Do you prefer managed or unmanaged hosting?
 

Hello :)

I am just curious as what webmasters are more interested in when in comes to Dedicated Servers.

Managed (completely managed) or unmanaged?

I am seeing alot of very low pricing out here for dedicated servers from some of the major adult hosts, but after further investigation these servers come with NO support and adding a support package is upwards of $350/mo. Also other additional costs for password trading/hack prevention, etc.

So, I am wondering-- would you rather pay a little more for a complete managed server or is a cheaper server plan and no support better for some the more experienced webmasters here?

I just know for the amount and the scope of the support we provide (which is EVERYTHING down installing scripts for clients) we can not compete with these low prices, but we could if we were to cut the support down and charge for extra things, which is better?

Thanx for your time :)

creative spam?

No, not all. I am seriously wanting to know what webmasters prefer so we can better our business is all.

I hardly ever post here (as you can see) and I never reply to all the hosting threads that get spammed. I am far from a spammer :)

Yikes...hahah

1 GHZ processor
512mb RAM
40 gig drive
1.5mbps bandwidth

total= $637.50/month

In response to your questions, offer both managed and unmanaged. You shouldn't be surprised by what other companies out there charge. Look at your prices.

Managed!

Okay, im a brand new person to the web. I looked around A LOT before picking a host, and chose naked hosting. Yes, I pay a bit more for bandwidth, but I like the fact that I can call 24 hours a day and get help, I LOVE the fact that they are willing to help out in almost any way possible!

Of course, if you are an experienced server person, all you need is someone on the other end to reboot once in a while, its probably a bit too much for bandwidth. but, for someone who is willing to pay for great service, its perfect!

:1orglaugh

If you've been lurking for awhile as you suggest, then you should know that your not that far from a spammer :winkwink:


Besides.. thats sort of a silly question.

People who can manage their own servers (or have someone to do it for them) don't want managed services. People who can't (and don't feel confident enough to manage the servers themselves) don't. Then there are the people in between who really need managed services, but they refuse to pay until they are hacked to bits -- and then they'll blame you.

I think that about sums it up.

Thanx for the advice. No I am not surprised at the prices at all. I am a little surprised that those low prices come with no support though. I am aware our prices are higher, I am looking to change that hence the reason for the question :)

You didn't shop around much did you? I am not bashing Kacy, but if she wants to improve her company, lower the prices. There are a lot of hosting companies just as good that offer the same service for a fraction of the cost. Her virtual hosting plans start at $2.00/gig. Hello??? On the other hand, more power to nakedhosting if they keep customers with those prices....and capturing apache 400 pages....

If you really want to know just offer both for awhile and see what people want. Haha, i guess there are mba consultants out there who would charge ya for that.

You are going think whatever you want, nothing I post now will change that. If you think I am a spammer when all the other hosts that post here spam to everything hosting thread there is and I am simply asking a question to better my business then whatever. Think what you will. I know what I am and am not.
No disrepect to you at all, you have a right to your opinion.

I am sure there are, lol :) Thanx for the advice!

You had premediated exposure on the mind. Admit it already. :1orglaugh

I think there is an unspoken rule here that until you have at least 100 posts, all you are allowed to do is agree with, and laugh at the jokes of the regulars.

But just so you don't walk away wondering why some people think your thinking your creatively spamming...

if I had < 10 posts, and I have a sponsor program and I start a thread with a subject asking a question like:

So do you prefer PER-SIGNUP or PARTNERSHIPS?

Would you think I am spamming?

Like I said, I agree with you on lowering price :) I don't think you are bashing me at all. I think you are sincerely trying to give sound advice.

Actually we do very well, but we are in a different market. 95% of our business is amateur sites and newbies that need more help, so yes they are willing to pay a little more. btw- we change the error pages for any that requests it :)

I am looking into the bigger share of the market and just trying to find out what the bigger share is more interested in managed or unmanaged. I thought it was a simple question, but maybe not.

Nice site btw :thumbsup

Ok, yes I see where you are coming from. I guess since I don't have many posts it would look like that, but it was not that and that is all I can really say. Anyone that does read this board that knows me, knows that true :)

But, I will remember what you said for next time--thanx !

dir, chmod, ln, top

Let me at those unmanaged servers. I'm available for consultation as well.

Most webmasters preffer managed hosting with 24.7 tech support al lot of guys also like icq support. But price and bandwith plays an important role. You have to find a host that?s the balance of the three.

IMO, offer both. Why limit your company to one choice? Offer both, and you are not eliminating potential customers right off the bat. Count me for unmanaged if you are keeping track....

HAHA :)

This is what I mean, there are MANY experienced webmasters out here that can admin their own server, but do they? Do they still get the managed support? I don't know--that is what I am looking for find out.

Not one single client I have could manage their server so this unmanaged server business is looking pretty good to me so far.

I will agree with that :) Finding the balance is the key. Thanx!

Kacy hit me up on ICQ 4433144

So what happens if there is a software or hardware problem on a customers server at 4am on monday morning. If its unmanaged you are not going to fix it on the spot in minutes because his server is unmanaged??

We would fix it. We could never do that to someone. No matter what. We have build our whole business on the reputation for having excellent support. So I would never jeopordize that for a few bucks. We are just not that type of people. Its just that we go WAY above and beyond (i think you guys do as well from what I hear) and for me unmanaged in my mind is still providing all the basic support, just not installing 2 scripts a day for people, lol :)

Tried, looks like you are offline :(

I'm in invisible mode to keep the ICQ spammers out ... message me I'll get it.

I've used both managed and unmanaged servers. I can do the maintenance myself, but I'm not an expert, and prefer to let someone else do it. But I wouldn't use a managed server without great support...decent work-order system, 24-7 live chat or phone, no "well our Unix guy is off for the weekend.". I want fast turnaround on simple support requests. Like when I realize I want some simple utility installed, or something else that should just take a couple commands, I want it then...I understand it might take a couple hours for someone to get around to it, but 24 hours on a simple request would piss me off. More complicated requests, I can wait.

Great! Exactly the kind of info I am looking for. That pretty much sounds like the service we currently provide, so it seems we are on the right track :)

They change the pages if you ask, or will teach you to do it yourself.

Also, I dont think that im overpaying. Im a very small drain on the server, so I dont have the bandwidth to command dedicated or lower prices. I have a hosting company that will do almost anything I ask of them (hell, would even answer a general "newbie" question that would get me laughed off this board!) Password protection and an anti hacking script (which would easily cost me a hell of a lot more money if I didnt have), and a 99.999% uptime guarantee. Ive NEVER heard a bad thing about them (actually, the only semi negative thing that ive heard about them is when some of the servers went down for a few minutes)

But, I will admit, if you dont need the newbie services, then some other companies will offer lower rates. I look for value, and the services provided more than make up for the higher rates. (for me, at least)

You are overpaying. Small drain on the server or not. Their prices are out to lunch, newbie or not.
Anti hacking scripts are dime a dozen, a lot of host have Iprot etc. It isn't that expensive to stop password hacking. Check pennywize if you don't believe me.
If you are that much of a newbie, should people have faith in your ability to run a partner program?

Without getting into a big long debate here I'll say this.

Nakedhosting has a lot of customers that are very happy with the service they recieve from them. Most of thier customers don't price shop then complain because thier server is down. In fact quite the opposite is true ... you don't hear thier customers complaining about downtime.

Not everything is based on price. Can you get cheaper hosting? Sure. But if your happy why put your business through the trouble of switching hosts.

On the other hand I can tell you there are a lot of people out there getting totally raped with prices. But while $2 a gig isn't the cheapest out there it is not the worst and at least you don;t ever hear thier customers complaining.

If the price is right, im there. Managed or unmanaged.

Looks like some great services that are being provided and decent prices. Is www.NakedHosting.com affililiated with www.WebAir.com ? Only reason I ask is because the sites look like they're from the same family

managed

Thanx Warden :) No we are not affiliated, but now that you mentioned I looked at their site and I see the similarities with the flash on the side. I hired someone to do that for me, so I was unware actually. I hope they don't see it as a conflct, if so I may need to change that. Thanx for letting me know!