web hosting advice
 

I am looking to set up a family website for the kids pics etc. Does anyone have any advice on service providers and software?

Thanks

Mike

Mike,

You running a Windows box or a Mac?

If it's a Mac I'd do a .mac account.

For traditional hosting services you will encounter 2 options, a Windows account that integrates with Frontpage or a UNIX account that is more geek oriented.

I prefer UNIX, more control and flexibility.

In terms of software you can go to places like versiontracker.com or tucows.com. You can usually download 30 day trial software or even some pretty good freeware/shareware stuff and give it a go before you pay for it.

I use cihost.com, they are a bit more than your cheap hosting services but they've always got a special going with tons of server space and bandwidth.

Scott

Since you're just setting up a family site (c'mon, there will be car pics there to right?), I'd start witht the ISP you are using most still offer webspace as part of the package so you may have that part covered already.
If you're running Windows, you should have Front Page Express installed or availabe on the Windows disk which should be enough for a nice basic website. I'd also look into one of those "for Dummies" books on basic HTML, this will give you the basic knowlege to do some fine tuning.

What ISP do you use? Most of 'em give you some webspace, and you are already paying for it.

For easy editors, I'd go with either Mozilla's Composer (or Netscapes), Dreamweaver, or Front Page Express. If you use FPE, try not to use too many MS specific features...

Yeah I am just your average low tech windows user. I will check with my ISP, I was hoping to get something personal.com

I don't understand the difference between Unlix / Linux and windows packages. Do I have to be running unlix / linux to get the cheaper deals? Why are the windows prices so much more than the Unix prices, just for technically stupid people like me who can pay more?

Yeah I am planning on putting a few car pics around somewhere.

Thanks for the advice.

Mike

You do not need to be running Unix/linux.

Unix/linux tend to take more tech knowledge to take full advantage of.

Windows packages tend to be more graphically driven, easier to use if you have limited knowledge.

If you want something personal.com just do a whois on http://www.internic.com/whois.html and see if what you want is available.

Scott