It’s that time in the domain registration process where I need to decide if I want to renew and retain the status quo or transfer and try someone new. I could be perfectly satisfied to renew with iPowerWeb. They have provided a solid hosting service with reasonable, effective, and efficient customer service on the few times I’ve needed it. They’re a little clunky, but for someone who doesn’t need a whole lot of handholding, they do a good job.

But I’m starting to think about mulitple domains and possibly needing multiple databases, and iPowerWeb doesn’t do that the way I would like. I’ve discovered a couple of other hosting services that provide the same storage and bandwidth while allowing more databases and hosting of additional domain names on the same account for the same amount of money — $6.95/month on a 24 month agreement.

Bluehost is one. I was very interested in them. Then I see they don’t host adult content of any kind. Now, if you’ve been here for any amount of time, you know I haven’t posted anything remotely meeting the definition of adult content. I just don’t think it’s appropriate on a site that could have people of all ages visiting it. That’s my choice. But *I* want to make that decision — not my hosting service. (Frankly, my current service may have a similar policy — I haven’t looked.)

Lunarpages comes highly recommended. They’re supposed to have wonderful tech support. Their Control Panel interface isn’t quite at up-to-date as Bluehost’s. They do allow any adult content permitted by California law. They allow unlimited databases and ten add-on domains. More than enough for what I’m thinking about doing.

My WordPress database is still a manageable size. I don’t have anything too complex. The Fantastico scripts library looks tempting — and activating those scripts is what takes all the databases.

What’s your site operating on? Do you have something in the 200GB storage, 2000GB bandwidth, multiple database, multiple domain hosting range for less than $7 a month over 24 month’s range? They have to be reliable, and they have to have a reasonably responsive and capable tech support function. What do you like about it? What could they do better? For what it’s worth, I use DreamWeaver. My current main site is done in FrontPage (need to update that). And, of course, the blog is in WordPress 2.1.1.