I've whittled my short list down to 2: WizardsHosting and VenturesOnline. There doesn't seem a lot to split them, other than Wizards gives you more "stuff" (more subdomains, pop3, MySQL DBs) but Ventures gives you more bandwidth.

I can't decide so I'm asking you guys to throw in your $0.02 - which should I go for?

TIA.

MikeS.

From what I've read, people seem to like both. You might find that this thread turns into that (people saying they like one or the other).

And I'm not trying to sway you one way or another, it just so happens there is a wizard's thread below this one to get info on them:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=7418

I'm sure there is a VO one around here somewhere. Both have been discussed recently, see the HELP link in my sig. :)

Hi I use wizards hosting my self and have been very pleased with the service from them. I moved from Alabanza and had problems moving my customers accounts from the Ala server over to the wizards server but I was talked through it by Carlos (very nice man). I don't know that much about ventures online but the service I have received from wizards so far has been second to non.

Give Wizards Hosting a try, you wont be sorry. I talk to Carlos on a business to business basis often, and hes a knowledgable and helpful guy you wont be disappointed. There is something to be said for hosts not going around badmouthing one another, that some people get and some don't. Wizards Hosting is a better place to be in the long run in my opinion anyways.

-Brendan

I believe a hosting company is as good as the people you are dealing with. Whether you have a RAQ or Alabanza or VDI or Reseller or whoever, if the service isn't there, it's a waste. Carlos has great service response and I haven't wasted any time choosing him for my accounts. Haven't tried VO but what I read about WH made my decision for me.
now where's my tv?

[Edited by BC on 03-26-2001 at 11:01 PM]

personally, i currently have a new found relationship with wizardshosting :)

carlos is a nice guy and his support to his customers are superior i must say

you really can't go wrong with wizardshosting

i've never had experience with VO... but i talked to Paul thru ICQ when he was still with UltraSpeedUSA and he was also nice

i recommened wizardshosting first then VO... but if you think you need the extra bandwidth... then VO should be your choice... i chose wizards because of the following reasons

1) i liked the other "goodies" in wizard's packages
2) i saw carlos' dedication to this forum
3) and his customers, of course
4) carlos has been steady in his services

not that any of those aren't true for VO, but those are my reasons :) good luck finding your new host!

Please be aware that I have deleted and edited some posts in response to JBIZ718's original post about VDI. I have deleted and edited posts due to them running against the nature of this thread, as well as falling under the definition of 'trolling' (thus breaching our forum guidelines). If you have a problem with this e-mail the mods directly.

Please keep this topic on track and help Mike choose between Wizards and VO. Thank you.

I have received excellent support from Carlos at Wizards Hosting. They get my vote!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'd already searched the board for messages mentioning both Wizards and Ventures and found many positive postings about both.

All the comments have come from Wizards customers. I was hoping to hear from both - is there anyone out there that has any personal experience of Ventures?

Another thing about Ventures that I like is that they have recently introduced a support forum. Does anyone know if Wizards have any plans for creating a support forum?

alpha: what are the other "goodies" in Wizards packages that you refer to?

MikeS.

Originally posted by hostrocket
Give Wizards Hosting a try, you wont be sorry... Brendan

Brendan: thanks, I appreciate your recommendation to try WizardsHosting, coming as it does from a competing web host. HostRocket was my 3rd choice and one which I'm afraid I just ruled out.

I humbly suggest that you update your FAQ which states (in the "Before you sign up" section): "We [HostRocket] are not listed anywhere on the registration." I did a whois on one of your customers, and found your own name and company details all over the registration record. Domain registration/ownership is a delicate issue and your FAQ attempts to reassure potential customers with information which is patently untrue. You may not own the domain, but having your info all over it prevents a customer from changing their own domain record without your cooperation. The FAQ may be 100% accurate apart from this one item but when one reads a misleading or inaccurate claim from a company, it undermines the credibility of everything else that the company states. This was the decider for me.

I opened a ticket on it (#7309), but the response didn't answer the concern and my latest follow up has had no response at all. I have posted these suggestions here because I wasn't getting anywhere with the ticket. I hope you do change the FAQ because you seem to be a good company, growing fast and trying hard to keep up.

MikeS.

Mike, I found a recent thread (though pertaining to something specific), with comments about V.O.
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=7470

Originally posted by MikeS
I did a whois on one of your customers, and found your own name and company details all over the registration record. <SNIP> You may not own the domain, but having your info all over it prevents a customer from changing their own domain record without your cooperation.

There may be the possibility that Host Rocket purchased a free domain for this client as part of their package, and thus for a certain amount of time, the registration will show 'owned by HostRocket', but other than that, I don't think you are correct in the assumption that, "having your info all over it prevents a customer from changing their own domain record without your cooperation."

Unless you are not registered as the owner (registrant), and admin contact, you can freely change things regarding your domain.

Can you post the domain name?

That's the point - HostRocket was registered as admin. The domain owner couldn't edit the nameservers. I understand it was probably a bulk registration and Brendan forgot to go in and change the reg info. But it looks bad from the POV of someone checking out if HostRocket are telling the truth.

I have had no problems with VO. I highly recommend them.

I have a dedicated server with VO and they've been great. You won't go wrong with either one.

Hi,

I never saw that ticket but now I know what all that was about. When his domain got registered for some reason it used our default account settings instead of the correct ones. This is not something we do normally, and would have corrected.. I dont see any open tickets from the domain owner but I'll look into it. We register hundreds of domains a month and this is the only one I know of this happened on.

The response you got about it in the ticket was kinda correct, but he wasn't real clear as to how or why it was. I wish I could answer every ticket so I knew everything that went on but I can't.

-Brendan

I'm a reseller with VO and they have been great. Been with a couple of companies now, but none of them had the price or support that VO offers, I swear they're probably already tired of me :). I definately would go with them.

I've now been with Ventures Online for about 7 weeks and remain very, very pleased with them! :)

The support is great. Paul and Dan are energetic and friendly and always willing to help. Paul is a very patient person. :) He helped me get all set up and was great about answering my 1001 questions. I have also heard great things about Chuck who recently joined the team. These guys see support issues through and put customers first. I have never had this kind of service from a host before and am really, really impressed.

I love the support forum. I have had a lot of questions answered on there and have connected with a few other VO clients; we now ICQ each other regularly to work together on solutions. It's awesome to have a group like this to work with. :) That forum is an awesome asset.

Features>> I have been really happy with the packages and the prices. The reseller plan is great. I haven't found anything lacking in the way of features, and I love knowing I have plenty of bandwidth for my needs. Additional functionality can be added -- cgiWrapper is included, so you can add your own scripts if needed. I also still use several other 3rd party solutions for special features; of course these work just fine.

Two thumbs-up for VO! :D

In fairness I have not had the chance to work with Wizards, just know of them from here on WHT.

:D Bailey

Originally posted by hostrocket
Hi,

...The response you got about it in the ticket was kinda correct, but he wasn't real clear as to how or why it was. I wish I could answer every ticket so I knew everything that went on but I can't...

I understand completely - I have the same problem. Not to worry, that answers my question. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Mike.

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all the input. I had a chat online with Carlos. I'm most impressed by his helpful attitude and friendliness.

So I'm going with...... WizardsHosting!

It could have gone either way. At one point I was leaning towards VenturesOnline but the personal touch with Carlos swung it.

MikeS.

I know you already chose, but if you want a personal touch, VO has it made. There are 4 biggies at VO and if you need something answered, and answered fast, you ALWAYS have someone you can message on ICQ and what not.

I have a dedicated server with them, they are great.

But neither of these give you web-based email, right?

Both use the cpanel, so both should have web based email.
As for my opinion --- I think you would be doing well with either, but if your in it for the long haul, go with wizzards. VO is still a new place, and wizzards has been stable, and had great reviews I have read hear.

You may be happy at either place.. but my vote is wizzards.

Tim L

Originally posted by mmarcuse
But neither of these give you web-based email, right?
Actually, both companies will indeed give you Webmail (that can be accessed from inide the Cpanel or just by typing http://domain.com/webmail/)

And like Tim said, that's due to the fact both use CPanel :)