Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : A journey of 100s of hours...

[writerman]

Hello folks. This is my first time to post, but I am not unfamiliar with the WHT site.

I have taken the message of taking one's time to find a host to heart. So, to date, I have spent around an estimated 240 hours on getting to know what I am dealing with.

Within this time, I have researched, downloaded and read approximately 40-45 articles, 2 checklists, found and utilised 10 directories, and used 3 forums.

The end result of my endeavours has been the distillation/ summary of the vast amount of information into my own checklist comprising approximately 100 points/steps/questions toward selection.

I have had some input to this from a very knowledgeable computing friend, and it still needs a little further refinement.

My pre-selection process is now underway. I have decided the matter of geographical location, and am now refining selection in terms of features, technical support, charges/costs. This will be followed by close examination of contract/terms of service, considerable due diligence, further culling and my second last step shall be the sending of pre-sales letters. In all, a very time consuming process.

I have noticed a number of things during my research.

i) In examining the question of streaming, I have found that quite a number of directories don't include this as a selection option. One I have used does, and one previously had the selection option of http streaming, but appears to have removed this 'click on' option for a more pronounced classification, and has dramatically reduced screen real estate given over to 'click on' search options.


ii) Many hosting companies don't appear to offer streaming. This might explain why many of the directories (with advanced search functions) don't include the streaming option. I am examining streaming for an idea for a website that I wish to develop.

iii) In relation to ii), it appears that now I have to start researching streaming media directories. It has taken me some time to realise this, only recently having discovered them. It seems to me that the market is (partially) divided into those seeking streaming and those not - hence many of the more popular directories don't seem to include this search function. The way I have found the hosts I am seeking is by closely examining their plans, and in some ways have found what I wanted by accident.

I am researching a business idea. While costings is an integral part of the evaluation process, I have found myself spending important time in something that I had not particularly wanted to spend my time doing. But, I feel that I have got over the hump (or will soon get over hump)of the major part of the host search process - I hope. In turn, I have learned much about the problems and developments of this industry.

I invite members here to make suggestions/comments.

WM

[KGIII]

I am reluctant to say this but add longevity to the list. A host that's been around a while is more likely to be around in the future and as host's come and go pretty quickly, it's a definite benchmark that should be taken into consideration.

KGIII

[writerman]

Thanks. Yes, that is right. 'Length of time in business' is my first due diligence question.

WM

[bluedreamer]

Originally Posted by writerman

I have noticed a number of things during my research.

i) In examining the question of streaming, I have found that quite a number of directories don't include this as a selection option. One I have used does, and one previously had the selection option of http streaming, but appears to have removed this 'click on' option for a more pronounced classification, and has dramatically reduced screen real estate given over to 'click on' search options.

Streaming is very server resource intensive and needs the right setup to work reliably. As the costs associated with this sort of setup are generally higher than "normal" hosting it has become a bit of a specialised area and you do normally pay a premium price for it.

[viabandwidth]

Here Here!

Longevity should be at least the top 3 asset in a hosting company.

About streaming... There are two types...pre-recorded and live streaming. The live streaming is where you have to pay the big bucks and no, you won't find many hosts at all that do it. Most people that need live usually have a budget big enough to host their own equipment and manage it. (IMHO) I think most people just need pre-recorded and that is not complicated and can do that on the majority of hosts out there.

[Nadabrahma]

Right, it seems you have a rather special need and you cannot expect that to be listed everywhere under the standard features.

The way to go for me would be to first find some reliable hosts, THEN investigate their views on streaming media.

Good Luck!

[writerman]

Well, yes you might be right. But, my special need was to find a host which provides streaming be it live or pre-recorded, or real and http etc.

My point was that about 1 directory provided this option, and another which clearly had this, had removed it, or chose some other feature/s to emphasize, and simply 'buried' the streaming option.

While it has been pointed out that there are not many takers for live streaming given its expense, some of the companies that had their plans mounted in the 'shared' hosting category actually showed their streaming feature when I generally did a full plan comparison. Granted not many, but for my purposes, not knowing exactly what to look for other than 'streaming' or 'real audio/video', or 'audio/video' meant that I have had to spend inordinate amounts of time looking.
In short, I would have liked to have seen a choice of streaming http or real audio/video.

It may well be that I was searching in the wrong section. Should I have been searching under dedicated hosting? Or, as I suspect, should have even been examining a streaming media directory/directories?

WM