just got an email that UltraSpeed USA was sold to BurstNett... so i'm trying to find another place just as good... One of the guys who worked for US USA is setting up a company with very fair prices, but it's gonna happen some time in the future... as for now, i'm looking for a good alternative to US USA... any clues?

thnx

http://www.wizardshosting.com (where WHT is now hosted on)
http://www.dialtoneinternet.net
http://www.jaguarpc.com

eh... did i meantion that it's a d-server?? :)

Try http://www.rackspace.com or http://www.dtwebworks.com :)

BC, I have a quesiton for you. Are the moderators going to continue to recommend the host du jour now? Even though it wasn't quite this explicit when the forum was at HM (and why was that? I test drove an account and they're great, if you ask me), the current recommendation is just whoever is hosting the forum. In fact, lately it's whoever is at the VDI NOC, now that most of those Alabanza hosts have moved to VDI (and I wonder how many of them will not be so pleased at this latest news and be looking for yet another place to land). A shame, if you ask me, and something I might drop a note to Deb about, since she lists this as the top forum currently in her list at forumhosts. I just wish the user part of Host Coalition would get some traffic through it. Ever think about being a moderator over there? You would be good, I think.

SickofAds

If you to do a little search, either here or in sitepoint, you will notice BC always recommended the same hosts he trusts, the fact we are on his list is not synonymous with WHT being hosted here

I am very happy that I am on his list, and that has been like that way before the move, we earn BC's trust with Hard work, and good results.

I personally don't think that we should be discriminated because we hosts the board, I still consider myself just another part of this community, and will continue to post here as I always did .. (BTW .. 700+ posts .. not too shabby :D 1000 is just around the corner .. hehe )

Sick of ads- I don't think I've changed from the hosts I recommend much. I realize you might not mean me, but I just thought I'd pipe in and say that :)

I think the board is hosted at Wizards due to the fact that BC does recommend them, not the other way around (as it may seem). Keep in mind that although we moderate here, we are all pretty much looking for the same thing: Good host, good support, maybe not good price (since we are freeloaders, heh). I don't think this changes much though.

Yes we are extremely grateful to those who current host the site, and to those who have in the past. That goes without saying. But don't forget that this board is a site, and we ('we' meaning not me) chose the host that we (again) thought would be the best host for the site.

If they don't show up in a recommendation, something's wrong.

Just how I see it, but I want you to know that I can see your perspective as well. I hate it when one thing erupts and people start complaining that the forum has gone to hell and isn't the best place you can come to ask a question or discuss hosting related issues.

Simply put, this is where aI turn to for these issues and if the board was big enough, it would face the same issues. Try posting a question in any of the other forums out there and you'll either get lots of spamming hosts replying to try their services, or no answer at all (or referals to this forum). Lets not jump the gun every time something turns ugly.

[Edited by Chicken on 02-03-2001 at 09:03 AM]

Originally posted by alexdg
just got an email that UltraSpeed USA was sold to BurstNett... so i'm trying to find another place just as good... One of the guys who worked for US USA is setting up a company with very fair prices, but it's gonna happen some time in the future... as for now, i'm looking for a good alternative to US USA... any clues?

thnx

Why do you feel you have to leave?? I don't see that as mandatory at all. So far I'm going stay with Burst and see what happens. I need stability, and if they can't offer it to me, then yes, I will find another host.

burst is not on my trusted list... I dont believe that company that rips ppl off on their advertising program can offer good services to me... also, consider that I have a special deal with US USA and paying only $100/m for my box... don't think that burst will wanna keep it...

Originally posted by alexdg
burst is not on my trusted list... I dont believe that company that rips ppl off on their advertising program can offer good services to me... also, consider that I have a special deal with US USA and paying only $100/m for my box... don't think that burst will wanna keep it...

Well, as far as I know, pricing is suppose to stay the same. Dialtone also used the $99/month advertising campaign a while back, but the deal was only for the first 3 months, at which time the price rose to $200/month. I do NOT consider Dialtone a company I can't trust. They are a good, honest company using a marketing ploy that has been used many times over. As long as a company disloses the details in plain view, then it's not dishonest.

i agree... but i wasn't talking about 99 offer they posted in advertsing forum on this board... i'm talking about banner network they run... i had a chance to use it... the biggest ripoff ever... not only they had prices lower than $2/CPM for **TARGETED** advertsing, they also kept 50% of that to themselves... i consider that to be a ripoff.

Originally posted by alexdg
i agree... but i wasn't talking about 99 offer they posted in advertsing forum on this board... i'm talking about banner network they run... i had a chance to use it... the biggest ripoff ever... not only they had prices lower than $2/CPM for **TARGETED** advertsing, they also kept 50% of that to themselves... i consider that to be a ripoff.

Ohh, I didn't know that's what you were refering to. I don't know anything about that. Email me the details if you don't mind :)

alex, I think you're confusing BurstNET (the hosting stuff) with BurstMedia (the ad stuff).

Chicken/Carlos: the thing is, I don't remember seeing any recs of Wizards before now, not here, not often. At sitepoint, I've seen a couple here and there. I just think it's odd, and I think yellowed (?) brought up something similar. I don't know Carlos, and don't really care who he is (no offense, Carlos). In the same way that UltraspeedUSA became the rec of choice shortly before the forum moved there, so it is now. But I think you (the collective you, not any one person) should remember that moderators' voices carry a little more weight than the average user. Chicken hasn't changed his tune very much, with the exception of not mentioning HM by name or antyhing due to that tiff, but the others have. What concerns me is that this forum is rife with bandwagon-ism, and people tend not to take into account specific needs of people asking the questions in their desire, no matter how noble, of pumping up the host du jour (HDJ).

I stay away from most of the forums because of spamming jerks. But I looked over the list at Deb's site at forumhosts, and I can tell you that none of the forums on that list are tops of the world, because of the various issues that surround this type of thing. Even this one suffers due to some of the issues that it brought on itself (like that whole anonymous poster thing end of last year, or this current stuff with mysitehost trying to tell everyone else what is and isn't important to them). It's like a WHT vs everyone else in the world everytime someone disagrees with the current reigning atmospheric tenet. It drives people away, that I'm sure of.

Originally posted by SickofAds
BC, I have a quesiton for you. Are the moderators going to continue to recommend the host du jour now? Even though it wasn't quite this explicit when the forum was at HM (and why was that? I test drove an account and they're great, if you ask me), the current recommendation is just whoever is hosting the forum. In fact, lately it's whoever is at the VDI NOC, now that most of those Alabanza hosts have moved to VDI (and I wonder how many of them will not be so pleased at this latest news and be looking for yet another place to land). A shame, if you ask me, and something I might drop a note to Deb about, since she lists this as the top forum currently in her list at forumhosts. I just wish the user part of Host Coalition would get some traffic through it. Ever think about being a moderator over there? You would be good, I think.

Firstly...alexdg

I recommend 'wizardshosting' as strong, competent, knowledgable and a technically "best of breed" hosting company.

If you have been dealing with Ultraspeed, then you are familiar with the wizards admin (CPanel)

I have direct experience with the skill with which they handle a variety of different issues that are critical to the continuing quality of service for web hosting.

The fact that they are good enough to donate their services to host this forum is IRRELEVANT. I'm sure they will listen to your needs attentively and respond professionally.

Secondly...sick*****

You are another self appointed member of the web host police I see.

Doesn't it stand to reason that BC would recommend a host, especially if they had been vetted as suitable for the needs of this forum? Notice he also recommends plenty of others...or do you expect him to put 2,000 names in each post he logs with his recommendations...

It would seem that if VDI NOC *related* companies and other great hosts like dialtoneinternet are doing it right, they deserve to be recommended for their efforts...not to mention that they are good for the people using their services?

I recall HM being recommended, and that company still has a spotless reputation at this forum, unless I'm sadly mistaken.

I'm fascinated to know what part of this offends you... do you have a favourite host??? Maybe instead of jackbooting the moderators here you could be helpful and suggest your own choice.

I will no doubt get into trouble for saying all this...but I know for a fact that these WHT guys do their level best to provide a useful service to people, but they are not yet omnipotent.

I have been helped immeasurably by the service here since I started and I HATE seeing puerile comments being made. You are allowed to have your say and this is mine.

I'm not a self-appointed anything, and where did I say anything here offends me? Brush up on your reading skills if you're going to try to insult me. I'll say it again, since it obviously didn't make it through to you: I find it curious that the recommendations of the moderators of this forum - and indeed, many others - simply follow the course of whoever is hosting the forum at the moment. It just so happens that the evolution of this forum bears this out. First, all the Alabanza hosts were here, and so any Alabanza host was fine. Then they all move to VDI, and like magic, suddenly any VDI host is it. Then the forum moves to Ultraspeed, and suddenly it's Ultraspeed. Now it's Wizards. Etc. and so on. The herd mentality of this place does bother me, because as you have so aptly demonstrated, saying anything that goes against the grain gets you responses like yours instead of responses like Chicken's (his was much better and rational).

I don't have a favorite host. I have some that I've tried or tested (yes, HM does have a good rep, for a good reason, based on my testing), and some that I wouldn't touch based on their posts here and in other forums (thinkhost, now mysitehost, some others). But people like me when I was first looking would not be served well by this forum if this was the only forum they could find. The bias here swings like a pendulum strung on a whim instead of (again I'll say it) people paying attention to what people are looking for when they post. The mods here do a pretty good job of keeping outrageously inaapropriate postings away, but again, that herd-like grouping of people gives the whiff of something less than altruistic.

Deb said it before, and I'll say it again: moderators are not typical users on forums, like it or not. There is a weight to what they say when they say it, even though it's not likely that anyone gets tremendous amounts of business from it, if any at all. If you took a moment and read groups of posts from various dates, just sampled here and there throughout, you'd find that what I say is true. It's an oddity, and doesn't lend itself to a good type of credibility. You don't agree, that's ok, because I fully expected the type of response that you gave. But it doesn't change the fact that yellowed had a valid point about this, and the fact that in the end, this forum is pretty much like the rest when it could be something really special.

Sorry bud, but once again, you made no sence .. you have no favorite host, but you favor HM ...

HostingMatter is great, I think Annette and Steph are 2 wondefull woman, that know what they are doing

Just say it .. "my recommendation is HostingMatters" .. nobody is going to bite your hear off, not when you are talking about a great host like they are.

geez .. all this going around for nothing

And what's this obcession that people all of the suddent have with the Mods ? the poor guys are just here to help, they don't get paid, and no sleep as well :D

sickofads,

I apologise for appearing to insult you..I was merely trying to support another point of view.

I will not sit on the fence like chicken..(which he does with great skill and aplomb)...

I will let you have the last word on the matter...

Good luck... :)

Reading and comprehension are such lost arts, alas.

felix, thanks, I appreciate that. I know you have a view on all this, and I respect that. I hope you see where I'm coming from on this, as I see your point as well.

You may not agree with his point, but the guy has a point. Some people feel that a moderator should not be biased towards anyone and should not voice their opinion, because it discriminates against others.

One of the most difficult things to do when you run a forum, know inside info and have decided opinions, is to keep your mouth shut. But in a way, it improves the board because it lets everyone in and feeling comfortabel.

Some will counter that the result will be too much spam. This is almost unavoidable, and doesn't particularly bother me but may bother others. If you want to reduce it, create a category for webhosts to advertise themselves. The real users will know that category is spam and will ignore it and you can move spam posts to that category.

==================
One other point, if a moderator does not own the forum, nothing wrong with giving their opinions, though it would be nice to have a disclaimer that the moderator's opinions do not necessarily reflect the owners of the site.

I'm an infrequent visitor here and don't know who all the moderators are, who owns the board etc. The above point can be applied to forums of any topic.

That said, it doesn't particularly bother me either way, but the herd mentality is definitely true and neither alabanza nor US turned out to be good stable options in my view though from reading the posts it sure sounded that way. It would have cost more but I would have been better off going with rackspace.com, pay the money and have stability.

Originally posted by SickofAds
BC, I have a quesiton for you. Are the moderators going to continue to recommend the host du jour now? Even though it wasn't quite this explicit when the forum was at HM (and why was that? I test drove an account and they're great, if you ask me), the current recommendation is just whoever is hosting the forum.

A couple of things. As Deb says on her Hosts page, forums will usually be biased (to whatever extent) to the host who hosts them. It's very hard to buck this 'innate trend' because the host stands to 'lose face' if the forum tries to be as neutral as possible (or perhaps go the other way).

At the same time it's always a very fine line as to whether I recommend them because WHT is hosted by WizardsHosting or whether it's because they are a genuinely good, honest company and have provided excellent support.

That said, I'm also not hesitant on retracting any recommendations I previously make (WebExpose being one of them).

With regards to HostMatters, we left because MattF's credit card was maxed out :) and we were really only testing the waters to see if any host was willing to offer free hosting in return for credit. The response was, of course, overwhelming. That said, I have (and will continually in due course) recommend HM whole-heartedly.

In fact, lately it's whoever is at the VDI NOC, now that most of those Alabanza hosts have moved to VDI (and I wonder how many of them will not be so pleased at this latest news and be looking for yet another place to land). A shame, if you ask me, and something I might drop a note to Deb about, since she lists this as the top forum currently in her list at forumhosts.

I'm sorry, but I don't recall stating the fact (or implying it) that HostMatters being on Alabanza meant all other Alabanza hosts are great. I have (and will) frankly said Alabanza hosts have decent uptime and good servers; however business practices of each host is a completely different matter in itself.

I just wish the user part of Host Coalition would get some traffic through it. Ever think about being a moderator over there? You would be good, I think.

Errrrrrrrr..... I'm not sure if you're being serious or if you're being sarcastic. It's that Berocca and grog wearing off after I went to a 21st party last night :D

Anyway..... That said, let's return this to on-topic. I'd welcome further discussion either via e-mail or another new topic...

I reposted a thread that I think is asking the same question. Figure that this has gone just about as off topic (partly due to me, I know), so maybe the other thread will offer some help to alexdg.

The other thread is located here:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=5431