We use Netfirms for all domain registrations
Selecting the right web hosting provider is an important step. We have tried many and worked with clients using many different providers. Based on our experience working with many clients, we do not recommend using 1 and 1, Go Daddy, Yahoo, or Network Solutions for web hosting.
There are three web hosting providers that we currently recommend, especially for hosting Drupal-based websites. Two fall into the category of "budget hosting" and the third is a premium hosting provider.
Site5.com
Currently, Web New Castle uses the services of Site5.com, including web hosting space that we sometimes provide for clients. We can provide web hosting, but we generally recommend that you obtain your own hosting account. Site5.com support FFMPEG (for video format conversions) on shared hosting servers. If it's not already configured on a particular shared hosting machine, they've stated in the past and on their site that they can do so when requested.
AN Hosting
Although we have not directly used the services of AN Hosting, there are many developers in the Drupal Community who recommend theie services, in part, based on the way in which AN Hosting reportedly has configured their database servers to be very responsive to database-intensive sites like ones built in Drupal. Popular, high-traffic websites like DrupalModules.com currently using AN Hosting.
Update: We called AN Hosting on 09/29/2009 to inquire about FFMPEG, a tool needed for websites that are going to do video conversions (upload in a particular video format and have it converted to Flash format). AN Hosting does NOT support FFMPEG on shared hosting servers.
WestHost
We came into contact with WestHost fairly recently and decided to start recommending their services for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons pertain to the technical end of how they manage their servers, including the database is placed on the same server as a website - similar to AN Hosting. We also wanted to be able to provide a referral for a more "premium level" hosting provider as well as a web hosting provider in Utah for our local clients. We wish to be clear that although we have chosen to recommend them, we do not currently have a history with WestHost - and cannot provide the same type of information on services and the web host's track record that we can for other hosting providers with which we have experience.
We would recommend that you take a look at the providers above to help you with your research and choice for web hosting. We do strongly recommend that you obtain hosting on a Linux-based machine - the providers above will help ensure that you have hosting on machine/set-up that is optimal for a Drupal-based website.
Thanks for the reply, Matt. I'd like to add to your explanation that one key to how the pet...