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When browsing through the offerings of various web hosting companies you are sure to notice that some offer UNIX hosting and others offer Windows. Some hosts even offer a choice of the two operating systems. What are the differences and which one is better?

First of all, when choosing a host, it doesn’t matter what kind of operating system you develop your web site on or what you use on your own computer. Web sites hosted on both UNIX and Windows servers are universally accessible because the data they serve is identical. The difference lies solely in the software used to serve that data.

In terms of reliability UNIX systems have a slight advantage. They are known to extremely stable and able to run for years without rebooting. Windows is also very reliable - slightly less so than UNIX but still able to handle the demands of modern web sites.

The majority of web hosts use various flavours of UNIX like Linux and FreeBSD. These operating systems are free and reduce the costs of a hosting operation. Windows costs thousands of dollars so some hosts charge extra for Windows accounts if they offer both types.

As well as being free, Linux and the other UNIX varieties are open-source software. Anyone can alter the source code and make improvements, updates, and additions. There is a large pool of dedicated enthusiasts who use their free time to work on this software. Windows, on the other hand, is Microsoft proprietary software so users are dependent on Microsoft to release updates. There is no way for an individual user to modify the code.

The main difference between the two types of operating systems is the type of software each can run. Windows is suitable for Microsoft products such as MS Access databases, ASP for delivering dynamic content, and VBScript for site enhancements. UNIX cannot accommodate these technologies so if you absolutely need ASP or VBScript you should pick a Windows host. UNIX hosts deliver dynamic content by using software such as PHP, CGI, and MySQL - technologies which are also available on Windows hosts.

Windows is necessary for hosting Windows media files such as videos and audio. Other types of media such as MP3, Flash, Shockwave and Real can be handled by either UNIX or Windows. Websites created in Microsoft FrontPage (a graphical HTML development package) can also be hosted on either type as long as MS databases or dynamic content are not included for use on a UNIX host.

Which is Best?

Before deciding which type of hosting to use for your website, consider carefully what kind of technologies you will need. Do you need a dynamic site? Will you have multimedia content such as streaming video or audio?

Both UNIX and Windows can provide dynamic content with PHP, MySQL, as well as CGI, and there are thousands of dynamic scripts readily available. Multimedia can also be hosted by either type of server, although Windows media (WMA and WMV) need to be hosted on a Windows server.

If you absolutely need Microsoft databases, ASP, and Windows media you have to go with a Windows host. Otherwise most websites are probably better off with a UNIX host. The advantages of UNIX over Windows include greater choices in web hosts, slightly better reliability, and (sometimes) cheaper hosting costs.

David is an experienced internet entreprenuer with over 7 years of experience. He owns and operates the site www.cheapaffordablewebhosting.info
Visit his site for reviews on the best webhosting companies.

Choosing an internet ISP is often a rash and impulsive decision, but you should put more research and time into this decision to achieve the best results. Internet ISP’s are the portal by which you get onto the internet to visit websites. There are many different ones to choose from. The main goal that you should have in choosing one is that it offers a steady and consistent connection without disruptions, as well as speed.

Internet ISP service prices vary from company to company. You should not solely base your decision on price though. There are many other things to take into consideration when choosing an internet ISP. Here are a few:

1. How many email addresses do they allow per account?

2. Do they offer personal web site service?

3. Can I connect from anywhere?

4. What is the amount of web storage that is available?

5. Do they offer SPAM block or virus protection? What is the cost?

6. What is their customer service like? Is their response quick and helpful, or slow and irritating?

7. What type of service do they offer? Dial-up, DSL, cable, satellite, etc.

8. What are their billing options? Do they allow you to pay monthly or by the year?

9. If you have children, do they have web blocking service?

10. If you are on dial-up, are there local access numbers?

As you can see there are many different things that you need to take into consideration when choosing an internet ISP. This list is not inclusive, there may be many more items that are important to you and your family.

When you find an internet ISP that you are interested in, research them via internet or by asking friends. Call their customer service number and ask questions to see how well they answer the questions and to give you a feel of their availability and response. A simple five to ten minute conversation can give you a pretty good idea of what their service would be like if you had a problem.

Narrow it down to two or three choices and then line up their features side by side to see which one is the right choice for you. You may find that they vary little or you may find that they vary widely. This will give you a clear picture of your choices to enable you to make the right choice for you and your family. This will give you an internet ISP that is sure to make every member of your family happy!

Learn the essential information for picking the right Internet Service Provider at Netzero Internet