I've been having a look around teh interwebz for reviews of web hosts, but they all seem to be conflicting and bogus - it's really quite ridiculous, but anyway...

I know quite a few of you have websites, so you have actual experience. I'm looking for a decent sized bit of webspace and good usage allowance, plus a .co.uk domain. I saw the 1and1 Home package which fills all my requirements for £5/mo. Does anyone have experience with them? Are there other webhosts out there who do the same and are good?

Also, is there any web host that would still accept a postal order? My parents are completely paranoid and only have one credit card, which is never to be used on the internet, because every cyber criminal in Russia is somehow going to break into my network behind a Smoothwall, with encrypted hard disks, firewall on the router, constant anti-everything scans and proxies to a stupid level, with SSH and TSL on every damn connection!!! </rant>

theChipmunk

Can't help you on the hosting question because I use my iDisk space but I just bought a domain name using a visa/debit card, so if you've one of those that would also be fine for making the payment.

Mark

I use 123-reg http://www.123-reg.co.uk/web-hosting/ No issues with them.


Anybody would think you had something to hide

Dreamhost, very cheap and remarkable service. Tech. support is second to none and software is very easy to install and configure (some of it also under "one-click install").

Hosting gets cheaper the longer you pay for in advance, but assuming you went for 1 years hosting it could cost $119.40.

I can also give you a code that will get you $50 off that, so it would be just $69.40 for a whole years hosting.

The code will get you $10 off if you decide to pay for hosting on a monthly basis, or it will get you $50 dollars off if you opt to pay for 1 years hosting (or more) in advance.

The promo. code is: STAPLES1234

It doesn't expire, so anyone here is welcome to use it.

http://www.dreamhost.com/hosting.html

Edit: some highlights:



All for approx. £40/year.

I use vurta.

Edd

I run my own webhosts so never have an issue.
Why not get one of those prepaid cards and load it up just for internet use?

Hmm...that sounds interesting, but I'm afraid I've never heard of them and a casual Google doesn't reveal much...I don't suppose you have a link?

Dreamhost sounds pretty damn good and the coupon makes it very attractive! I'll look into Vurta.

Thanks, everyone!

theChipmunk

Just one example:

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/prepaid-card/

Google "prepaid mastercard" or "prepaid Visa" and you'll find plenty. Bear in mind though, that while some only charge an "application fee", others charge on a monthly basis (e.g. £5 pcm).

Thanks.

I also managed to find the 3V service, which is just like using a Visa card, apparently...except more expensive.

They look fairly promising, actually, especially since there's a Spar about thirty metres down the road that does Payzone, although it's not listed on their site...still, if it doesn't work, I just have to walk a tiny bit more.

I could pay yearly for hosting as long as I remembered. I'll still have to see about getting my own credit card and PayPal when I'm eighteen, mind you.

By the way, when you say around £40 for the hosting, Linux_User, is that it, or is there a one-time setup fee?

Thanks again - I've learnt something very useful today!

theChipmunk

That's it. You only pay a set-up fee if you pay monthly, if you hosted yearly (and the cost is nearer £45) there's no set-up fee. TBH the cost/features ratio Dreamhost offer is second-to-none, and I've never had my website go down once. The tech. support is also excellent, even if it's just you being silly (like I was).

Just remember to use the promo. code to get your $50 off!

I've got lots of sites hosted at DreamHost and would recommend them.

Only had downtime once, and they were really good about it. Service is excellent, it's cheap and is really feature rich.

Sorry to bust your bubble somewhat Linux_User but chippy - go look round the net for DreamHost codes if you are going to go with them, you can get some really good ones.

I know they are giving free hosting for two years to anyone with a geocities account right now. Happen to have a geocities website chippy???

Well, I did, at any rate. Not sure if I can still login. I used to have the weirdest problem with Geocities, in that my username and password never worked after a week or two and I always had to reset them. After a few tries, I then noted the (then working) username and password down in a secure place, just to make sure I wasn't going crazy, but it always went again...

Anywho, I'll go and search and see if I can still get in, somehow.

theChipmunk

Geocities is closing this year.

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/geocit ... es-05.html

W00t! I found it. So how does that work with Dreamhost?

theChipmunk

Ah, dammit. I worked it all out and did the requisite stuff, but they were only taking 1000 people and they've already gone.



Now I'm really sad.

theChipmunk