After the fabulous on MJDay last Saturday, we have a larger number of people turning up next time...

We are having our next MJUG meeting on Wed, 20 Feb from 6:30 to 8:30. Venue most likely at The University of Melbourne, but depending on numbers.

If you intend to come, please drop a note into this thread -- the sooner the better...

Major topic for this meeting is Joomla hosting. I like to test ride and demonstrate the pros and cons of different providers, look into their backend and see what they have to offer.

Please come forward and show/tell us about your Joomla host and why you would, or not, recommend them.

Godaddy and Rochen are already on the list.

Matthias

I will definitely make my way there on the 20th. Hope it's at MU [or somewhere similarly central]. Our site is hosted by Quadra hosting in Sydney on Unix server. I've not given them a rating yet as I havn't experience of other Joomla hosts to compare with.
Looking forward to my 1st MJUG meeting./
Dave M

I would like to think I can make the trip. I would like to meet some members that's for sure.

I will attend.
Setting up my first site - and so my experience with hosting is still sketchy.

I will be there... where ever there ends up being.

I'm a reseller currently using Webstrike Solutions with very few hassles. Joomla wise it has an installer script. Hosting wise, it has 1GB space, 20GB/month transfer, unlimited email addresses, 24/7 support, charges in $A and lots of other useful stuff. Setup is US$30, and includes 12 months free hosting. Only issue is from a reseller perspective that once you get over a dozen or so sites, managing them is not as nicely streamlined as plesk or cpanel might be, and might not be as cost effective once you get to 20+ sites with a larger hosting package.

Also, take a look at [url=\"http://www.hostsearch.com\"] for other hosts and to compare features.

Perhaps a comparison tool for Joomla Hosting might be in order for this site. Currently while looking at various options, it can be little things that might break the selection of a particular company. One package I've been looking at lately for example sets a limit to the number of emails that can be sent out in 24hrs at 1000. With several of my clients having large mailing lists of 10000+ addresses in some cases, delivering a newsletter would be difficult to do with that host.

I am new to Joomla, having inherited a mambo website at my new employer's company. So this topic would be ideal.

Hi, I am, a recent Joomla convert and will be there with bells on.
Thanks heaps,
Andre

It seems we have a nice and cosy meeting. Ok, cut off number is 12. John is also coming, so please keep an eye on numbers.

I organised a nice meeting room at The Unversity of Melbourne. Details on how to get here are in the article www.joomladay.org.au/melbourne-user-grou...-wed-20-feb-630-830, including my phone number. I have to open the door for you and you have to ring if you are running late.

See you on Wednesday,
Matthias

Some info. on my installation.
First off, this is the first time that I have installed a Joomla site, so I have NO experience of other hosting services. That said, I had no problems at all in installing 1.5 beta and then upgrading to the stable version.

I am using ICDSoft.com to host the site. They appear to be very responsive (I lost my password!), and provide a manual script on their help pages to install the Joomla site. Systems software appears to be up to date:
INSTALLED SOFTWARE
Service Version
PHP4 (more info) 4.4.8
PHP5 (more info) 5.2.5
PERL 5.6 (more info) 5.6.1
PERL 5.8 (more info) 5.8.8
Ruby 1.8.6
Python 2.4.3
MySQL 4 4.0.27
MySQL 5 5.0.45
ImageMagick
NetPBM
Zend Optimizer 3.2.2
Sendmail

I am not sure about the latency, seems slow at times - (I have been modifying the site online).
Basic package is $72US pa for the first site, then less 20% ect. so I am NOT complaining.

See you all on Wednesday.

Thanks for sending through location details for next Wednesday. I got a Joomla site(bpwtranspec.com.au) hosted with MD Webhosting here in Melbourne. They were incredibly helpful in transfering the site from siteground.com in the US to an Australian server, redirecting domains, etc and I would like to use them in the future. It'll be great if there is time to check whether they are compatible with Joomla.
Many tanks and see you all wednesday,

Hi Andre,

Your comments and experience with siteground will be most interesting. Mark (bizwiz) considers them as the best.
We will have enough time to look into your new plan and Michael's too.

Here comes an interesting link from John: www.yousendit.com/cms/compareaccounts. Have a look at their free plan and the conditions. Interesting teaser and easy to understand if you know the traffic of your site. We'll discuss these kind of offers too.

Cheers,
Matthias

I will be at the meeting

Would love to be there Matthias, but the last thing I want to do is be driving into Melbourne at 6.00pm. Anxiety attacks and all mate.

I really would like to know what's going on though, so would appreciate minutes or some sort of info on what was discussed.

I notice that Geelong has started up. Any thoughts on a Bendigo group? At least that's only 75km away from me.

Cheers,


Ric

Hi Ric,

No worries, I know you are coming from far away. Not sure whether somebody will volunteer to take the minutes, but we will do our best and I can certainly talk you through the main outcomes too.

A group in Bendigo is a good idea. Somebody needs to kick it off and keep the ball rolling. Interested? You can use this forum to get an idea of how many people may be interested. I know of at least one more person in that area and you are at least not only one seeking companionship...

Cheers,
Matthias

Hi everyone,

I've been aware of Joomla for about a year now but never had a chance to explore its wonder till now. I looking forward to coming to the MJUG meeting this week to meet other enthusiasts and more importantly pick your brains.

What a subtle way you have of suggesting I kick it off mate.. LOL. Still, I would be happy to do that.

So, if there is anyone interested in a Bendigo or Central Vic Users Group, please contact me.


Cheers,


Ric

I will try to get there on Wednesday. I'm currently hosting my personal site at Planet Domain, and have had no issues. Their support is fast and knowledgeable. Thay have cPanel & Fantastico to install J! (currently 1.0.13) but I installed mine manually without problems.

www.planetdomain.com.au/home.jsp
www.br-eng.info/

ROSCO

Regarding the Bendigo group. I am from Shepparton and as i am sure Mathias can confirm, I have been finding it very hard to get to Melbourne for any of the MUG meetings. I seriously want to get involved in some way but to date have been to Zero meetings. I would be interested in talking about this idea more as it would be a closer venue for me to attend.

I think I am going to make some serious effort to get to this next melbourne meeting considering it will be focusing on hosting stuff. I have been doing website hosting for about 5-6 years now and specifically tuning the hosting service toward Joomla for the last 12 months. We do not market this hosting service yet we manage around 180 clients. It is not a huge system yet we have a very high speed connection and all of the standard Cpanel/Fantastico services.

I hope I can have some valuable input in letting people know what they need to look for in a host. For example, some people may not know about something called PHP_SUEXEC which is invaluable for overcoming any issues with user permissions with Joomla templates, component and module installs.

I will be attending, I can't wait!

I certainly know Shepparton well Brenden. Got an Uncle over there at Wunghu that we visit and used to live out near Kyabram. Perhaps we can get something going in Bendigo and draw in users from Central Vic and surrounds..... That would be great.

Cheers,


Ric