Leaving MediaTemple - Recommendations?

[FoxyKaye]

Hi all,

I've been doing a lot of reading on web hosts - our organization has been with MediaTemple for almost two years, which have been an unmitigated disaster for us. Their customer service and technical support are horrific (taking days, if not weeks, to get back to us), the migration to the "Grid Server" has managed to bring down our site and services at least once a month, and frankly, the feature set for site management is so-so - they actually cut services that our users need, such as the ability to self-manage out of office messages (this is now done through the site manager only). The most frequent response we get from MT has been, "sorry, we're working on it."

Other companies that have come to the top here on MR include HostGator, ASO (A Small Orange), and Site 5. I'd include DreamHost in this list, but it seems to have also garnered a lot of mixed reviews.

Our needs are many, but include:

* Multiple-domain hosting (4 domains)
* Large capacity for email storage for a highly mobile staff (including robust "on the road" email management via Web interface).
* Reasonably large storage capacity
* Extensive Unix tool support for integrating with an online advocacy tool and offline databases
* Online store and certificate support
* Some streaming server support for Flash and Quicktime
* Support for Joomla CMS

What I also want is reliable uptime and responsive technical support.

Any additional thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Sean Dempsey]

look into becoming a reseller for Enom. That is what I am looking into.

Or Cari.net

Or maybe 1and1

 

[needlnerdz]

Hi all,

I'd include DreamHost in this list, but it seems to have also garnered a lot of mixed reviews.

I was in the same boat about 5 months ago... tempted by Media Temple, but read only bad things about the new Grid Server (not to mention them doubling their cost)- I was after the ability to host many domains, a few databases, all the usual perks, and lots of space/bandwidth SHOULD I happen to need it.

So after a friend of mine said nothing but good things about Dreamhost - which was in contrast to some reviews I saw online.. I asked him to setup a subdomain for me to test it out.. speeds were great- So I bit the bullet, and got their thirdlevel package which has always been priced as the 2nd smallest.. - nothing but good things to report. They had a funky time a year ago when they were really expanding, but I think they've got it all down pat now. Their panel is great- plenty of one click installs such a Joomia.. - not sure how well they can handle your mobile emailing system? But I would have to give them a huge two thumbs up.. and if you find trouble/lag you can ask to be switched to another server. Another reason for getting their 3rd level package with ungodly amounts of space/bandwidtch- is that you are given 3 tech support calls a month... probably not much compared to other companies.. but I have yet to need to take advantage of this ability.


Last but not least, after writing this review.. I'd say you need to do more homework before posting a new thread like this. The topic has been hammered well below the ground in previous posts.. guess I'm just eager to procrastinate... goodluck

 

[zimv20]

Our needs are many, but include:

* Multiple-domain hosting (4 domains)
* Large capacity for email storage for a highly mobile staff (including robust "on the road" email management via Web interface).
* Reasonably large storage capacity
* Extensive Unix tool support for integrating with an online advocacy tool and offline databases
* Online store and certificate support
* Some streaming server support for Flash and Quicktime
* Support for Joomla CMS

What I also want is reliable uptime and responsive technical support.

i vote Hostgator. i've got a reseller account there (hosting about 30 domains) and i also run a joomla site on its own account. the non-reseller accounts have more capacity and seem to get upgrades sooner, so i'd say go for that. most of those non-reseller accounts (at least according to their sales page) can host multiple domains. and you can get ssh access for those accounts, but not for domains under a reseller account.

their tech support is pretty good and, even when only mediocre, is still responsive. i've been with them for 3 years now.

 

[FoxyKaye]

Last but not least, after writing this review.. I'd say you need to do more homework before posting a new thread like this. The topic has been hammered well below the ground in previous posts.. guess I'm just eager to procrastinate... goodluck

The thing of it is, web hosting companies are not static beings. MT got rave reviews until it mashed us all up into their anti-fabulous "Grid Server." A lot of the hosting discussions I've been reading are 3-6 months in the past, which is enough time for these companies to get "new ideas" and screw a decent service up. This is exactly what happened with MT, and I'm loathe to repeat that experience any time soon.

Though it does sound like the "troubles" are over at DreamHost, so maybe I'll add them back in the mix of folks to interview. Thanks to the folks above for a few other additions to the list to boot. I continue to welcome additional thoughts from others on this...