Anyone see the article in PCMagazine (Oct 17 issue) regarding choosing a host? They select companies like AT&T and Bcentral as good choices, BCentral doesnt even have telephone tech support and they get a good rating? I smell something funny. IBM doesnt provide multimedia content support, you cant create customer error messages in most of them, AT&T only supports a flat file database, no SQL. Half of the companies they chose have a main focus which isnt even hosting, yet they preach about choosing a company that will be around for a while. Who's to say that Microcrap doesnt pull the plug on BCentral if it isnt making profit, it isnt unheard of. The whole article is a sham.

Just goes to show you that bigger isn't necessarily better.

actually it does show that bigger is better
(or that people think bigger is better)

basically since the companies are bigger they get reviews in magazines (which in turn helps bring customers and also shows credibility)

wheras a smaller more experienced (better?) company gets no press

later

David

BUT... look at Valueweb.net, they have been around for a very long time, and when i was with them several years ago they were very good. fast set-up etc. They should maybe be their, not freakin' Dell and Microsoft and AT&T with their over priced accounts. What surprises me the most is that these larger companies charge so much more than the average host for half of the services and features like e-mail and such.

It's all about money. In fact, PC Mag, although they won't outright admit it) gives their awards to their advertisers. Occasionally, they don't so as not to show favoritism, but I have a friend that works there and he told me the situation.

Just goes to show, the media is king, and will always be. So, if you want to be like the big boys... PAY UP!

....Oh well, maybe someday......

I think there are two types of people:

One kinda that signs up with AOHell and *never* steps onto the actual internet (instead clicking on the various AOL channels and staying within AOL land). They are scared to leave AOL since without it, they actually connect to the internet itself which confuses them. These people are the same type who will sign up for AT&T or Microsoft webhosting (it must be good if it's Microsoft) because PCMag said they were the best.

Then there are the people who realize that althoughb most web pages have ads, the ads aren't the content of the site. They also know that internet access doesn't have to cost $22/month. Hosting? Shall we post a new thread seeing how many of us are hosted at Microsoft?

"You rub my back... and I will rub yours!"

In the end it all boils down to money. Doesn't everything?

Oh well... almost everything :)

Learner

Absolutely. Don't believe reviews in the major trades...it's all about payola! Same goes for 99% of the online so-called impartial host review sites. The only reason they exist is for advertising dollars! (There are a *few* exceptions).
-Scotto

[Edited by Scotto on 10-12-2000 at 11:31 PM]

It's amazing you can pretty much buy anything these days. Now only if I could sell my brain.

I will start the bidding at $1.00 - Quite a deal! Do I hear $1.00?

*Chicken bids $1.00*

Do I hear $2.00???

From the local McDonald's ad promoting $2 burgers :

Wheezy old voice
Yes, 2, $2 dollars, thank you.

Auctioneer
Thank you sir, two dollars. Any more bids? Two dollars, two DOLLARS, TWO dollars...

Hyper-ventilating woman
Yes, yes, yes, $2.

Auctioneer
Yes ma'am, $2.....

(you get the idea)

Chicken, I'll put in $2.01 for that.

LOL! ;)

Wheeeeeeeew! I *almost* posted the message below. What was I thinking? Glad I stopped myself...




SOLD!!! to BC for $2.01

Now John will deliver your brain in under 30 minutes. He'll keep it hot and fresh in his "heat-wave" head. You'll have to extract the brain yourself BC, then bury what's left of poor John in your neighbor's backyard (in case "the man" comes snooping).

The name of John's website is quite ironic it seems, eh??? Maybe it was foreshadowing the future. Whooooa mannnnnn. Does this mean I'm going to become a giant chicken for real???

[Edited by Chicken on 10-13-2000 at 01:01 AM]

This is an issue that drives me absolutely crazy. I spend hundreds of dollars a year subscribing to half a dozen publications that I care *nothing* about except that I know that these are the publications that my customers are reading, and I had better be aware of all the *bad* advice these magazines are giving out to my customers.

It's rediculous. It's not just PC Mag - it's *most* major magazines. Two of the best magazines I have found, Small Business Computing and Home Office Computing, are also two of the *worst* magazines when it comes to recommending internet technologies of any type.

I mean, come on! They're sitting here actually recommending that businesses use Hotmail accounts for the "convenience and professionalism" that Hotmail provides! Yeah, right! I see a business using Hotmail, I run the other way!

The people who write and edit most of these major magazines either just don't get it, or they (as has been suggested here) are simply kissing their advertisers' rears. Maybe a little bit of both.

Anyway, that's just my personal opinion, and does *not* represent the views of Hosting Solutions, Inc. in any way, shape, or form.

Jason

You're right on the money, Jason! Reviews drive advertising and VICE-versa. Honest critics can't be bought (or published, it seems). As for Hotmail, viral marketing works very well, doesn't it?<g> "Pity the fool!" -Mr. T.

--Scott

Originally posted by Jason Ellis
They're sitting here actually recommending that businesses use Hotmail accounts for the "convenience and professionalism" that Hotmail provides! Yeah, right! I see a business using Hotmail, I run the other way!

Jason, what are you talking about!!!??? You don't think businesses should use a hotmail account??? Next you'll tell me that I should actually pay for decent web hosting instead of having my business site at: http://goecities.com/bs/hippie/mybizsite with *new* pop-up ads!

Anyone who goes to PCMagazine for a web hosting recommendation deserves exactly what they get.

Oh, and I'd like to up the bidding on that brain to $2.02. It certainly seems worth it.