Creating a good looking, polished website is extremely important to both businesses and personal website owners as well. As the industry of web services continues to develop the expectations of both user and viewer alike are rising exponentially. The ability to create such websites was once a mystery to many and only the most highly trained people could accomplish the feat. Now with the many site building programs available it is easier and easier for everybody to get connected with the mass market available online.

The most popular of all operating system is Windows, created by Microsoft. It is the main programming software found on computers when consumers and businesses purchase them, and it is the operating system most people are familiar with. The platform that is the operating system is an important consideration when you are choosing your web host as well. In the past most web hosts operated on the technical Linux systems since more of the technical builders used that program. With the huge expanse of mass market web site building programs the need for Windows based hosting grew and is now commonplace. It is important to be sure when you choose a web host that they offer Windows platforms to operate your website.

If a website has to be hosted, that would incorporate the use of Microsoft products, it is always advisable to use Windows as a platform. Microsoft, windows feature an effective Internet Information Server (IIS). Whenever the hosting is based on ASP and Microsoft Access and SQL server, use of IIS is recommended or rather is needed. There are several components used for web hosting like that of CGI. Use of these components can be best experienced if the website is hosted on Windows. Windows web hosting also has a lot of pre-made programs designed for use with Windows web servers.

Windows vs UNIX

Web sites that are hosted on UNIX and Windows servers can be accessed universally. The difference between the two operating system lies in terms of the software they provide to server data. Windows can always provide better software services for all purposes. In terms of reliability, UNIX is just a few steps ahead since it is known to be extremely stable and does run for years without rebooting. However, Windows can manage to meet the requirements of modern websites far better than UNIX.

Wherever Microsoft products are in service a Windows operating system must be used. If the host uses MS Access, ASP in order to provide dynamic content, or VBScript to give enhanced features to the sites then UNIX is not able to operate under those parameters. The technologies in those programs require Microsoft Windows. Windows also already accommodates all of the UNIX system provisions so it isn't needed for computers with Windows.

Windows vs Linux

These two operating systems both can support HTML, Cold Fusion, and Java files. It was necessary in the past to use Linux for FrontPage creation but is now easy to use Windows for the incorporation of CGI and Perl as these platforms are easily supported by Windows even though Linux is still more commonly used to support PHP, where Windows uses ASP.

The biggest advantage of Windows over Linux is that it runs all of the Microsoft software such as Access and can also create MS SQL database that is used by many hosts now. The Windows platform gives developers programming environments such as VBScripts (Visual Basic Scripts), Active Server Pages (ASP), and the Index capabilities of MS Index Server. Linux is not able to access those Microsoft features so if a use requires the use of MS SQL, ASP, OR VBScript as a method of development they must use Windows.

The best method to choose between the various platforms is to study what Windows has to offer. Not all of the Windows packages offer every component so you need to examine them carefully.

Below are some of the features that will have to be there in the Windows-based hosting package.

* .NET Support

ASP.net is the most modern of Microsoft's Active Server Page and allows for a great integration of information sharing and access. It is an important part of the Internet Information Server or IIS. Some servers charge additional fees for this feature.

* Databases

Most web hosts provide Microsoft Access 2000 database to their customers. If a business is run on a larger scale and would clog up that system too easily a host may require MS SQL in order to ensure the system continues without crashing.

* PHP and ColdFusion

These are advanced features that not all web hosts make available. They usually only give this option if they have it to the most specialized of websites.

* Control Panel

Your control panel is the way you communicate with and access your website. It is important to use the same operating system that your host uses to provide this feature.

Some other kit that is expected from a web host for providing a web hosting for windows include POP3 email IDs and Aliases, Backup, Bandwidth, IP, Webmail and SMTPs, FTP Accounts, CDONTS and ASP Support.

Windows web hosting will always be popular among the customers as the logo and the name itself generates a trust and reliability. This Microsoft product has created such image in the minds of the people that they are not willing to go for any other option. Windows is in use since several years and has created a brand image for itself. There are several hosts that also provide Windows platform for hosting small business websites. It is an expectation of the people that Windows web hosting would also for a longer period of time and hence would ensure stability which is not available in other platforms.

Windows has a great support system for its users. This includes many free tutorials, and pages and pages of information as well as live and virtual technical support. That is just a part of what makes it so extremely popular amongst average people without technical backgrounds.