RE: [cobalt-users] Ci Host vs. Cobalt raq

["Carrie Bartkowiak" <admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

||>Are Haugsdal wrote:
||>> But wondering about cancelling this server, and instead go for a
||>> Cobalt raq3 with uk2.net....
||>> What would be best, considering performance in scripts/mysql, and
||>> that I would like to also to learn Linux ?

If you want to *learn* Linux, then going right into a straight Linux machine
might not be your best move. You won't be wading in unfamiliar waters,
you'll be drowning in them.
I've been a customer of CI Host and I ran screaming. They charged me $150
more than they were supposed to, their connection was slow as molasses, and
that "Monster Control" interface couldn't suck any harder. I was a *site*
customer though, not a *server* customer.

I also considered going with them when I was researching getting a server.
The price was a big concern and their deal seemed really good. But I was
wary because of the fight over those charges and the connection/speed
problems I had had as a site customer. I kept thinking though, that it was
because I was on a server with 300 other people, and maybe with my own
server the connection and speed might be considerably better. But I couldn't
be *sure*. Was it the amount of customers on the machine, or was it just CI
Host's connection all around?
Anyway, I digress. (I do that a lot.)

I knew just enough about Linux/Unix from installing/hacking/configuring tons
of CGI scripts. I actually tried a server with another host that had the
Plesk administration software set up on it. However, the host set it up
incorrectly and then refused to give me the root password to fix the thing.
I spent a considerable amount of time researching *how* to fix it and was
almost positive that I could, but I didn't get the chance.

Then I got my RaQ4. And a great host. And this INVALUABLE list and its
archives.
I have learned *so* much. The Raq is a great machine to learn on, in my
opinion, because it does many things for you but leaves you room to explore
and tweak on your own. You don't have to learn it all at once, and drown in
the process.  You can wade in and learn at your own pace. I didn't realize
how important that was before I got my RaQ.

As for your future customers, CI Host's "Monster Control Panel" will never
compare to the ease and self-sufficiency of the Cobalt interface. I
sincerely advise you that before you lease a server from CI Host, you take a
test drive *as a website customer of theirs* and get a real feel for the
machine you'll have and what it will be like from the customer's
perspective. You can experience firsthand what it will be like to your
customers FTP'ing to your machine and working with that control panel. It
just might change your mind.

Anyway, I'd say go with the RaQ and then once you're comfortable with what
you've learned on it, go for your own Linux box. In the meantime you can set
up a Linux box at your house and RTFM, RTFM, RTFM until your eyes cross. The
support you'll get on this list alone will be more than worth it. If you
don't do that, at least become a web site customer of CI Host's first for a
month or so before you make your decision.

Best of luck!

Carrie Bartkowiak