Simple Randomness

You Really Do Need to Have a Good Host!

I know I’ve blogged about this before, but in the last week or two I’ve really had it confirmed that you really really need to have a good web host!

I have a client that I was working with that signed up for hosting with a company I won’t name right now.  This was the most confusing hosting platform that I’ve ever seen!  All I was trying to do was help her to set up a blog, and there was no easy way to do it!  In the end the only way we found was to use their own version of WordPress, which had limited functionality!  Talk about messed up!

I immediately had her switch hosts, and things are starting to work out a whole lot better since then.

So seriously, make sure you check out the different hosts out there before you just sign up for somebody.  Unfortunately, I think that’s what this lady did.  She just picked one because they had a good domain name deal.

This is just one example of why it’s good to check out sites with web hosting reviews before you just go sign up because of a good domain name price. There is so much more to it than just a domain name!

So check out these guys, WebHostingGeeks.com and see if the host you have is one of the most recommended web hosts. They even have it broken down by best for different purposes. For example, they have a different recommendation for just a website host than they do for a blog host.

So check it out!

You Have to Have a Good Host!

So a friend of mine recently has been complaining because he keeps getting some sort of database error from time to time on his blog.  I can understand his frustration!

Hosting is a huge deal when it comes to starting a website or really doing anything online.  And sadly, there are a lot of unreliable hosts out there.  That’s why it’s always a good idea to do some research and checking out different hosts through some good webhost reviews before you just sign up for some company your friend told you about!

That’s why it’s a good thing that companies like Web Hosting Geeks are around.  They’ll go through and do the research and give you suggestions on who the best web hosts are.  This can save you a lot of time and a lot of headache!

I’ve actually talked to tons of people that at one point or another were very unhappy with their webhost, and most of the time when i ask them who their host is it’s some company that I’ve never even heard of before.

Another cool thing about Web Hosting Geeks is that they have a webhosting blog that you can subscribe to that will keep you up to date on everything going on in the hosting world. It’s good to keep up to date!

So if you’re in the market for a new webhost, check out some of the companies that are being reviewed at Web Hosting Geeks. You might just save yourself from pain later :).

We’re All Getting More ADD!!!

So I was thinking about this the other day and would love to hear what other people think about this. Here’s the question that’s been on my mind:

Is technology making us all more ADD???

I think another way to ask this question is that is it making us more rude as a people?

For example, how many times have you been standing in line to buy something, and the person in front of or behind you is yapping away on their cell phone oblivious to anything else around them?  Then when they talk to the checker it’s like “hang on, I have to talk to a real person for a sec” then they quickly conduct their business and go about their way.  Ever seen that?  I think it’s one of the reasons why people who always wear their bluetooth earpieces drive me nuts!!!

There is a point where you need to stop multi-tasking and actually focus on one thing.  But with all the things going on at one time, I think it’s making it harder for all of us to focus!  Maybe you’re writing something, then an IM pops up on your screen and you attend to that really quick, then get back to work.  You just broke your focus!

I’m not sure what to call this exactly, I think ADD is a pretty good term for it since with all the different technologies and interruptions we don’t focus well.  At least I know I struggle with this.  Anybody else have this problem or have any thoughts on it?

Reliable Web Hosting

When you’re starting up a website, it’s very important that you have a good and reliable web host.  The problem is that there are so many to choose from!

I’m using a particular host, but honestly I think of changing it from time to time.  So as I’ve been thinking about this I’ve been checking out different ones from time to time.  One that’s been around for quite some time is Network Solutions.

Network Solutions overs a variety of web hosting services to match your individual needs. They also have a few great characteristics such as:

• 99.99% UNIX uptime reliability
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Award-winning customer service
• Free domain name
• Website building tools
• Website marketing tools

One of the other things to consider when it comes to choosing a web host is the cost. For example, right now I’m doing month to month hosting for about $7 a month. With Network Solutions it is $9.96 a month. Now, this isn’t such a big deal if they can justify the cost, and having a really reliable up time can be worth it.

Another thing to compare would be the amount of space that they give you and bandwidth. Honestly, I haven’t done any direct comparisons but that would be another factor in determining if a particular host is worth the price.

Anyway, if you’re looking for hosting, Network Solutions is one to look into!

I Could Never Use an Asus Eee

So this weekend I’m hanging out and learning a ton at BlogWorldExpo (which I’ll write more about later) and I’ve seen a couple of people with these really really small laptops.  I have a 14″ Dell and it works fine, but I could never imagine working off one of these 7″ screens that I’ve seen a few guys have!

Here’s what I would picture myself as if I was using a laptop like that.  Or, rather than laptop maybe it should be called a ‘hand-top’, but I digress…  So here’s what I see: all hunched over looking like Quasimodo with a bent back and neck just trying to read anything on that thing.

Maybe it’s just cause my eyes aren’t that good or something.  I don’t know, but I really couldn’t see myself using one of those.  But if you could, more power to you!  I mean really, I guess for portability they really would come in handy, but not for every day use.  Maybe someone can give me a reason why?

Help for an IT Career

Ok ok, I admit it…I’m a computer nerd.  Not a GEEK, but I am definitely a NERD.

The good thing is that these days being at least somewhat of a nerd can pay pretty good.  But you still have to take the right path to make sure that your career is on track.

The fact is that these days there are a lot of jobs and opportunity in the IT industry.  I’m more of an IS major, but there are a lot of similarities between the two.  And the good thing is that almost every company these days needs an IT guy (or girl if you prefer)!

In the education side of IT, there are degrees and there are certifications.  A degree in IT is like what you get from a university or college.  But then there are also a lot of certifications that you can get as well.  Most of these are very specific to a company or brand, such as a Cisco certification.

The other cool thing about these certifications is that most of these companies have a training program that goes along with their certifications. That way you aren’t left in the dark as far as what you need to know in order to pass the tests.  But of course you will need to know your stuff.

What’s crazy is that my wife actually used to work for a company that helped to manage a lot of the different certification programs.  And there are a lot of them out there.  But Cisco is one that is more universal.  So check them out for info on their different programs and how they can help you in your IT career.

Bluetooth Headsets are Officially the New “Status Symbol”

Just yesterday I was walking out of a building and I saw 2 guys about my age walking out of another door.  But one of them had a rather large bluetooth headset on his ear.  They were talking back and forth and it just got me thinking, “Why does he still have his headset on?  He’s talking to his friend, why doesn’t he take it out?”

Has anyone else noticed that this is becoming more and more common?  People are just walking around with their headsets on their ears whether they’re using them or not.  It seriously has become the new status symbol!

Look at me, I have a Bluetooth and you don’t!

I just don’t get it.  Now, I can see using a bluetooth when you’re driving your car or doing something where you need to talk on the phone but need both hands free.  For those situations I get it.  But do you really get that many phone calls that you need to have this thing attached to your ear 24/7?  Next thing you know we’ve going to hear about ‘bluetooth surgery’ were people are having these things implanted into their heads.  Maybe that will be the next status symbol….

For those of you that have bluetooths, please be polite to your friends and take it off when you’re talking to them!  Also, it drives me NUTS when people are walking around talking loudly on them in the store…

My Thoughts on Open Source vs. Proprietary Programs

Yesterday I got into a discussion with a friend of mine about open source programs vs. proprietary programs. Now granted, my experience with open source programs is rather limited. The main programs that I’ve used are FireFox, GIMP, Nvu, OpenOffice, and I guess you might count WordPress.

So here’s my thought: there are some great open source programs out there. If you consider WP to be one of these, I would say its the best blogging software out there. FireFox is awesome, need I say more? OpenOffice is great, too. But some of the other programs I’m not as impressed with. For example, GIMP and Nvu. They are fine in their own right, but I would have to say that the proprietary programs kick their rears (if you know what I mean). DreamWeaver blows Nvu out of the water in my opinion, and I would much rather use FireWorks, PhotoShop, or Illustrator over GIMP.

Now remember, my experience is limited, but I think that in most situations a proprietary program is going to be better. And really I think the main reason for that is capitalism. If you run a software company, you are going to do your best to make sure that you develop a product that meets the needs of your customers. You have a financial interest in making the best product you possibly can. I just don’t see the same level of financial motivation behind an open source program.

It just seems to me that if you need a more advanced program like photo or graphic editing, you’re probably better to go with a proprietary program.  You can do just fine with the open source versions, but I think they’re harder to use.  Again, this is just my experience with them.

Of course, this could very easily start a very heated debate with all of the Linux vs. Windows people out there. But again, this has been my experience. Any thoughts?