Well that is a good question but here is a better one!

If unlimited is marked as a bad omen why when you go for cheap hosting here on the webhostdirectory do the recomend a wehost that states unlimited storage? http://www.ixwebhosting.com/ By the way thier prices are way to high. Go to ebay and get a deal

Well it would seem unlimited is bad unless you are getting paid to advertise it!
These guys are just trying to point you towards who pays them. I have an account with an unlimited host for 2 years and have never had a problem.

Unlimited is not bad
I`m sure you have read their Terms of Service
The ToS limits the unlimited space. As you see it is only for web-content, and no adult content is allowed. You won`t be able to use them as 'storage' for large non-web files. Try to upload some very very big txt files with no HTML around them and I`m sure that in some time you will receive an e-mail with request to remove those files.
How many non-adult/mp3/movies sites do you know who consume a lot of space ? I can think only for one (doesn`t matter which), that is specialized in art.

Unlimited is not bad because it is not unlimited at all
Neither space nor traffic.
If you are with a unlimited traffic host, and your site gets popular and you have a lot of visitors & etc & etc, sooner or later you will reach the point where the server resources will be mainly consumed by your account. This will cause inconvenience and trouble to other customers, and at the end you will
receive an e-mail again...

I don`t wish to offend any host or anyone, but to me "unlimited" space/traffic is just a nice marketing trick

I have to agree with the previous post.

I think that most of hosting cares for bandwidth more than diskspace. TOS explains all restrictions on forbidden files to upload to the server. If you just upload your web images and pages, that does not take lots of space at all. Unlimited space is not a big deal.

I have to question unlimited bandwidth though. If hosting company has thousands of clients in the server with unlimited bandwidth access. Then, it could be a problem in the future, such as; page loading slower, server memory reach to max, etc.

All in all, I think unlimited space and bandwidth is a good marketing tool, but it also can backfire the company if they don't back their TOS well.

It's my only two cents

I`m completely agree with you

Unlimited is bad... First a hosts false advertises, what next? Stop the nonsense and think about what you are saying first. Advertising "unlimited" is is simply breaking the law; False Advertising - class 2 misdamenor in the State of North Carolina.

Seconly lets get to the technical stand point..> Of that "unlimited" space, how much have you used? Well if you haven't used more than 1 GB then I'd say you are wasting your money, because I would eat as much as possible. I like using what I pay for. Also, lets say you did utilize 100 GB... Most hard drives aren't even over 300 GB yet, so tell me what they will do when you are paying pennies to them a day, and yet you are utilizing more than half of their server? Thats right, you get deleted for violation of their "Acceptable Use Policy" which most likely will state they can delete you if you degridate the performance of the system.

Simply put, stay away..> If they advertise falsely, that would be my first innitiave to place the "X" on their integrity.

Unlimited bandwidth offers are not too good for a couple reasons...

1) The host most likely doesn't have an unlimited deal with their network provider. Unless they own the network (which most hosts don't) there is a limit for them on any given server. When they offer you unlimited bandwidth they're betting you don't take them up on their offer. If you did use all the bandwidth they could possibly offer you there would be nothing left for any other clients. It's ridiculous when you think about it.

2) You don't want to be on the same server as another site that is using massive amounts of bandwidth. A server can only handle but so much bandwidth before it gets bogged down and everyone's site on the box begins to suffer. Hosts that offer unlimited bandwidth are often pushing their own limits and that doesn't translate into good service.

The bottom line...unless your site offers loads of downloads, streaming and you're doing very high traffic, bandwidth won't even be an issue for you.

Thanks,
Anthony

I totally agree with everyone on this forum. There is nothing like unlimited and when they go and say okay, we will add more hard disk space as needed. Well yeah, they can do that and wow it's good.

But if you read their TOS it clearly will not allow mp3, movies... etec.. what other possible file.. could take that much space. I mean if you even look at your home pc, if you have 80 gb of hard drive, it's mainly filled with songs or movies... word documents do not take that amount...for 90% of the people..


i am sure some ppl like writers, editors have loads of em... but you get my point..

Typically "unlimited" means "within reason", there always a caviate in the TOS as other posts have indicated. This clause is often known as the "Excessive Use" Policy.

A Good excessive use policy would typically state:

"No Web Site should use more than 2% of the available server resources at any given time."

These are essential to stop people working in dubious areas of business (pornography, gambling, spamming, gaming) from monopolising your server and network resources.

However, they also work as a useful caviate to prevent people from taking out a 9.99 Hosting Plan with "Unlimited" Data Transfer to service a porn site offering video downloads.

From a marketing perspective, it certainly looks better to say "Unlimited Bandwidth (within reason)" than it does to say 5 GB a month. After all we can see from this forum that people really have no idea how much bandwidth they really need, they are just having their buttons pushed by big numbers.

FACT:
5GB of Bandwidth is good for 18,000 to 20,000 Sessions (Visitors) a month, on a typical web site..

They use the term "unlimited" because it appeals more to the average consumer. It's simply marketing.

I still wonder why people still pay for hosting ... its so easy to host your own website on your own computer right in the comfort of your home. I run a website at JCPipeLine.com this wesite is growing every day ... I have no space limits to worry about, I run my own mail server also, no paying for email accounts ... I can have as many as I want. This all cost me just about nothing at all, I build my server out of some old computer parts I had around the house, about the only thing I pay for is my business dsl conection ... $69.00 a month, its so well worth it. No one can tell me I can't have huge files on my website I do what I want how I want. I see all my logs in seconds and make changes just as fast, the internet has been here for a while now ... I'm surprised not more people do as I do.

Here's why:

- Reliability of Hardware, pro-hosts use high-end reliable servers that don't go wrong, they don't bundle together a server from old PC parts. Also they have an onsite stock of replacement parts so if something goes wrong, it can be fixed in minutes.

- Reliable Internet Connection, whilst most DSL lines have high uptimes, you have no service guarantee with your ISP, Pro-hosts have a redundant Internet Conenction with a guaranteed service level.

- Redundant Power Supply At home if you have a power outage or wiring fault, your web site goes down, professional data centres have back-up generators.

- Fire Suppression Systems, If your house catches fire, your web site will probably be the least of your worries, but your server would be toast. Sites hosted in proper datacentres have fire detection and surpression systems.

- Security, both electronic security (firewalls) and physical security (anti-theft-security) are ensured with pro-hosts. If someone broke into your own home, and stole your computer, how long before you had a replace up and running again with a current copy of your web site?

Sure, its a cheap option, but for the sake of $100 a year, I wouldn't be taking that kind of chance with my business.