Setting up and running my own web server, I have never really had a chance to mess around with hosting companies like GoDaddy.com except for purchasing and redirecting domains. This all changed recently when I got the opportunity to move a friends blog from a home-based server to GoDaddy. I personally have kicked it back and forth whether this is the way to go for hosting a website and here are some of my thoughts:

GoDaddy Hosting:

• Super Stable with redundancy.
• Fairly cheap when you consider the power and equipment costs of a standalone home web server.
• Step by step guides for almost doing anything.
• Customer service to offer canned answers if you run into any problems.
• Difficult to find workarounds when you run into a designated barrier.
• Functions very well at the allowed supported tasks.

Home Hosting:

• Not as stable.
• The cost is highly variable, but almost always higher than a hosted website would be.
• Multiple uses as such as a home media server.
• Gain knowledge in setting up computers and know how they work.

Summary:

I am always tempted to switch over to a website hosted outside of my house mainly to remove any sort of maintenance or stability issues, but I think I would miss the tinkering aspect. On the other hand if I was willing to unplug my home media server, I would probably be able to save a lot of money on electricity and could probably forgo even having internet run to the house.

Have you tried out either home hosting or GoDaddy Hosting or something similar? Do you have any benefits or drawbacks to add? Let me know.