monthly “auto install” sites – I’ve made it easy enough.
If I can get him to watch one of the techie video’s and he get’s it – I’ve explained things well.
Anyway, we’ve recently been looking for a new host – mainly because our dedicated server is filling up, we want more ip’s and I need a “ruby on rails” environment for some programming I’m doing. We settled on Blue Host – and Eric even likes some of the features.
For example if you ask Eric (and I did) what he wants in a host he will tell you:
I Want –
Security – he wants to know that he won’t be hacked every 33 minutes.
Uptime – he wants to know his sites won’t be down for 30 minutes each day.
Email – He wants his e-mail to come through – everytime.
Stats – reliable stats
Fantastico – because he is a technophobe – he needs it to install wordpress.
Affordable – why the heck should I get ripped off?
Good service -Â Since he is a technophobe he needs this 
My requirements are a little different, but they will eventually affect all of you. First off I want a stable environment that is updated, and secure. I want SSH access. I want to run php5, I want Ruby On Rails, Ajax Support, and all that fun programming stuff that you don’t realize you need until your host just doesn’t offer support for it. On a dedicated box I’m fine with installing and customizing it myself, but I’ve been really disapointed with every shared environment we have tried.
Host Gator is just to secure and not flexible enough with the things i need, Site5 seems to be getting slower and slower, etc..
Finally we decided it was time to go ’shopping’ for a totally new host and we found one. Blue Host is my answer – but it also fits Eric’s needs. At a low cost per month, awesome servers, and amazing support we have found it.
If your looking for the reliability you don’t get with Hostgator or Site5 anylonger Blue Host is probably your answer as well. There is a reason most developers and programmers I have talked to support and recommend it. I do know as well….. and so does Eric
One of the things I should of mentioned up there was that you should NEVER allow any host to register your domain for you…. EVEN IF IT IS FREE. Sure you might save 8.88 but you lose some protections and transfers ca n be more difficult.
If you register it yourself you just have to change your nameservers, and you can host it anywhere.
Feeling Blue with your current host?
I know I have been feeling blue over a few hosts I’ve had in the past. In fact, some of the hosting companies recommended by thousands of others have left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
My problem is that I am not you ‘average’ ma…
[...] Well I’m nearing up on the 6th month mark since I made the switch to Blue Host. As we talked about in a previous post my partner loves Blue Host. I figured 6 months was a great time to talk about uptime and my experiences with the support. [...]
[...] Well I’m nearing up on the 6th month mark since I made the switch to BlueHost as my Hosting Solution. I have talked about this about in a previous publication here my partner loves bluehost. I figured 6 months was a great time to talk about uptime and my experiences with the support. [...]
Regarding your comment about registering your own domain yourself, who do you go through to do so for $8.88?
Also, if one wants to transfer to a different host, what is BlueHost’s policy or cost for doing so?
Thanks.
Actually, my first question should have been:
What protections do you lose by having the host register it for free? Do they “own” it, then?
Usually when a host registers your domain they are the technical and administrative contact… in some cases they are even the owner.
It’s when you want to transfer your domain name away that thing get hairy with a host usually…. if they are giving you poor enough service to make you want to move what makes you think the domain transfer will go smoothly?
If you go to dncoupon.com you will find a coupon code for Namecheap.com that takes the cost down about a dollar so you can register a domain for under 8.
I’d use enom or namecheap – can’t recommend anyone else. Godaddy isn’t the best option for marketers, registerfly is gone, etc…
If you ever decide to transfer to another host – it doesn’t matter what your host says – you back up your site, get new hosting, put the back up on there, and change your nameservers. All that’s left at that point is to stop paying the old host.
I have never had any problems transferring domains to and from bluehost. I have only had to do it a few times from selling of domains, but it was very painless.