Cheapest way to put pics online?

[beelzerob]

I'm tired of having to re-upload all of the pics that I include in postings and such when I change ISP's (due to losing my "Personal web space"), or having to go through their website to upload them. What's the cheapest way I can have a place to put my pics? I don't want to use a place that requires users to go to some site to see them...I just want an online address that I can then reference as an IMG in my postings.

I don't think I can justify something like $15/month for this...so hopefully there are cheaper solutions.

 

[zimmer62]

I'm tired of having to re-upload all of the pics that I include in postings and such when I change ISP's (due to losing my "Personal web space"), or having to go through their website to upload them. What's the cheapest way I can have a place to put my pics? I don't want to use a place that requires users to go to some site to see them...I just want an online address that I can then reference as an IMG in my postings.

I don't think I can justify something like $15/month for this...so hopefully there are cheaper solutions.

Picasa sorta lets you do this...

On the right side of your album it gives you the ability to embed an image... you can strip off the href and have your link.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/zimmer62/R2lC00BbNjI/...00/DSC_0046.JPG

The only downfall is that it's limited to 800x600 I think

But the good thing is it's free.

 

[mdesmarais]

I've been with 1and1.com for 4 or 5 years now. . . 3.99 a month for the base package. I can do what I want, when I want. Not free, but it is nice having my own domain.

 

[beelzerob]

Well, 800X600 isn't really an issue...I'm mainly looking at this for post pics, and I always resize those to 800X600 anyway. I'll have to check out picasa. As long as it isn't restrictive, then I can go that way.

Thanks for the suggestions all.

 

[personalt]

google owns the picasa... works great

Well, 800X600 isn't really an issue...I'm mainly looking at this for post pics, and I always resize those to 800X600 anyway. I'll have to check out picasa. As long as it isn't restrictive, then I can go that way.

Thanks for the suggestions all.

 

[drozwood90]

I just host off of my HS server.

I don't get THAT many visitors that I need UBER high speed...

I use Abyss Webserver (free), hosted off of my server (it runs anyhow) using dyndns.org for DNS (free).

--Dan

 

[beelzerob]

Sooo...you host off of your own PC running at home? With no special services or software required?

What would be the disadvantages of that? Security? Or is it mainly upload speed and bandwidth limitations if any? I have a PC that runs 24/7, since it's my CQC main server.

 

[SnyperBob]

I use Abyss as well and highly recommend it. I host three sites off my one box using Abyss. Disadvantages are mostly bandwidth limitations. If you're hosting normal sized pics tho, it shouldn't matter too much. Also, if your computer is off the site/pics won't display.

I also use no-ip.com tandem with Abyss, I sent you a PM with more info

 

[drozwood90]

Sooo...you host off of your own PC running at home?

Yes...

With no special services or software required?

Only need to have webserver software on the host, which some people (Jon00 on the homeseer forums) use Homeseer itself. I like to use Abyss, as my website doesn't go down if I am screwing with Homeseer. I also like how simple Abyss is, yet how powerful it is. I found it VERY easy to use.

What would be the disadvantages of that? Security?

Possbily...Abyss is very simple, so I doubt it's too insecure. One of those, it's secure by default, as it's not terribly popular (esp. as commercially most are using Linux or Microsoft's hosting stuff).

I run my server on power 9003, so most people don't even see that my IP address is online (scanners). ALSO, keep in mind, I don't traffic 100's of 1000's of megs of files. I mostly serve stuff for personal use, funny jokes, pictures of the family that I don't want to clog everyone's e-mail boxes with. I'll just send a link to the picture.

Or is it mainly upload speed and bandwidth limitations if any? I have a PC that runs 24/7, since it's my CQC main server.

Upload speed is a limit. Also, if someone is downloading a picture, my internet gets a bit slow...but as MOST of what my family does is surf and e-mail, we actually pay for the SLOWEST DSL that I can get ($15.00/ mo for 512/1024), and it has been PLENTY fast. However, it's all in your preference and what your TOS said. Mine said I couldn't run a webserver on port 80. That was fine, as previouly I had been running one on port 9003 for security. No big deal. The most annoying thing is when I try to use Opera Mini. It doesn't like to view anything that is not on port 80. So, I have to use PocketIE to view my home server...

HTH

 

[beelzerob]

Guess it's time to go find and read the TOS....

 

[Steve]

Why don't you just get your own domain and hosting? You can get your own domain like beelzerob.com (it's available!) for $10 year and hosting for like $5 month. The hosting not only gives you storage for your pics, but also ability to create various websites, your own personal email that you can manage however you want, etc. You can use something like Gallery to have all your pics nicely sorted in albums, etc for people to view, like this or you can just link a pic directly like this

 

[beelzerob]

Where can I get hosting for $5/month? At this point I'm leaning towards hosting at home...but if that doesn't work out, or the TOS don't allow it, or it eats up our DSL speed, then I'll be back to hosting it somewhere.

Of course, there's STILL picasa....but that's obviously just for pics. Then again, that's the only need I have at this time.

I don't think I could sell my wife on paying for hosting at this point because she's a facebook addict, and she'd much rather just put them all on there for all our friends and family to see.

 

[mdesmarais]

Where can I get hosting for $5/month?

Not 5 but 4, as I posted above. . .

I've been with 1and1.com for 4 or 5 years now. . . 3.99 a month for the base package. I can do what I want, when I want. Not free, but it is nice having my own domain.

 

[beelzerob]

Ok, so in order of cheapness, so far it seems like it would be:

1) Picasa
- Free, but only pics and I'll have to make sure I can just link directly to pics on my postings.
2) Host on my own PC, using Abyss (free) and no-ip.com (free) to redirect
- Free, but may impact your broadband connection speed negatively, and may be subject to your ISP TOS. Also, you'd need to keep a PC on 24/7 to have pics available to be seen.
3) Buy a domain ($10/yr) and a hosting service ($4/mo).
- No limits to what you can do, as far as pics or websites, or whatever.

 

[damage]

Ok, so in order of cheapness, so far it seems like it would be:

1) Picasa
- Free, but only pics and I'll have to make sure I can just link directly to pics on my postings.
2) Host on my own PC, using Abyss (free) and no-ip.com (free) to redirect
- Free, but may impact your broadband connection speed negatively, and may be subject to your ISP TOS. Also, you'd need to keep a PC on 24/7 to have pics available to be seen.
3) Buy a domain ($10/yr) and a hosting service ($4/mo).
- No limits to what you can do, as far as pics or websites, or whatever.

as an alternative to 2, (depending on how much hacking you want to do) you can buy a linksys nslu2, install a 3rd party firmware ( http://www.nslu2-linux.org - i'm running slugos) and lighttpd (very lightweight webserver). everything runs off a flash disk and uses only about 4-5 watts.