Today I have a laugh at these two websites:

www.hostingu.com
www.idologic.com

They use the same template :eek: .

im sure lots of people do, looks like a template monster template 2 me

those templates are from templates monster ;)

They all pretty much look the same to me. :crap:

So they run business without "company identity" haha :D

I know alot of hosting businesses that have TM templates or other templates that are used over and over. Just means they like how that template looks.

I might as well put a domain on every IP in my IP range saying:
hosting1.com all the way through hosting255.com ;) make it all the same so that i can impress someone :rolleyes:

I thought Idologic is using his own templates? Their staff is a pro unlike hostingu

Idologic admits purchasing the template but says they're working on new layouts. Anyway, I prefer that they concentrate on the business end and just buy a template rather than ignore their customers while working on the 'perfect' layout.

I have to agree with the 'pro' remark above. :)

Originally posted by dotvietnam
Today I have a laugh at these two websites:


They use the same template :eek: .

Try this:
google.com/search?q=0308_main_1.swf

What's the point of bashing another host for using a template?

So they have the both have the same TM template, big deal.

Maybe you should spend more time working on getting your own website up and less time finding fault in others.

I agree.... we currently utilize a template as well, changed from our own design we had running for 2 years. It was quicker for one of our new guys to modify it, and gave him experience working with someone else's existing layout, which we do when new clients request modifications to their websites, instead of a new layout.
Personally I don't have a problem with hosting/design companies using templates, but they should be modified and personalized, not used "out of the box". I would rather spend the time doing something to benefit our customers, than devoting time to our layout. As time permits, our guys are working on a custom layout, but it's not a priority. What we have works.
I don't see a need for people to continually bring up threads that "so and so uses a template", it's their choice and it doesn't affect you. If you think it makes you look better than them, think again. It makes you look petty.
And remember, beauty is only skin deep, it's whats inside that counts.

Nothing like seeing a TM design listed with 7 or so downloads actually pop 49 times in Google. Nice.

Brandon

We use a template and arent ashamed of it, our time is better spent improving our order systems and support methods

Originally posted by Rax
Idologic admits purchasing the template but says they're working on new layouts. Anyway, I prefer that they concentrate on the business end and just buy a template rather than ignore their customers while working on the 'perfect' layout.

I have to agree with the 'pro' remark above. :)

Just confirming what Rax says is correct. We provide hosting solutions and are not designers. Though we are polling our own designer clients to work towards a new solution.

We just contracted one of our clients to develop our 'corporate identity'.

Anyhow, I really don't see why it's such a big deal :rolleyes:

Originally posted by tazd9t9
We use a template and arent ashamed of it, our time is better spent improving our order systems and support methods

Our feelings too... BUT there's something strange going on here... let me check the actual template...

edit: when I can find the original template :)

Originally posted by ozzie123
I thought Idologic is using his own templates? Their staff is a pro unlike hostingu

Just confirming again, no, it's a template, but we've worked with one of our clients to get our "brand" image done (and it is, not yet released though). And we will be working with another client to get the website done.

We're not designers, have no interest in doing design and we believe that we've got some good designers as clients, so why not pay them $$ to do something that would take us twice as much time to do....

Thank you for the pro comment :)

I dont see such a big deal.. so what if they use the same template. Alot of people know idologic is a good hosting company. Alot of hosts use templates for a few reasons...

1. Are not designers (for alot of them)
2. Like how a certin template looks (which alot like to)

Originally posted by RH Robert
If you think it makes you look better than them, think again. It makes you look petty.
And remember, beauty is only skin deep, it's whats inside that counts.

:D

google will see this as duplicate content. I believe that if most of the code is identical, they will be banned.

Just change some image names. That'll clear the Google problem.

Originally posted by idologic_dh
We provide hosting solutions and are not designers.

Same here, although I did change my template to be somewhat different.

Originally posted by idologic_dh
Anyhow, I really don't see why it's such a big deal :rolleyes:
Agreed!!

Originally posted by Esr Tek
Same here, although I did change my template to be somewhat different.


Agreed!!

So did we :)

"mangi più torta" ?

"Anyhow, I really don't see why it's such a big deal"

Me either. If you were a design company perhaps then I'd see reason to bring it up.

Originally posted by idologic_dh
"mangi più torta" ?
It's supposed to be Eat more pie in Italian! ;)
Too bad the reverse translation doesn't seem to work to well :(

Was bored and had a big pumpkin pie at my desk :stickout:

Sorry but I don't have time or competition interest in bashing idologic.com or hostingu.com based on my sudden finding :)

Bill Gates says "Bad news is good news". If you think "corporate identity" is not a big deal, I have nothing more to say :)

Originally posted by dotvietnam
Sorry but I don't have time or competition interest in bashing idologic.com or hostingu.com based on my sudden finding :)


Sure you do, or you wouldn't have posted this

Originally posted by dotvietnam
Today I have a laugh at these two websites:

www.hostingu.com
www.idologic.com

This is an open forum and member has freedom of speech.

I post this finding in "Running a Web Hosting Business" so that we, as hosting service providers will have a point to think of hosting business.

open-minded :)
Originally posted by RH Robert
Sure you do, or you wouldn't have posted this

Originally posted by dotvietnam
This is an open forum and member has freedom of speech.

I post this finding in "Running a Web Hosting Business" so that we, as hosting service providers will have a point to think of hosting business.

open-minded :)

You're right, open forum, freedom of speech. My point was that it WAS a bash, whether you think so or not....because you said
"Today I have a laugh at these two websites:"
They aren't humor sites, what's funny about them...
So providers will have a point to think of ? Do you realize how many times this has been brought up?
I could say, check out this funny site.... I had a good laugh because there is only a single page with a sales email for this hosting company. Site sound familiar?
I don't want a flame war, I just wanted to point out, not only to you, but to everyone that starts these threads, that it serves only one purpose: To try to make yourself look better than someone else by running them down. Instead of doing that, put your efforts and emphasis on providing better service, and you'll have all the business you could ever want.
Starting a thread about a competitor, ANY competitor, about their business practices, when it doesn't affect you or your clients, and isn't harmful or deceitful to it's clients or the public, only puts you in a bad light. By you, I don't mean you personally.
Maybe I should have put a smilie on the last post so it wasn't taken so harshly :)

Originally posted by dotvietnam
Sorry but I don't have time or competition interest in bashing idologic.com or hostingu.com based on my sudden finding :)


However, if you did have time or competition interest you would bash them?

Originally posted by RH Robert
You're right, open forum, freedom of speech. My point was that it WAS a bash, whether you think so or not....because you said
"Today I have a laugh at these two websites:" . . .
I hardly consider that a "bash". It was an observation made by another member of this community. Get thick skin folks! :)

Bob, I have thick skin....ok maybe it wasn't a rant/slam bash...it was a trash... doesn't matter, same thing. Any time you bring up a company to poke fun at them, and by saying you have a good laugh because they use the same template, and for no other reason, it's derogatory. And that would make it a bash in my eyes.
I am just sick of all the "companies" who have time to look at other companies to find flaws, and then bring them here. This one seemed appropriate at the time to share my fustration. An observation would have been "I noticed these 2 sites are the same" , "I had a laugh at" isn't....they aren't comedy sites either.
I haven't heard anything bad on idologic, so they're doing something right...who cares if they use a template.
Like I said, this was just the push that made me write it out... there may have been more appropriate threads in the past, but it was this one that exercised my fingers. If you don't agree, you don't agree, but that's how life is. :)

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
I hardly consider that a "bash". It was an observation made by another member of this community. Get thick skin folks! :)

Your views on bashing our much different than most people's from what I noticed.
Hell you didn't even really consider it a bash when thay guy came here with sole intentions to bash/flame you :eek: ;)

I fully agree with Robert here.. If this wasn't a bash then it would have been stated differently.
The basher then comes bak and posts some crap about 'corporate identity' while his 'corprate idenity' is a complete joke itself!!

This entire post was NOTHING more than him tryin to make himself/his company look better than the competition, Point Blank... Enough Said!!

I think the word "troll" is only seconded by the word "bash" in my WHT Dictionary of most hated words. Everyone is too quick to use both words.

Hey Robert, stop "bashing" dotvietnam, please.

Sorry, you know what I just did? I "bashed" Robert. Sometimes I'm such an idiot!

Uh oh, believe it or not, I've now managed to "bash" myself. When will it end, mummy, when will it end.....

Originally posted by Esr Tek
Your views on bashing our much different than most people's from what I noticed.
Hell you didn't even really consider it a bash when thay guy came here with sole intentions to bash/flame you :eek: ;) . . .
I'm an Aussie. We thrive on this stuff!! :D

also having a twisted sense of humor can help too. ;)

Like I said,
I just wanted to point out, not only to you, but to everyone that starts these threads

This was just the post after many that made me write what I felt. I wouldn't bash dotvietnam, as I don't know them, never had hosting by them, and don't know their business practices. However, as dotvietnam stated, this is an open forum and anyone can state their opinions, which is what I did. No matter how hard you try, you will never convince me that bringing up a competitor in this manner is appropriate or puts you in a good light. And remember, this isn't directed at anyone personally, this post was just an example of many threads.
I can take being bashed :) As soon as it comes from a client or reseller of mine, it would be a valid concern, but since support is my #1 concern, I don't have any unhappy customers to bash me :)

Three bashes in one post. I love WHT. :D

Originally posted by ozzie123
I thought Idologic is using his own templates?

No. But we do use our own demos.

Originally posted by Esr Tek
It's supposed to be Eat more pie in Italian! ;)


:) I think I might do that!

Originally posted by dotvietnam

I post this finding in "Running a Web Hosting Business" so that we, as hosting service providers will have a point to think of hosting business.

Regardless of the intent (and frankly we have always been honest about it being a template and don't see the issue), I'm wondering what does this have to do with running a web hosting business?

Absolutely nothing! Your opening post had nothing constructive, etc. You could have asked "Do you think it's bad to use templates, for example I found... bla and blah to use the same, etc. etc.".

Anyhow, free speech is a great thing, unfortunately it doesn't guarantee that the speech we have to listen to is usefull...

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
I hardly consider that a "bash". It was an observation made by another member of this community. Get thick skin folks! :)

I really don't care about the "great discovery" that we use a template, but what was the point of the post that started this thread in running a web hosting business? of course... there is no point.

Anyhow, I don't know dotvietnam, so all I can say is that perhaps it would have been more suited to post this in the lounge? (Even then though, I don't see the humor, but that's a subjective thing).

Originally posted by RH Robert

I haven't heard anything bad on idologic, so they're doing something right...who cares if they use a template.


Thanks :)

To quote (Henry Ward Beecher):

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.

IMHO I agree that yes it's not really such a big deal using templates, especially if you don't have the skills, the time or are not financially well-off as to be able to hire a (good) designer, or any other reason for that matter.

However, I feel, (especially) once we have taken-off in our business it is important to make an effort to work on our own brand identity to set us apart like, from what I've read, some of you are doing. I feel this is particularly true for online businesses where customers do not have physical contact with us. And this not only includes the pretty graphics, navigation, layout, page file size (often overlooked), etc, but also the way you write your content and sell your services because all this will reflect on ourselves.

Maybe if every potential customer visited forums like WHT the use of templates would matter even less. However, though I don't agree with the way dotvietnam stated his finding, we should make a point in understanding this behaviour because, ultimately, we are the ones using templates. If he or any other person didn't bring this up here in this forum, would it mean no one has ever thought or felt the same way? Such a perception or behaviour from a prospective customer wouldn't be really good.

So my point simply is that if someone says something about us we should also reflect on it and try to see how much truth there is and why it came about. The outcome of all this is what will define us as an individual.

Well said vitalis.

Originally posted by vitalis

However, I feel, (especially) once we have taken-off in our business it is important to make an effort to work on our own brand identity to set us apart like, from what I've read, some of you are doing. I feel this is particularly true for online businesses where customers do not have physical contact with us. And this not only includes the pretty graphics, navigation, layout, page file size (often overlooked), etc, but also the way you write your content and sell your services because all this will reflect on ourselves.


Agreed. That's why we're searching in our client base to find a good designer... actually there's a few good ones, which makes it difficult for us to make a decision :)

some of you people make nonsense into big things. who cares if its a template. If you are not using template, that don't mean your business is better than the people who are using template. Providing good services is the only thing that matters. Secondly, before starting a thread to bash people, try to look into it first or ask . Dont just jump on here and start a thread to ruin someone's business because of their design.

TM design some of the most professional templates out there, that is the main reason we use their template also. We paid $144 for it even though we could have use that money to get a designer but we like it that is the reason why we are using it.

Oh and just for the record, I don't use templates because I'm a webdesigner.

My finding is from this thread in "Web hosting forum": http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202792&highlight=hostingu . This thread started on Nov. 2, 2003 and I also joined in this. And then, by accidental I click on idologic.com link in his signature. I'm so surpurised that hostingu and idologic are the same even the logo. As a hosting service myself with basic knowledge, experience in corporate identity I wonder why they have the same website, same logo? I post this in this forum so that we, as hosting providers will have something to think even you call me a "basher" or arguments may occur from this post.

WHT is not a place I promote my hosting business and dotvietnam.com is not the website I provide hosting. It's so fun that you and others try to prove me a basher and try to find wrong thing in dotvietnam.com to bash me :)

"This entire post was NOTHING more than him tryin to make himself/his company look better than the competition, Point Blank..." >>> You are totally WRONG

Originally posted by Esr Tek
Your views on bashing our much different than most people's from what I noticed.
Hell you didn't even really consider it a bash when thay guy came here with sole intentions to bash/flame you :eek: ;)

I fully agree with Robert here.. If this wasn't a bash then it would have been stated differently.
The basher then comes bak and posts some crap about 'corporate identity' while his 'corprate idenity' is a complete joke itself!!

This entire post was NOTHING more than him tryin to make himself/his company look better than the competition, Point Blank... Enough Said!!

Originally posted by dotvietnam
same logo?


We had one of our clients (a graphics designer) develop a new corporate identity/brand... so that's a non-issue...

either way, I don't think I posted in that same thread, did I ?

Anyhow, whatever the intention was, let's just stop argueing :)

And to any designers reading this, we're polling our own client designer's, but feel free to email me offers.

Thanks :)