OK, I have to purchase hosting to build my new startup.
I have looked around and am having no luck finding companies that can fit my needs for what I really want to pay starting out.
I certainly don't mind paying more if I get some business.

SoftSysHosting can do the following for $64 a month.

Please, give some company names so I can cross-shop!!

Windows Server 2008 R2 (or at least 2003)
DotNetPanel Express
SQL Server 2008 (not express) - I need SQL Server Agent
ASP.NET 3.5
1 Dedicated IP
3 FTP Access
Remote Desktop Connection for SQL Server administration
SSL Certificate
Very low needs for CPU, RAM, Storage, Bandwidth.
Must be scalable in the future - especially for CPU and RAM
Prefer Hyper-V or Xen
American server to host continental USA only


Also, SoftSys might be a little slow.
72.18.146.253 Ping in Louisville has 43ms average but my developers in Argentina have a 219ms Average.
I wonder what the SoftSys ping is in Washington, California, Maine, Florida, etc?
Anyone care to post a ping average?

Are you wishing to sell webhosting or what? ms unless it is fairly high does not make much of a difference in terms of website load speed. I am getting 66ms from new Hampshire if this helps though. Should be pretty close to the same in Maine aswell.

Thanks for the ping.

No reselling. I am having an online address book for salespeople developed. The site will house simple name, address, status, comments, messages. However, it will be very cheap and just might get a lot of people on it. Therefore, it is not out of line to think that 1,000, or 10,000, or even 20,000 people logged in at the same time five years from now.

The backend data will be very light and not much bandwidth needed at all.

Here is a test file at Softsys.
http://64.27.62.142/100M.bin

It took 1min 50sec at 1mb per second over my 10mbps connection.

Do you guys think that techjr's ping and this download stat is good?
I'm just looking for a frame of reference.

I'm thinking that Softsys is pretty good.

One more thing...Is Softsys paying you guys something to not speakup and not throw them some competition?
;)

I mean, I know they are very active on here and highly regarded BUT COMEON!

Here is a test file at Softsys.
http://64.27.62.142/100M.bin

It took 1min 50sec at 1mb per second over my 10mbps connection.

Do you guys think that techjr's ping and this download stat is good?
I'm just looking for a frame of reference.

I'm thinking that Softsys is pretty good.

One more thing...Is Softsys paying you guys something to not speakup and not throw them some competition?
;)

I mean, I know they are very active on here and highly regarded BUT COMEON!

The download started slow for me but sped up overtime. I myself have never heard of softsys or have seen them on the forum so I must be blind. This could also be because I never look at the windows hosting section. There pricing seems very reasonable and if they have a nice standing on this forum * After searching a bit they do seem to have a good standing * I would go for them but you should contact them just incase you would ever need more then 8gb ram and what they would be able to do about this, If that's there limit then you may have to move 5 years down the line if your site gains as much popularity as you expect it to so you can grab more resources.

If this website needs more than 8gb then I will be more than willing to spend big money on dedicated hosting since I will be making good money.

You never know, Softsys may even have Dedicated Servers a few years from now.
Thanks for your comments

One more thing...Is Softsys paying you guys something to not speakup and not throw them some competition?
;)

I mean, I know they are very active on here and highly regarded BUT COMEON!

Just a confirmation from this end - we are no paying anyone for speaking up against us ;)

HaHa
I knew you would show up!

Comeon now. You know who your best competition is.
Just tell me......
:)
Fat chance HUH

I really think that companies like yours should give a special deal to startups.
I mean, if you would take $20 off the price for the first year then I would be loyal for years...if the startup actually took off.
It might be a interesting niche you could carve out IMHO.

BTW...I just got a 12ms average from a local host called maximumasp WOW

HaHa
I knew you would show up!

Comeon now. You know who your best competition is.
Just tell me......
:)
Fat chance HUH


Couple of companies that I'd recommend you to look into are Appliedi.net and Crystaltech along with Maximumasp.

HaHa
I really think that companies like yours should give a special deal to startups.
I mean, if you would take $20 off the price for the first year then I would be loyal for years...if the startup actually took off.
It might be a interesting niche you could carve out IMHO.


Well, we give special deal for all customers for any number of years that they want to stay with us :) Actually, we too need to cover our basic costs of servers, employees, etc to provide quality services and hence these are the best rates that we can offer.

Thanks!

One more thing...Is Softsys paying you guys something to not speakup and not throw them some competition?

Hosting providers cannot post offers or recommend themselves here.
Happy customers would spend time on their business rather than hanging around in WHT to post reviews.
You can use this link (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/hostquote.php) to request quote from hosting providers.

Hosting providers cannot post offers or recommend themselves here.
Happy customers would spend time on their business rather than hanging around in WHT to post reviews.
You can use this link (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/hostquote.php) to request quote from hosting providers.

Yep, I know.
And your right, that's why I haven't had any action on this thread.
I have already used the Host Quote and have not had anyone offer yet.

So far it's been a major bummer since I really need a host in the next seven days.

Your specs are pretty easily accommodated by anyone providing you with 1GB RAM and at least 30GB disk space. I would shoot for something with 2008 R2 on Hyper-V. Try to avoid 2003 at this point -- IIS 7 is really the way to go.

Both MaximumASP and SoftSys would be a choice depending on needs and overall budget. Maximum has a very nice setup and what I like about them is the high availability by using Failover Clustering, but that comes at a higher entry price point. Softsys has fast, reliable machines and a very good reputation here on WHT. They have some lower price points along with high end offerings (a nice mix). Again, it's down to budget and immediate needs. You'd have room to grow with either.

BTW...I just got a 12ms average from a local host called maximumasp WOW

I happen to have 14-17ms pings to our network even though I have to go up to Atlanta from S. Florida and back again through Comcast (our main two datacenters are in Miami). Granted, not everyone is going to see that and at the end of the day it's only one piece of the puzzle. Don't get too caught up on the numbers.

Thanks for the great post Wayne.

It turns out that Softsys can do what I need for $64.
MaximumASP can do it for $110+

So, right now Softsys is winning pretty easily. If I go with them then they will have me for quite a few years. I'll just go from their Bronze VPS to Silver VPS then Gold VPS. If I need more than that $99 plan (which I certainly hope I will) then I will more than likely switch to MaximumASP. This will be many years from now and the price point will get me started with Softsys and I will stay with them for quite some time because of that.

Most of the other players have plans that makes me buy the stuff I need Ala Carte...which makes it more expensive than these two highly regarded players.