Archive for March 29th, 2005

Cheap Web Hosting: Unix or NT

Tuesday, March 29th, 2005

Shared cheap web hosting is most commonly offered in UNIX and Windows NT operating systems. When you go to retain a cheap web hosting provider, you will have to choose which platform your site will run on. Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

Windows NT servers are configured to be compatible with Microsoft applications, such as FrontPage, Access and MS SQL. NT servers also offer programming environments such as Active Server Pages (ASP), Visual Basic Scripts, MS Index Server and Cold Fusion.

NT allows those with little or no experience in web development to get advanced features working very quickly. By using software such as Microsoft’s FrontPage, you can have a fully functional site up in a short amount of time.

However, along with Microsoft’s powerful features and user-friendly environment, comes a cost much larger than similar features compatible with UNIX. Microsoft’s NT operating system has another drawback. It’s very hard on web servers and may require additional resources if stability is to be maintained. Even with additional hardware implemented, NT servers will have to be rebooted regularly. So it is very important that the support staff for an NT host be knowledgeable and reliable.

Given that NT servers provide excellent levels of support and integration for Microsoft products, you should select NT if you will be using a Microsoft-based service with your hosted server.

UNIX is the other common operating system. It is extremely vigorous and designed to handle heavy Web traffic and server load. Most UNIX systems with heavy traffic can provide a 99 percent uptime guarantee. This is because UNIX has been around for much longer than NT, and is now very developed and stable.

Many web server applications available on the Internet are intended for use with the Unix OS. So UNIX has come to be a very flexible platform in regards to programming/application compatibility. Most hosting plans include a wide amount of features such as, Perl, JAVA, PHP, Miva, Shell Access (remote access to your server through any online connection), and much more.

For the downside, there are some types of server applications, mostly those offered by Microsoft, which will not be supported. These include Microsoft’s Active Server Pages (ASP) and Microsoft’s SQL database software. However, several companies have already developed software that will allow these applications to run on UNIX. So these issues may not be around much longer.

Overall, it is safe to say that if you know what sort of programming and applications you will use to run your web site, and they are compatible with a UNIX platform, then you should go with a UNIX plan.

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Web Design Tips & Tutorials - Layout Tips

Tuesday, March 29th, 2005

This article is brought to you by Hosting Marketers.
One of the most significant problems that faces most web sites is slow loading time, which often annoys users to the point where they give up and go to another site. As a result of this problem it is extremely important to design your pages to load as quickly as possible, which means keeping page size as low as possible. By keeping your page layout simple, your site will not only be more user-friendly, but it will also load more quickly, ensuring that your visitors don’t go to another site. The following layout tips will help keep your users where you want them at your site!

I. Keep It Simple
One of the most important things to remember when developing your page layout is to keep it simple. Gimmicks like java script, scrolling text, and other unnecessary add-ons only make your site slower, and are largely unappreciated by users. In addition, it is generally a good idea to stay away from video, audio, or graphics files which require plug-ins. These forms of media require a long time to load, and many users do not have plug-ins installed on their computers. If you insist on using a plug-in not found on most computers, it is a good idea to provide a link to a site offering a free download of the plug-in.

II. The Four GIF Rule
Generally speaking, most servers load four GIF’s at a time, and it is therefore a good idea to limit the number of GIF images used per page to four or less. By doing so, you will limit the number of server calls, and your pages will load faster.

III. Nestled and Vertical Tables
When laying out your web pages, it is typically a good idea to avoid nestled tables (tables inside tables) and long vertical tables, as they take a long time to load, and will make your page load much slower. Ideally, your pages should be comprised of stacks of tables, which make your pages appear to load faster, as the top tables load first, giving the user something to read while waiting for the rest of your content to load.

IV. The Advantages of White Space
In order to avoid giving your site a cluttered feel to it, make sure to use white space between content and images. This tactic will not only make your content easier to read, but will also make your site more attractive, and give it a balanced look and feel.

By following these four simple tips, you can help give your site a professional look and feel, while making sure that your site loads as quick as possible. Remember, as a rule Internet users are among the least patient people in the world, because if your site is slow, they know they can get the information, products, or services they desire at another site.

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