UNIX Hosting vs. Windows Hosting: Ease of Use and Application Integration

UNIX Hosting vs. Windows Hosting: Ease of Use and Application Integration
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Ease of Use

Just as with Windows PC operating systems, Windows hosting technology was developed to work well in conjunction with other Microsoft applications. In addition, this technology tends to be much easier for new web site developers to master, making site creation quicker and smoother. Moreover, applications that run on Windows tend to be less complicated and simpler to learn than their UNIX counterparts.

Applications

As mentioned in the introduction to this series, probably the most important thing to take into consideration when choosing between UNIX and Windows hosting is what type of applications you plan to run.

E-Commerce Solutions

Do you plan on selling anything through your web site now or in the future? If not, then don’t worry about this aspect of the comparison. However, if your current or future plans involve some type of online storefront, then you’ll want to make some careful considerations here.

If you already know what software you plan to use for e-commerce, find out which operating systems it’s compatible with. The number of UNIX applications in this area is getting larger day by day, but most commercial products are still geared towards Windows platforms. In short, choosing a Windows hosting service will give you more options in terms of software you can run. Be sure to check with potential providers, too, since they may offer e-commerce solutions as part of a hosting package.

Other Applications and Tools

When considering which applications to use with your web site, a lot will depend on personal preference and your experience levels. If you’re new to database programming, and don’t want to get stuck trying to navigate a steep learning curve, Windows hosting may be a better alternative since the applications were developed with ease of use in mind. On the other hand, more experienced database programmers can choose a PHP/MySQL solution, which is a perfect match for UNIX.

What about FrontPage Extensions?

Even though FrontPage is pretty much dead, there are still people using it to publish their site. Moreover, Microsoft’s new web design product, Expression Web, offers developers the option to publish their sites using FrontPage extensions.

Should this matter when selecting a web hosting service?

In actuality, FrontPage extensions are available for both UNIX and Windows. If you’re really set on using this tool to help publish your site, you’ll still need to check with your host to see if support for FrontPage extensions is available. However, the operating system itself doesn’t matter here.

This post is part of the series: UNIX vs. Windows Hosting: Things to Know Before Choosing a Web Hosting Plan

This series of articles takes a look at the advantages offered by Windows hosting plans in addition to discussing the relative differences between UNIX/Linux and Windows web hosting solutions.

  1. UNIX vs. Windows Hosting: An Introduction
  2. Security Issues in UNIX and Windows Hosting
  3. Cost and Reliability of UNIX and Windows Hosting
  4. Selecting a Hosting Service: Even More Choices
  5. Comparing Ease of Use for UNIX and Windows Hosting Environments