The end of an era: goodbye, Network Solutions

Yesterday, I transferred all my domain names to GoDaddy.com from Network Solutions. It was actually quite sad … finally giving up my “ETS2” NIC handle. I still remember emailing “hostmaster@networksolutions.com” a plain-text form to update all my WHOIS information. Yes, I have a domain as old as 1994. I remember my first netblock, 198.6.113.0/24, a Class C from UUNET. Back in those days, the yearly domain name registry fee was $35, and Network Solutions had the monopoly on it.

Sure, their prices have come down a little since then, but in over 10 years now, I’ve given them close to $300 for that one domain alone. In comparison, my next 10 years with GoDaddy.com will only cost me close to $70. There’s very little value-add in the area of domain name registry itself, so price is certainly my major decision point. In that regard, GoDaddy.com wins–they have a smooth, usable web interface for managing domains. Their interface is pleasant to use for bulk management of domains, too. And, they’re cheap.

So, goodbye and farewell, Network Solutions. It’s a good, long, just barely 13 years, but it’s time to move on. Lets hope that GoDaddy.com is as maintenance-free and reliable for the next ten years as Network Solutions has been for me for the last ten years.

Tags:
Network Solutions,
GoDaddy.com,
Internet,
history,
nostalgia