Just been through a “beneath the bonnet” upgrade of GBMINI and with nothing much going on with GBMINI the car, I will instead waffle about GBMINI the web pages!
My web pages are hosted through 1and1. I signed up with them when they were offering a free trial – the package offered a reasonable 500MB storage as well as PHP support (the ability to execute programs on the server). I also use SSI which ensure that the right hand column of all GBMINIs pages is correct (because it is the same file!)
I recently upgraded and now for $10/month I have masses of storage, 10 times more bandwidth than I need, and all the features I am ever likely to need.
I also host three different sites (GBMINI, MargaretAndIan, and MINIsOnTop) within the same package – the same account, log-in, etc make it easy to look after all the sites.
I wanted PHP support because I wanted to upgrade from Blogger which I used to use for my weblog; I now use MoveableType which is much more flexible. Benefits of MoveableType include the calendar grid and the search facility (which Blogger did not have when I left them); more important I can totally customize the pages any way I wish (so long as I am smart enough to figure it out!)
I have just completed the upgrade to a new version of MoveableType which offers “dynamic pages”; this feature means that not all GBMINIs web pages really exist – instead they are created “on the fly” when accessed by someone. The downside is that those pages take longer to load but the upside is that when I post something new, or when someone posts a comment, the process is quicker.
Finally to look after my pictures I use Gallery. Gallery is a bit “clunky” and I am sure there are nicer programs out there now, but I have loads of pics in there already with loads of links everywhere – I don’t see me changing things around!
I was able to use the CRON feature available with 1and1 to speed up GBMINIs main gallery page; that helped speed Gallery up a while back!
Some pages (like the home page) are plain HTML not built by MoveableType; for those I use AceHTML which is a bit more than just a text editor and works well for me; the companion program AceFTP handles uploads & downloads, and I use WebSynchronizer to maintain a regular backup of the server – the program automatically handles downloading files changed on the server (weblog files for example) as well as files that I have edited on my PC.
M&I / GBMINI 
Ian, I recall chatting w/ you about them, and that I was looking for an alternative to halfpricehosting (very reliable, live body 24 hour support, but very expensive for my minor needs).
I’ve narrowed my search down to these folks http://powweb.com/ and will probably give ’em a try when my 1/2 price contract ends in April — 1/2 price wanted even more $$$ to put me on a Linux box as I want to do some blogging and was all geared up for Gallery — disappointed to hear you’re just so-so on it. I’ve seen a different java-based gallery some of the folks on MINI2 use, do you know anything about it?
PowWeb is used by Gabe Bridger at MotoringFile and offers a good price and huge bandwidth.
But when I contacted them to ask about their services, I never got a reply – that put me off!
Gallery works – big plus. But non-techies (especially Mac owners) can find uploading confusing … the MINIsOnTop gallery has various users allowed to post stuff – a few never successfully put up a pic.
Hey Ian….
Glad to see you made the right decision with MT. I’ve been working on my site for quite a while now, and it’s always fun to create something online. Mt is a great program with tons ‘o flexibility. Be sure to see all of the plugins available on thier homepage. Lots of cool stuff. If you haven’t done it already, you’ll want to install MT-Blacklist to help with the spam. (the best antispam help for MT out there.) It’s been a lifesaver on my end. Easy installation and loads of time saving work.
Ian, send those Mac users here
Check out the screenshot to see how easy it is. I upload all of my photos with that…right from iPhoto into my gallery.
Jared,
Thanks – looks good. I will try to remember when the next MINIsOnTop happens.
Ryan,
I have almost zero comment spam, thankfully. One critical trick I used was to rename the mtcomment.cgi file; seems to work. I have only 12 IPs banned (so 12 spam comments, ever).
Jared, Ian,
I followed the link for the iPhoto to Gallery plug in but there is an issue. Apple just updated iPhoto to v5 and Gallery have v2 out as a Beta. As it stands, that plug in won’t work with iPhoto5 and Gallery2 is still a ‘moving target’. Just so as you know, since many people have probably upgraded to iLife’05
Thanks Gavin … Gallery at MINIsOnTop and my site is still the “old” v1. I have no plans to update it any time soon …
Yeah, I know it doesn’t work yet but iPhoto 5 *just* came out so I imagine the author of that plugin will have a fix pretty quick.
I know you upgraded for the RAW stuff but I am not sure that many people will spend $80 or whatever for iLife just for iPhoto. 🙂
Hopefully though, it will work with iPhoto 5 soon.
I too am using gallery, but I don’t like the way it handles cookies or trying to modify the overall design. One that I do like is Coppermine which I am using at http://www.clubscmm.com/gallery. The upload process is a little strange at first, but it’s much easier to customize the layout and seems to be more stable. Oh yea, it doesn’t do weird things with cookies either!
Frustrating … no sooner do I sing the praises of 1and, than their server died and was down for who knows how long this morning 😦
Doesn’t surprise me that you didn’t get a response. Customer service isnt their strong point. That being said they give you a ton for the money.
BTW glad to see there are some MT fans in the house. If I didn’t use specialized weblog software to run MotoringFile I’d probably be using MT.
On comment spam… MotoringFile had about zero until a few months ago. Now it’s rampant as Ian knows well. It’s been an amazing change.
See this post where I decided to move from 1and1 due to unreliability …