HostGator: friend also to those ignorant of web wisdom

[DanielGardner]

I am pretty ignorant when it comes to tooling around with, say, PHP, Perl, or CGI, and I can just barely hold my own with HTML. However, two months ago, I began my "HostGator experience" when I bought a Hatchling package for my personal website, ThinkGardner.com.

I registered in the afternoon, and spent that night uploading my pages to my account, with no problems at all. (Except for a verification procedure, in which I had to give Sales a ring, but that went too smoothly to mention.)

The biggest hope I had for my site was a forum. With Fantastico already provided by HostGator, that was a charm. In fact, I used Fantastico to install two different forums to two seperate subdomains, and me and my chums voted on which we prefered. Very nice.

Well, about half an hour ago, I was trying to add a feature to my forum (phpBB) and the directions (which I got from a site other then HG) included the following:

#-----[ SQL ]---------------------------------------------
#
INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('top_posters','10');

Well, I was stumped. I don't do SQL, kids.

I sniffed around in the support forums for my forum (over at phpbb.com) and the only thing I could find was that I needed to use this weird thing called PhpMyAdmin.

Now, here's where it gets fun. I came over to HostGator and searched their forums, and discovered that HG does indeed provide PhpMyAdmin and that its somewhere in the Control Panel. I looked around on my Control Panel for it, but couldn't find it.
However, what I did find was this wonderful, HG-provided, video tutorial about how to use PhpMyAdmin, and of course they show how to find and open it. 15 seconds into the tutorial, I knew where to go.

After some more sniffing around inside PhpMyAdmin, I found out what to do with my code, and now my forum has the feature installed.

So, in less then 20 minutes, HG pointed me in the right direction. All that without ticketing or chatting with support.

Its the marvelousness of service that surprises me, and its this service which HG constantly provides. EVERY host has its "quirks" and I'm sure as time goes by, some of HG's will become more apparent. However, I'd prefer to be in the hands of HostGator then any other host's should those quirks arrise.

Thats my 2 cents!

[DanielGardner]

4 months later, and I've had a couple more technical questions answered by HG support, as well as an issue with a forum spammer advised on by HG support.

I've also discovered that support takes care of problems quickly AND with good humor. You won't find that anywhere but here folks.

So, as an update to my previous post, all is still going well. HostGator leads the way!

Daniel,

I'm glad to see you're enjoying your service as much as originally!
We'll keep doing our best.

Have a great day!

[DanielGardner]

An update: Tommorrow will mark one year since I began my "HostGator experience," and I plan to celebrate it by upgrading my Hatchling account to Baby, and adding on another domain.

With the exception of the rare downtime and one Wordpress file that snagged, all problems I have encountered over the past year have been what I call "stupid-side," which means I was too blame. :^) Regardless, HG support has continued to be friendly, direct, and clear in their support, which is what I expect in support.

To anyone considering where and whether to host your site, I highly recommend HostGator hosting. Two thumbs up!

[DanielGardner]

Well well well! A week ago, I again reached the "one more year at HostGator" mark, and as is my custom, I post an update in this thread.

My priority timeline looks like this:
Two years ago, all I wanted was a personal website - and HostGator met the need.
One year ago, I began hosting an active forum - and HostGator met and filled that need.
This coming year, I hope to upgrade my personal webpage to a video showcase of my vlogs and become active in web entertainment. This will be a rather big step from merely interacting with my audience on YouTube. Thankfully, I'm glad I can trust the consistency of HostGator to meet this need as well.

Thank you HG and staff for yet another year of great hosting! This smilie says it best where words fail:

[DanielGardner]

Well folks, I'm beginning my 4th consecutive year with HostGator. As is my habit, I leave a review on my thread here every year. (Happy new year 2009 btw.)

And it appears that something else is quickly becoming a habit: adding more domains to my HostGator hosting. I've begun another website, this time relating to live video broadcasts/streaming, and HostGator has worked like a charm. In fact, I didn't contact the HostGator's support group all year in 08 (sorry guys, I've missed you).

I'd readily suggest you begin a habit too: start hosting at HostGator. Over the past couple of years I've found this host to be tried, true, and trusted.

Thank you HG for taking care of the smallest details so that my hosting experience runs smooth as silk!

[GatorDHanna]

Happy new year, Daniel, and thanks for your post. We appreciate you continuing to choose HostGator and continuing to post updates on this thread. Have a great 2009!

[DanielGardner]

Golly did 2009 go by fast or what? And golly am I getting OLD. I am now starting my 5th consecutive year with HG, and have 5+ domains hosted with them. I've also recommended HG to family and friends.

Some online changes: I've started a blog page, where I hope to share online content and lessons I learn in life. Wish me luck!

Some personal changes: I'm starting a job in January that allows me to travel to Europe, Africa and places in Brazil. It's a big step for me but I'm looking forward to it!!

Somethings that never change: After nearly 5 years with HostGator, I gotta say: there is no better host in our universe. I have had top-notch hosting for the full year, and the only time I contacted support was due to a question my father had (he hosts on HG too, thankfully).

Buddy, if you aren't hosting at HG this emoticon sums you up:

Best wishes to Hostgator staff - you guys make a darned good team! I'm neither Team Edward or Team Jacob.......I'm Team HostGator all the way.

[GatorDHanna]

Daniel, thanks again for continuing to post your yearly reviews. I'm glad to hear that you had another good year with us.

Until next year, best of luck with your new blog, new job, and everything else!

[DanielGardner]

Thanks Douglas!

[DanielGardner]

Today is December 9th. Today I turn 25. Today I realize I'm getting very old, very fast. Today I sit at my desk at work and contemplate all the wonderful friends who have made this last year a time of learning and growing up. Today I saturate myself with cake and hugs (the awkward quiet kind that makes me realize my nerd DNA still hasn't left my system).

Today is also the traditional "HostGator Forum update" post. Today is the day I tell the world the truth.

Today - for one solid 24 hour period - I become a walking billboard for HostGator. A living, breathing TV commercial that shouts the joy of HostGator to the world. Today I fight the tyrant hosts.

Tyrant hosts are oxymorons. If you're a tyrant, you aren't a host. A host is a elderly lady who lets you sleep on her sofa and makes you hot tea & cookies. I was in Mozambique for 15 days earlier this year. A missionary family showed me what hosts are all about. Their aim is to give you peace of mind. A place to stash your stuff, a place to rest your head, a place to feel at home.

Kim Jong-il never made anyone cookies.

Tyrants abhor free-will. They loath choice. They detest happy websites, dancing webmasters and customer service that serve the customer. As a general rule, they look nothing like Brad Pitt.

HostGator has continued to be a host. I've changed a lot over the years. I grew a beard, made the switch to the beautiful world of Macs and tried to build an Android app. But some things stay the same: it's an epic Braveheart battle to get out of bed every morning, I still don't know what to say when I'm around a dashing girl, and year after year - I'm content to trust all my onlineness with HostGator.

Because really - if your host doesn't give you peace of mind, what's the point? You're essentially paying for a headache. What a ripoff. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will give you a headache for free.

Tyrants are nice like that.

Unlike me, sharing HostGator goodness with others doesn't get old. Thanks HostGator crew (I wish I could name all of you) for another year of peaceful, hot tea hosting. For the record, you rock.

[DanielGardner]

Today I turn 26.

And goodness, people, I'm feeling old. I'm closer to 30 now than ever before. Closer to death too. Yay. Let's celebrate.

On a day like today, when the clouds are overcast and raindrops are tearfully falling from the clouds, it's not unusual for sad melancholy to set in. You think back on life as if it were a distant memory, which it is, for all memories are distant and out of reach. You remember the smiles, the free-spiritedness, the girls laughing, that stubborn refusal to grow up ... and then you wake up this morning and you're 26.

I figure I'd better start brushing my hair.

How fickle are human emotions. Aren't you glad your host isn't like that? You're glad if you host with HostGator.

I signed up for HostGator back in 2006. Back when I was a wee lad and there was no such thing as television, Justin Bieber or internet. Back when we used gold coins to purchase stuff off BestBuy.

A lot has changed since then. But my crazy fanboy love of HostGator has not.

To put it poetically, my love of HostGator has risen with each sunrise. The goodness of HostGator washes in with each wave of the tide. Year after year, my online files bask in the safety and warmth of HostGator goodness.

Here's to you, HostGator staff past, present and future! Here's to the noble pursuit of hosting happiness. May you live well and prosper.

And gosh, stop making me feel old already. I refuse to get a colonoscopy.

[GatorJMartin]

Hello,

Thank you for continuing to provide these reviews every year! We appreciate this greatly as it speaks volumes when we receive feedback from happy customers year after year like this!

If there's ever anything I can assist you with, please don't hesitate to contact me directly here on the forums. I'm always happy to help. Otherwise we'll look forward to many more years of providing you great service and the support you've come to expect from us!

Best Regards,

[DanielGardner]

Thanks Joshua!