Changes to Orcon Free Hosting

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, 2talk and Vocus) › Changes to Orcon Free Hosting

stu28

249 posts

Master Geek

#18457 11-Jan-2008 01:00

For all those who have a free hosting account with Orcon, you might want to have a read of this!.

I got this from Orcon this afternoon:

Changes to Orcon Free Hosting

From the 10th of February 2008 we will be making some changes to our great FreeHost product.

Firstly we're changing the platform that FreeHost is on so you will get a better free service. The new platform comprises of multiple load balanced and clustered web servers. That means more reliability, and faster load times for your website.

We will also be changing the URL address of your FreeHost site. Currently it is http://myorconusername.orcon.net.nz, this will change to http://myorconusername.orconhosting.net.nz

If you're thinking wait-a-minute, everyone knows my http://myorconlogin.orcon.net.nz URL, will I just lose all my visitors? No, we will automatically redirect users from your old URL to your new URL for 3 months at no cost (until the 15th of May 2008).

In addition to changing the FreeHost platform and URL we will also be introducing Google AdSense advertisements to your site. This means that at the very top of your webpage there will be advertisements.

The revenue generated from this advertising will go back into ensuring that the FreeHost platform delivers great performance, and most importantly, remains free.

Nothing will happen to your content and all your code will still work the same as it always has.

What ads will be displayed on my site?

The advertisements that are delivered will be tailored to be relevant to your websites content. So if your website has text about USB Wifi then the ads will be relevant to USB Wifi.

I don't like ads and I don't want ads on my site, what can I do?

We know some people don't like ads, so we have a really affordable entry-level hosting plan.

For $12 (excl GST) a month you can get 50MB of space with unlimited traffic, full PHP support and you can run CGI scripts. If you also want to get your own domain e.g. myowndomain.co.nz you can get that through us for an extra $3 (excl GST) a month. All you need to do is call 0800 139 990 and we'll get everything arranged for you.

Has the way I upload/make changes to my site changed?

No, you still use the same username and password.

If you have any other questions that we haven't answered feel free to send us an email (orconhosting [ at ] orcon.net.nz).

Cheers,
The Orcon Team.

I don’t know what I am most annoyed at, either:

* That there is going to be ads at the TOP!! of my site(s)

Or

* That my website address is going to change!!!

Or

* For a fact that one of the best / better free hosting (And the only free NZ hosting) I have every use is going down the toilet even more :(

[Moderator edit (MF): moving this to Broadband forum]

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nate

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#104169 11-Jan-2008 10:42

stu28: I don’t know what I am most annoyed at, either:

* That there is going to be ads at the TOP!! of my site(s)

Or

* That my website address is going to change!!!

Or

* For a fact that one of the best / better free hosting (And the only free NZ hosting) I have every use is going down the toilet even more :(

Sorry but Orcon has to cover their free hosting someway, and the only way is by advertising. Your ISP should provide you with some free hosting space, why not use that?

Buy a domain name and do your hosting overseas. You can get decent hosting in the States for $10/month - just miss out on a couple of coffees a month and you're sorted!

freitasm

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#104172 11-Jan-2008 11:02

Since the URL is going to change you have a few options:

1. Stick with Orcon and accept the ads. If it's free it's probably a personal page, not business, so I wouldn't worry about it...
2. Since the URL is changing anyway, why not use Google Pages?
3. Get your own domain and hosting as suggested.

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hellonearthisman

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#104256 11-Jan-2008 16:30

Wish they had a ad shareing program, so 1 out of 4 ad's generates money for you.

If your worried about the domain then, get your own url and direct it to the new orcon one.
Worried abput the add's, don't be, most people block them anyway.

Change happens with time.

manhinli

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#104262 11-Jan-2008 16:48

Google Pages has been great for me.

No ads, but restricted to 100mb and to it's mainly restrictive templates (getting around that's easy though). You can also put 5 sites under one account and name them whatever.googlepages.com.

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cokemaster

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#104287 11-Jan-2008 18:27

The domain option is probably the best option as it means that you can move providers without the penalty of changing addresses.

And for $9.95USD - its not expensive.

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Detruire

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#104324 12-Jan-2008 00:22

As soon as I saw that email, and read it - twice to be sure - I fired up my FTP, and uploaded the site elsewhere.

I just hope they don't come in and limit our storage or bandwidth, monitor accounts, or block hotlinking.
If they do, all the advantages are gone. Hostees are better just up and leaving for US providers.

rm *

hellonearthisman

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#104357 12-Jan-2008 11:33

Detruire: As soon as I saw that email, and read it - twice to be sure - I fired up my FTP, and uploaded the site elsewhere.

I just hope they don't come in and limit our storage or bandwidth, monitor accounts, or block hotlinking.
If they do, all the advantages are gone. Hostees are better just up and leaving for US providers.

I think that they have always had a no regarding hotlinking.

I got my mom using google pages, it's easy to learn with quick results.

Detruire

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#104371 12-Jan-2008 12:29

hellonearthisman: regarding hotlinking.

Maybe so, but it's worked regardless of what they say's allowed

rm *

mcarenz

4 posts

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#104693 14-Jan-2008 09:37

manhinli: Google Pages has been great for me.

No ads, but restricted to 100mb and to it's mainly restrictive templates (getting around that's easy though). You can also put 5 sites under one account and name them whatever.googlepages.com.

Yeah googlepages arn't bad, but the editor can be a pain. depending on your content you might have a look at a wordpress.com blog, very slick and easy to use.

lurkerbelow

11 posts

Geek

#104713 14-Jan-2008 10:56

I guess the key word here is free.

As they say there is no such thing as a free lunch.

There are costs associated with hosting your "free" website. The changes they are making are just a way to re-coop costs.

If you rate your content, and rely on it for your hobby/business/whatever then you _should_ be investing in a domain name and a proper hosting site.

I know of a few ISP's that provide "free space" - although you need to have your internet connection with them.

hellonearthisman

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#104722 14-Jan-2008 11:50

As they say there is no such thing as a free lunch.

I have had many free lunchs. Not regular though, but they happen from time to time.