WebSpace Reviewed
By: Charles Randolf


One of the biggest decisions you will make about your website, is exactly "where" on
the net you will be. Here we look into several options and explain why.

Why is this so important? The site that hosts you says a lot about who you are
and what you are about.

First of all we are going to look at the countless slew of "free" websites.


Freebies
Geocities.com is owned by Yahoo! The major problems are numerous:
(This also goes for Tripod.com, Angelfire.com and the rest.)

1. There are SOOO many pages hosted the pages often load VERY slowly.

2. Don't even think you can put up a business site on there, people are too leery
to order from these "free" pages, because you can obtain them ANONYMOUSLY.
(i.e. harder to track down the rip-offs.)

3. Annoying ad-banners and pop-ups that these "free" sites have, often draws
away visitors.

4. You have a hideous looking URL. Example:
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/4607/index.html

5. These sites have a reputation for being hackers, pirates and scammers
homes. Don't believe this? See for yourself:
Geocities Listings

The verdict?  These sites are perfectly fine if you just want a personal homepage
or your homage to Spock!


Yahoo! Business Sites
1.These sites are slightly more reputable than free sites, but
they are still teaming with scam-artists.

2. While many novice users will be comfortable ordering from
these sites, many others - including myself - avoid it if possible.

3. These servers can be slow during peak hours, and many times
the ordering systems (shopping carts) are not set-up properly.

4. We hear Yahoo! is phasing out these personal shops to keep from
competing with their own Yahoo! Store. In fact we are having trouble
locating ANY personal stores right now by searching Yahoo!.

The verdict? Well these sites are fair (below Good), and only if you are selling low
risk items, such as cosmetics.