Archive for Windows Web Hosting
Windows Hosts with the Mosts
Posted by: | CommentsEven today not everyone is looking for the cheapest web host. If you are a serious web developer you may want a wide variety of features at your fingertips without having to pay the fees associated with a dedicated server.
For those focusing their attention on Windows web development there are a number of quality, reliable, web hosts that provide an extensive library of development, support and security applications. Here is a list of 5 of them that should provide you with everything that you’ll need:
1. iPage
iPage has a little bit of everything, or maybe quite a bit of everything. Three photo galleries applications, 3 forum apps, 3 blogging apps, 4 content management apps, lots of multimedia and E-commerce support (including PayPal integration) all make their feature list. We’re not focusing on cheap here either, but at $2.95 month for their most economical accounts it’s hard to ignore it. It also doesn’t hurt that for many of these features iPage offers setup wizards that will guide you through the process.
Read iPage Customer Reviews.
2. JustHost
JustHost not only has a great list of features but makes working with them easy as well. Many of their applications, especially their content management applications, are 1-click install. Add on to that all types of scripting support, streaming support, several shopping carts, and in case you are still using them they still support the last few version of Frontpage extensions.
Read JustHost Customer Reviews.
3. IX Web Hosting
IX’s list of features goes on and on. Extensive multilmedia streaming support, chat support (not common, especially on Windows servers), and Cold Fusion scripting are among their offerings. For the latter, you have to appreciate a host that tells it like it is: explaining why it’s more expensive than Linux, they point out the increased costs of Windows licensing and asks “Don’t blame us, blame Bill!” Can’t say they’re not giving you truth in advertising.
Read IX Web Hosting Customer Reviews.
4. Celeres Web
This professionally outfitted host has many software packages for each category of need. Need content management? Celeres Web gives you eight options, from the common Drupal and Joomla to the not-so-common anyInventory. If you need project management Celeres gives you five options. They have three E-commerce solutions, four messaging board applications and three wikis. Even though we’re focusing less on cost in this article, you still can’t complain about a list of shared hosting plans that run $3.99 to $14.99 a month.
5. Applied Innovations
This host often gets skipped by those looking for a discount host, and proves why that isn’t always such a good idea. Their Windows support is one of the most comprehensive we’ve seen. They support five versions of ASP.NET all the way up to 4.0, MSSQL 2005 and 2008, several different web analysis tools, multiple email protocols, and lots of database support, including a PHP driver to interact with your SQL 2005 or 2008 database.
We forget often in talking about Microsoft that one of their prime advantages as a operating system tool is just how much software exists for it. Someone who is serious about web development would do well to stop and take a look at how much is available and what good hosts exist for making use of it.
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Three Incredible Windows-Based Web Hosts
Posted by: | CommentsWe already know: Most web host providers don’t like Windows, and will avoid it at any and all costs. Trust us, we’re well aware of it. That being said, there are plenty of good Windows based web hosts out there, and they have absolutely no problem finding business. Take that as you will, Unix die-hards. We’re just reporting.
With that in mind, here’s three of our favorite web hosts with a Windows face.
We like these guys, and for one reason only: They’ve got killer technical support. We aren’t kidding. They also have pretty great, and extensive, plans with a business emphasis—they’re handy with all kinds of Ecommerce software—but what’s absolutely kick-ass about these guys is that each domain has its own dedicated account representative.
You heard us right.
Never again will you have to change hands between several different technicians to find a solution to a six-month problem. IX Web Hosting gives you one guru, and he’s yours.
We’d be pretty surprised if you hadn’t already heard about HostGator. Not because they’re that special, but because they’ve ballooned into one of the largest and most recognizable web hosts around. This is largely due to the company’s rock-solid performance, support for ASP up to 4.0, and friendly tech support. Not to mention that their plans start as low as $4.76 a month. If that doesn’t sound like a bargain, we’d love to know who you’re getting service from!
If we had to describe these guys in a nutshell, we’d do it this way: 1&1 is bloody cool. Sure, they’re just another long-standing, Windows-based web host with a snarky face and some prestige. But what they’ve also got is dual hosting. This means that—God forbid—if your site goes down on one server, there’s another standing by that’s ready to roll, providing uninterrupted service.
Not only that, but some of the more expensive plans allow for browser-based tweaking, as well as more detailed control over both servers. It’s a very business-oriented package, and one that we’re quite fond of.
That’s all we’ve got for you today, but hopefully you aren’t such a stickler about Windows anymore. There are a lot of awesome companies offering innovative features out there, and if you’re willing to overlook the Microsoft aspect of them, a whole new world of opportunities arrises.
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Windows Web Hosting: No Longer Second Fiddle?
Posted by: | CommentsWeb hosts have used Windows as one of their primary operating systems since web hosting began. Also, since web hosting began, Windows has been seen as the largely inferior choice. Its inflexibilty, higher costs, and security holes caused it to be seen as the choice mainly of users who were trapped in the Microsoft universe and afraid to venture out of it.
If there’s one thing that Microsoft exemplified over the years, though, it is persistence. Remember that before Windows 95, Windows was considered a horrible GUI, and Macintosh reigned. There was also a console gaming world before Xbox, believe it or not. Today, these have all move towards being standards, whether or not their harshest critics like to admit it.
Is Microsoft finally serious about web hosting?
This continued effort from Microsoft has been seen a lot more in recent years. There has a been a greater focus on both the server and user side, with multiple new packages on both ends receiving a lot of attention. For the web host, Windows Server 2008 R2 was received well by the hosting world and is being picked up by more and more web providers. On the user end Microsoft Expression Web gets strong reviews from most PC periodicals, with some users describing it as a superior product to Adobe Dreamweaver.
Does this mean that Microsoft is no longer willing to just rest on their laurels and actually provide web hosting products that the industry should take seriously? No one can predict the future, but all signs indicate that the answer to this question is “yes.”
Should I switch?
Those who are using Linux, Unix or some other operating system for their web sites may wonder whether or not this is a good time to switch over. That’s a much more difficult case to make.
The primary argument against it is that, unless you are doing something complex with your web site, in the end, one operating system is as good as another. It does take much to host simple HTML pages, images, media files, even most streaming and database software. This question, then, is really only relevant to those who are running more buffed and complex sites that might need to keep a little stronger pace with technological advancements.
Even then, probably not
Microsoft may very well be around when we are old and gray. But if it is, so will its detractors, which means that there will always be alternatives. Linux, in particular, continues to grow in popularity, and its user base is rabid about its loyalty to it. It is also quickly catching up to Windows in most areas, and being an open-source operating system its evolution is likely to continue accelerating.
Most web hosts worth their salt nowadays offer hosting on multiple platforms, like HostGator. There are simply too many customers they’d be turning away otherwise. This means that even if Windows is now a viable alternative, you likely won’t even have to worry about being forced over to it.
So no, the dynamic of the web hosting world hasn’t changed so much that now you will need to use Windows web hosting. It has changed enough, however, that you may just want to.
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Top 4 Windows Web Hosting Providers to Consider
Posted by: | CommentsDespite its well-discussed drawbacks, Windows continues to be a popular platform for web hosting. There are many Windows-based hosting companies, and they are having no problems finding new customers.
The user who wishes to use Windows as their operating system therefore has a large pool of applicant web hosts to choose from. Though many of them are very good, we whittled the available contenders down to four that our research found to be a solid value. They are as follows:
IX Web Hosting
IX Web Hosting is very business-friendly. They provide extensive support for various types of Ecommerce software, their plans are all extensive and affordable, and they have fantastic support. This includes having your own dedicated account representative: you don’t know the value of this until you’ve had a problem with another host that has gone on for a month and went through six or so different technician’s hands.
HostGator
HostGator is becoming one of the web hosting world’s leading providers. They’ve been around seemingly forever and have won countless awards. Their services are known for their stability and reliability and they have support for multiple versions of ASP up to 4.0. They are considered by their user base to be very responsive and friendly, and they also are inexpensive with their hosting accounts as low as $4.76/month.
1and1 Web Hosting
Another long-running juggernaut of the web hosting world is 1&1. For starters your web site is dual hosted: if something happens on one of the servers hosting your data, your web site will keep running uninterrupted from the second location. Their higher-end shared accounts come with software for editing your website for mobile browsers, an increasingly important user segment. They also offer one of the longest money-back-guarantee programs in the business at 90 days, easily long enough to know if they are a solid fit for you.
Bluehost
Bluehost has been online for a whopping 15 years, and has taken its place as one of the most reliable web hosts around. They provide support for multiple content management software packages such as Tikiwiki, Drupal and Joomla (if you’re new to this field, please trust us: those are all highly coveted), as well as several blog and social networking scripts, and several different shopping cart packages. On their web site is a live demo site that you can use to sample their services.
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Is Linux Overtaking Windows Web Hosting?
Posted by: | CommentsWeb hosting has become an integral part of online businesses. Adding to the significant role that a good web hosting provider plays in one’s online success, it becomes very important to be smart and opt for the best possible web hosting option. The two most appealing web-hosting operating systems are Windows and Linux. Although Windows has been around for many years and is pretty prominent among clients, Linux has come up and made rapid leaps on the popularity charts in recent years. Due to the striking competition between the two, it has become a debatable subject whether Linux has overtaken Windows Web Hosting. The following article will discuss the pros and cons of both, so that you may choose among the two, according to your needs and requirements.
Benefits of Linux and Windows Web Hosting
A solid .NET framework is vital in getting your website hosted. This is a major advantage of Windows web hosting. On the other hand, Linux is an open source system, which is beneficial for the website owners. Native Windows technologies can only be run on Windows web hosting. Static HTML pages work precisely well with both versions. Linux hosting is believed to be stable and can support online shopping websites. The uptime with Linux website is also commendable. Contrary to this, Linux doesn’t work hand in hand with Microsoft technologies.
A Comparison between Both
If we talk about the security aspect, Linux is perceived to be more reliable than Windows. All crucial website details need to be kept secured. In this regard, Windows web hosting is perceived to have more vulnerability. It is susceptible to hacking attacks.
Linux holds an upper hand in the price aspect as well. It is cheaper than Windows. In fact, you get it free in most cases. However, several complex applications are involved in Linux and this makes learning it more challenging and exciting.
The fact is that website developers have equally liked both the operating systems. The decision to choose between the two depends completely on your budget, preferences and website type. If you are new in the field of website development, Linux is recommended. This is because of the ease with which it uploads and runs. On the other hand, experienced developers are likely to go for Windows web hosting. Therefore, take in consideration the above factors and you are bound to make the right choice.
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ASP Web Hosting Reviewed
Posted by: | CommentsASP (Active Server Pages) is a revolutionary programming language and platform that facilitates the creation of dynamic webpages that can utilize interactive components and respond quickly to visitor input. Unlike other similar programming platforms that allow you to create interactive webpages, ASP is a complete server-side scripting solution, which means it is much more reliable and stable. An example of components that are commonly amended and programmed using ASP are forms, search engines, blogs, calendars, e-mail modules, newsletters, polls, surveys, hit counters, and any other component of a webpage that is related to or dependent upon a site visitor’s actions. ASP also provides the additional advantage of being fully compatible with all browsers, thereby making it a universal scripting solution.
How to Find ASP Web Hosting Plans
Unfortunately, in order to utilize this unique programming platform, is absolutely necessary to have access to a web server that is compatible with ASP (a specific type of Windows web hosting). However, it is important to note that ASP Web hosting plans are not simply services that lease Windows web servers, as these plans usually already have Active Server Pages technology installed on the server and ready to be utilized. It is also important to realize that, while the majority of web hosting providers claim that their hosting plans are compatible with nearly all programming platforms, this does not mean that support for ASP is provided. Since ASP is such a powerful programming platform, it would be preferable to choose a hosting provider that specializes in this technology.
What Is an ASP Server?
An ASP server is simply a web server with the Windows operating system and the ASP scripting platform installed. Although Windows Vista and Windows 7 carries integrated support for ASP servers, older versions of Windows such as windows XP and Windows and the do not support ASP scripting. However, by utilizing a third-party software known as “Chili” (distributed by Sun Microsystems), it is possible to enjoy the benefits of ASP programming outside of the Windows operating system. Chili is basically a virtualization software that allows you to run ASP on other operating systems such as Linux, Solaris, or AIX. Although it would be ideal to host ASP scripts on a powerful web server (such as a dedicated or VPS server) in order to optimize functionality and performance, this versatile programming language is capable of being run on even a modest web server (i.e. – those offered with a shared hosting plan).
The Simplicity of ASP
Despite its extensive capabilities, the ASP programming platform is very similar to HTML, so even the most novice to intermediate webmasters should be able to easily transition into using this type of scripting language. In fact, even individuals that have no experience with web development should be able to learn ASP as their first programming language. Fortunately, it won’t require years of hard work to become an efficient ASP programmer, as there are many user-friendly interactive applications that simplify the learning curve significantly.