Know Tech open, break, learn, fix, know.

look for a feature you might want

• Rackspace Cloud Sites enables both Windows and Linux technology
• Quicktime, WMV, or Real streaming servers
• Flash Multi user server

check the TOS

• verify that the content you want to serve is compatible with your host
• how can your services get suspended (SPAM, processes, content)

understand the money back rules

• is there are hidden 12 month commitment

make SURE your domain does not need to be transfered to the host

• this bad, very bad

how much is “overages for bandwidth”?

• and how is it measured

check their documentation

• do searches for things like “client FTP”
• adding an outside IP address to the DNS
• adding Goggle Docs and Apps

email policy

• is sending too much mail defined
• if you do email marketing is your blast allowed

what does UNLIMITED mean?

• slashdotted, dugg, reddit’d, boinged, oh my!

can’t decide?

• all of them get bad reviews!
• mind the date of the reviews.

go into it with the old college try attitude

• most services are month to month so you could try lots of things out for about $100.

one click installs are okay. in fact we don’t think that one-click installs are all that important. just about every single host will advertise that one-click installations are part of the package. they will let you see how a tool works without the hassle of making a database and running the script to fill it. this makes the WordPress “five minute install” totally possible without having to know anything about gzip, permissions, or making a mySQL database.  the problem with “one click” installs have a disadvantage sometimes in that they can’t be modified by you. the script always has to do it for you. this can also limit what templates and plug-ins you can use. you are also at the mercy of your provider to keep their tools up to date.

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