we ( www.graphicdesign-zone.com ) are a graphic design business. We have been running for a while now until with the change of our new name.

We are ready to change hosts due to a number of reasons, not reliability, that was fine. But we are unsure on who to go with. If you could kindly help us with this matter, we would be very grateful.

Many thanks,

Leigh Hewitt
graphicdesign-zone.com

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It would help if you could give a specification of what sort of thing you offer, what your requirements are, etc...

Otherwise it's just a case of "how long is a piece of string?"

What we offer?

We offer a graphic design service for businesses.


Requirements?

We are looking for a VERY reliable host which can provide excellent support. Money does not matter too much, although we don't want to be paying "too much", but we do have a fair budget to go along.

Thanks Websnail, this is much appreciated. :)

Originally posted by bizness3000
What we offer?

We offer a graphic design service for businesses.


Requirements?

We are looking for a VERY reliable host which can provide excellent support. Money does not matter too much, although we don't want to be paying "too much", but we do have a fair budget to go along.

Thanks Websnail, this is much appreciated. :) Ok, think perhaps a little hand holding is in order.

1. Are you planning to put high resolution images on line for public view
[bandwidth and disk space would be important]

2. Would you be looking at some kind of "Gallery" of images as part of a profile. Possibly using something like this: http://gallery.sourceforge.net/ ?
[this would require PHP, possibly mySQL in the future]

3. Would you want to put just one domain online or a number of different ones?
[per domain cost become important]

4. Is there a possibility you'd want to include a community forum?
[again has issues re: mySQL & PHP if you go with the "standard" acceptible scripts]

The other thing to note is that you will have other requirements like:
- When is support available (bear in mind time zones)?
- What sort of support will you need (script installation, handholding, or just "server dead, why?" type, etc...)?

Basically the more anal your requirement list then the easier it is for someone to be able to respond to specific needs with detailed info, eg: "We charge $XX for script installation" or "We tend to deal with experienced web designers", etc...

That way, fewer nasty surprises.

Hope that helps get yourself organised and if you're interested you could talk to mbshost@mbshost.com as he's graphics orientated and so may have a more experienced eye with which to point out any potential pitfalls and pluses. He's also a host I'd think about using...

Good luck :)

Thanks very much. I have already received a few e-mails from different hosts showing me a range of specs they have, which I am responding to at the moment.

Thanks, this has been a big help.

Bizness3000

Originally posted by bizness3000
Thanks very much. I have already received a few e-mails from different hosts showing me a range of specs they have, which I am responding to at the moment.

Thanks, this has been a big help.

Bizness3000 No problem at all.

Just one last tip.

Be sure to check these forums (using the Search function) for more information & feedback on the hosts you're getting emails, etc... from. As with anything some are bloody awful and some are good... If nothing else, I'd ask for a trial period to be sure ;)

Certainly true. I will be looking very closely at what I am offered and compare with a close eye!

Thanks again mate. :)

Bizness3000

Hrm, due to about five different hosts actually e-mailing me about their services, I am still unsure under what host to go for. We have more or less come up with a conclusion that we want to go for someone who is highly reliable and quite popular really, with both businesses and people. :)

Originally posted by bizness3000
Hrm, due to about five different hosts actually e-mailing me about their services, I am still unsure under what host to go for. We have more or less come up with a conclusion that we want to go for someone who is highly reliable and quite popular really, with both businesses and people. :) *chuckle*...

Oh you are having fun aren't you.

I'd suggest picking one that will offer you a trial period and then test them with most of the stuff you want to be able to do... Install a script, etc... See how they perform. If you're not completely happy, move on..

I know mbshost.com personally and professionally though so that'd be my recommendation but it's your call.

Good luck with your decision... If all else fails there's always the drawing a name out of a hat method :)

Thanks, i'll take a look at that company. And thanks to all who are submitting info to me about theirs aswell. Its all appreciated, its a long process, but I'll get there soon!

The one I am favouring most at the moment is FatCow but I want to make sure with other hosts first, so if theres any out there, pls let me know. :cool:

I have hosted with catalog.com before and I never really had any problems with them. Right now I am working on a deal with servervault.com I will let you know how things go with them. Sorry I can't be much more help than that, but I just haven't hosted with that many companies.