[link] also offers the same kind of virtual dedicated server plan Rob mentioned, where we have full access to Apache, mysqld, and so on. It looks like the $27.95 plan fits our usage level.

I'd hate to see us spending $200 a month if it isn't necessary.

I'm with Kat as well, in both the leaving it up to the stompies, and in thinking Kristen has been really great through all of this.

I'm good with the Stompies deciding.

I am thrilled with how wonderful Kristen has been. love love love her.

We have discussed setting up affiliate accounts with retail places before - has that ever happened? I'd buy all my online Holiday purchases via a Buffista affiliate link if one existed and that would begin to generate a constant flow of funds.

It looks like the $27.95 plan fits our usage level.

We've come close to their 16 Gig transfer limit recently. I can't imagine our bandwidth usage will go down over time. Also, do you have any experience with them Amy? I'd much rather go with Rob or Kristen since they both have had long term happy relationships with their providers. And Rob's place also has a VPS option for a similar price.

I've been with Westhost for years now. Never had any problems, although my usage is nothing compared to the board's.

Have you had any dealings with their customer service? It seems like both Rob & Kristen have good relationships with the people who work at their providers.

I've actually been shopping for a dedicated server host for one of my clients, and I maintain quite about 10 Web sites, some with hosts I chose and some with hosts the client chose for reasons ranging from "part of a good telephone and e-mail package" to "run by a relative." I'd like the emphasize that this is really a Stompy decision and that price is not the only consideration. Working with a Web host can be simple or a nightmare. The choice needs to be a company and a server setup that they think will cause them the fewest headaches now and down the road. The dedicated server prices I'm getting from companies that I think have sufficient backups and user support are ranging from $200 to $350 a month.

I personally would never consider maintaining my own server. It would be like adopting a baby.

I will be happy to send money. Perhaps I should go do that right now.

Jon, I've only had good experiences with customer service, but then again I haven't had any big problems to deal with on any of my accounts there -- that's partly a matter of having tiny low-traffic sites, but not entirely so, as I've run into some massive crap with t l-t sites on other hosts.

Anyway, I'm going to check with some folks I know who get a lot more traffic than I do to see if they have any particular experiences to share -- again, I've never had a bad experience with them, but I've also never had the need for a whole lot of service from them.

We've come close to their 16 Gig transfer limit recently.

I take that back. ita posted upthread that we used 16.2 Gig in September. So if we went with a WestHost VPS option, we'd need at least the $36.95 (20 Gig) plan.

iStrata (Rob's plan) measures bandwidth in kbps, and doesn't count the top 5% of peak usage. If we included all usage, then 20 Gig/month is equal to 7.7kbps. iStrata's $29/month plan gives us 100kps. So if I'm not missing something, iStrata is a much better deal wrt bandwidth.

Is it possible for our techies to get a list of questions together for people at teh companies in question? That way they all are asked the same info, are all looking at the same set of numbers about our little home here, and we can get some idea of what interaction is like.