Deciding on the type of platform to select for your website is based on the applications that will be used on your website. The hosting platform is the underlying structure that enables hardware and software to drive a site. The two most prevalently used platforms are NT and UNIX.

Which platform to use is often the most vexing question faced by new webmasters. Which one you choose depends on the types of uses and demands you expect from your site.

NT Web Hosting
A Microsoft product, NT is a newer development. NT is designed to run efficiently in a Windows based environment. The appeal of NT is the seamless operation of varying applications with each other. In general, NT is less time-intensive and more user-friendly than UNIX.
The boon of NT is found in it’s integrated programming with FrontPage because the process of building a site is easier on a limited time and resources. While Microsoft’s NT platform has not actualized it’s full potential, the gap will be narrowed between NT and UNIX.

UNIX Web Hosting
A highly versatile web hosting platform, UNIX has been in existence more than 20 years. In its conception, UNIX was devised to connect networks together. Throughout the years, many applications have been designed to operate on it. Overall, UNIX is considered a reliable system with full programming functionality. For the web site slated for growth, UNIX is well suited to exceed the demand.

For the webmaster who requires programming control, UNIX can be manipulated easier. In terms of programming features, UNIX is flexible and is more compatible friendly.

Now that you understand which tools you need to get the most out of your web host, review the top 5 web host providers on the Internet..