While there are tons of web hosts out there, very few seem to provide Mac web hosting. Which is a shame, because Apple actually provides a stell...
While there are tons of web hosts out there,
very few seem to provide Mac web hosting. Which is a shame, because Apple actually provides a stellar web server. So, why should you use Mac hosting instead of more traditional options like Windows and Linux?
The Unique Advantages of Mac Hosting
Mac hosting has a few advantages that other platforms cannot match. One of the most popular is the ability to host a Quicktime server. This means that you can point the server at a folder of Quicktime movies and the server will handle the streaming of the movies to other computers that connect to it automatically. It makes setting up a streaming media server incredibly easy, but it is also meant to work primarily with other Mac machines. While Quicktime is on other platforms, its use, especially in web browsers, has diminished greatly over the years. That doesn't make this any less useful of a feature, however, for a mac-based office. And Mac hardware is exploding in popularity. Quicktime comes on all the devices, so streaming is a snap.
The other main reason people go with Mac web hosting is because of WebObjects. WebObjects is a framework for building web services. Its purpose is to make creating massive, complex websites incredibly simple and very easy.
WebObjects makes this design so easy by enabling code-free development. If you choose to, you can use building blocks and flow arrows to control process flow rather than writing code, making development open to even those who don't think of themselves as web developers. Of course, if you prefer to work with code, you can do that too. You can choose the language you write it in, whether it be Applescript for the old-school Apple fans or Java, for those who aren't. You can also code in Perl and .Net.
WebObjects is an incredibly compelling option for those wanting to get a complex website up with a minimum of fuss. And Apple has, of course, kept it Mac only, much like Microsoft has kept much of the .Net framework to itself.
Other advantages
A killer web app development tool and a Quicktime server aren't the only advantages that Mac servers provide. Mac OS X is probably the most stable graphical operating system on the market today, including Linux distributions. The strong Unix core that powers Mac OS X means that your machine will be incredibly stable, meaning less unscheduled downtime. Mac OS X is also great at handling the various strains of being a web server. Really, Apple's operating system is perfect for handling the strains of modern web hosting thanks, in no small part, to the rock solid operating system Apple has designed for consumers.
Overall, Mac web hosting is underrated. Apple has created plenty of compelling reasons why people should switch to its servers rather than stick with the more traditional Windows and Linux offerings, but so far they have had little success. Hopefully that will change. Mac web hosting is a great option.
