Domain name registration and hosting

[Nipple Clamp]

I know it's a pathetic boring question, but can one register a domain name directly, without having to do it via some money-grubbing rip-off merchant, and can anyone recommend a good (high-performance and reliable) host? Any pointers or suggestions welcome, and sarky comments tolerated.

[TheMonkey]

I use http://www.123-reg.co.uk/ . Never a single problem - ever!

You can register domains directly using Tucows OpenSRS (search for it on Google).

Good, reliable, high performance hosts cost money. I use http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/ - they do comparable windows and linux packages (to your taste) for a fee and actually have a clue unlike some of the smaller rip-off shops.

[AtW]

Domains are very cheap these days, use godaddy.com for very sharp prices.

[TheMonkey]

Domains are very cheap these days, use godaddy.com for very sharp prices.

No no no no no. Godaddy do a god awful job of anything domain related. They are incompetant, they have ZERO support, their billing system is broken and they brand EVERYTHING with crappy adverts. Not only that their infrastructure is shoddy and unreliable. I've had 7 people complain at how crap they are to me.

I actually know some of 123-reg's team (used to host in same facility) and they are trustworthy and skillful and have good kit.

[Diestl]

I also use Fasthosts and there control panel is great, also UK Reg http://www.ukreg.com for domains as they have some sort of integration with FH and allow you to change DNS settings etc.

[Lucifer Box]

I use 123-reg also. Fast, reliable, fair prices and a support desk that you can actually contact and who can answer questions.

[AtW]

No no no no no. Godaddy do a god awful job of anything domain related.

I have got over 10 domains with them and it all works fine - very keen prices. Of course I am not stupid enough to host anything with them, but as domain name provider they are fine.

[DimPrawn]

I also use Fasthosts and there control panel is great, also UK Reg http://www.ukreg.com for domains as they have some sort of integration with FH and allow you to change DNS settings etc.

I use UKReg. Good prices and more importantly - reliable, good control panel etc.

Nothing worse than having a successful website that gets into difficulty when the domain registrar goes bust or goes offline for 48 hours every few months.