Hi everyone I am looking for a host to host a small site that I want to build selling DJ equipment. i want to have forums and a store. what is CP?cpanel? do I need that?

cPanel is a control panel which hosting providers use, to enable customers to manage all of their features like Email Accounts, MySQL databases and so on.

Different providers use different control panels, so you don't necesarrily need cPanel.

All you need is an easy control panel. cPanel is probably the most popular, but not necessarily the easiest. We use both cpanel and directadmin. Directadmin, I think, is more user friendly for the newbie.

What type of space/traffic are you looking for? What's your price point?

With that information, we can help you with some hosts.

You can see a demo of cPanel here -
http://x3demob.cpx3demo.com:2082/login/?user=x3demob&pass=x3demob

Its very popular, we run cPanel and Plesk servers and most of our clients tend to lean towards cPanel now.

I thought that to be true to, but I think that's because they've heard of cpanel. When I've given my customers the choice between cpanel and directadmin and walked them through some of the features, they overwhelmingly choose directadmin. They say it's a nicer interface, the options make sense, less clicks to get to what they need, well organized without being too overwhelming.

I thought that to be true to, but I think that's because they've heard of cpanel. When I've given my customers the choice between cpanel and directadmin and walked them through some of the features, they overwhelmingly choose directadmin. They say it's a nicer interface, the options make sense, less clicks to get to what they need, well organized without being too overwhelming.

They must be blind. DirectAdmin is quite ugly, IMHO. The majority of the people I talk to would choose cPanel over ANY control panel.

I don't know what you're looking at, but the default skin is laid out well, not busy, clean and, although I feel funny saying this about a control panel, but attractive! LOL

Many thing that the cpanel has so many icons that it can get confusing (until you get used to it).

I thought that to be true to, but I think that's because they've heard of cpanel. When I've given my customers the choice between cpanel and directadmin and walked them through some of the features, they overwhelmingly choose directadmin. They say it's a nicer interface, the options make sense, less clicks to get to what they need, well organized without being too overwhelming.

I tried directAdmin one year back and after reading you, I think I must try it again.

Generally I would suggest looking for companies offering shared hosting - that would be the best way to start especially that they will help you with setting up your hosting and that can be done both on a server with a control panel or without one depending one.

A control panel generally is used mainly to simplify the management of a domain with anything connected to it like email accounts, databases etc.