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!