incorporating oscommerce and paypal to a website

[nursallie]

Hi.
My web designer will use Flash MX to create my website on a Windows XP platform.
Should i obtain hosting on linux or windows?
WIll a programmer be able to incorporate oscommerce later and paypal payments pro?
Do i need a hosting company now for my webdesigner to design my website? Or can he work on it and then later put it "online"?
Is GoDaddy a good place to host?
Thanks in advance for your responses

[speed]

Should i obtain hosting on linux or windows?

Unless your designer tells you otherwise it's your choice. osCommerce is supposed to work on either platform.

Personally I would always go with Linux.

WIll a programmer be able to incorporate oscommerce later and paypal payments pro?

Unless you are getting one of those awful Flash only sites then yes they should be able to do that.

If you are getting a Flash only site or one where the navigation is Flash then someone is going to have to modify the Flash to link to the shop pages.

You might want to get the designer to skin osCommerce as otherwise it could look a bit tacked together.

Do i need a hosting company now for my webdesigner to design my website? Or can he work on it and then later put it "online"?

He should have space on his host and so should be able to place your site online during development so that you can see and interact with it.

If you want the site built in your own web space and the designer agrees to it then you can get hosting now.

As you mention osCommerce you need to ensure that the host you select offers a database and anything else you need to host it, if you don't you'll only have to up and move hosts later.

Is GoDaddy a good place to host?

Have a read through webhostingtalk starting at http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=565306

I haven't used shared hosts in about 10 years so I can't say any more.