I would never ever ever go off reviews when choosing a host, most of the time they're very untrue and fake.

While I agree that many can be faked, how would you go about choosing a host. I know you're in the industry, so you're not looking for hosting yourself, but say you weren't a host. How would you go about your research on a host?

And I guess more importantly, how does the average person go about finding out about a host?

Look for up to dated reviews about hosting company's, you don't want to look at a review from a year ago or 5 months ago, Company's can change in time.

Reviews, I look at all type of reviews there good to hear and if your running a web hosting company i'm sure you would look at them. There good to know you find out about your challengers. See what there offering and how they are offering it.

So what criteria would you use for choosing a host since you wouldn't make your decision off of a review?

Maybe by just taking the chances.

From my perspective both long term and short term reviews are important from a "reliable" source. Personally I would put less trust in a review of 6 months as compared to a continually updated reviews of a host over a five year period.

No thanks! I have tried the crap shoot method. I would rather have some basis for whom I choose to conduct business. Knowledge and experience even from a limited perspective is always better than repeatedly attempting to learn from trial and error. Just my two cents.

That's all got to do with the integrity of the webmaster. If he's got none, there's nothing we can do about it. It doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with paying for reviews though.

If someone's willing to alter their opinions for $5, again, it's a reflection of their character. Some people are willing to sell their votes where I live, but that doesn't mean voting should be banned.

As far as testing the integrity is concerned, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. You can often figure out whether there are financial ties involved, and if there are you know not to trust them.

I am always look reviews of hosting provider before buying any host. With help of reviews, I got some unique quality services about provider though most of provider do just advertise for increase their web site traffic.

Many revues are manipulated, especially the revue "sites" (not like this but a site of all revues) They are often owned by the top rated host (seems logical) but there's more than revues on forums too. Of all our customers I have only had one ever post a comment (a good one) so I wonder if some of the good revues aren't from some type "incentive".

In my experience anyway people who are happy don't tend to say much or visit web hosting sites because they really have no need to.

I'm not saying hosts do anything wrong. I've just always wondered if some hosts don't encourage their customers to come to the various forums and give them some "flowers" now and then.

BUT it could also be because we host 99% business, and they have other things to do besides visiting forums-I've just always wondered about the people that always seem to be ready and waiting to quickly recommend "ABChost" whenever someone asks.....

My point of view is that reviews are very important and should be important. When you search for a host and you see 10 positive reviews, you can think, okey, maybe 2, 3 are fake, but what about the others. Reviews are checked on all forums.