Web host and forum software recommendations

[Type O-]

Hi All,

I am looking for web host and free forum software recommendations.

I will start with the web hosting situation. The current host of my band's web site is very lacking in technical support. They have supposedly been planning a php upgrade for approximately the last 2 years. Their support forum generates few if any responses other than complaints from customers. Based on a night or 2 of research, it seems that Lunar Pages and iPowerWeb appear in most of the top ten lists. Does anyone have any experience with either of these companies? Also, if you have/had an excellent web host, please post or PM me their name.

I am also looking for free forum software recommendations as well. Currently, I have a YaBB 1 Gold SP 1.4 message board running on our web site. I like it, but it loads slowly on our current web host. I believe the problem to be host related, since the copy on my personal web space at my ISP loads very quickly. What other free forum software packages are out there and would they be better than YaBB? I have heard that YaBB can be CPU intensive compared to other boards. I want a board that is free, loads quickly, is easy to maintain, and is relatively secure. Lunar Pages recommends phpBB and SMF.

Any and all help/recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[bammbamm]

I have 1and1.com for my hosting service and the fees are nice and low.
scalable packages for bandwidth usage and all through a well built multi-redundant backup system.

Transfer speeds are quite killer as well.

Anyway, worth a look see, if you decide to go with em, let me know, I think they give a credit for referrals.

Bamm

[Knightmeir]

Originally Posted by bammbamm

I have 1and1.com for my hosting service and the fees are nice and low.
scalable packages for bandwidth usage and all through a well built multi-redundant backup system.

Transfer speeds are quite killer as well.

Anyway, worth a look see, if you decide to go with em, let me know, I think they give a credit for referrals.

Bamm

I have had nothing but problems with 1and1's customer service. They added a web hosting package to all of my domains without telling me, and 6 months later they're demanding payment, even though I never authorized this addition. It's nearly impossible to cancel your account/expire domains, and the customer service ignores your requests to do so. It's like arguing with a brick wall on nyquil.

[shredmaster]

webhosting i go with XO Communications. www.xo.com

i have been with them for 10 years. they are awesome and every tech rep new the answers. that's right TECH REP. they just aren't hired to answer the phone and look up answer on a screen....they know their stuff. i'm happy and their rates for hosting are low. they also have many other services. check 'em out. i host 4 sites off them.