Looking for e-commerce recommendations

[John]

Hi all,
I am looking for recommendations for e-commerce software, which can be
used for multiple sites, on windows servers, preferably with ASP and
doesn't require a month's reading of a manual.

Budget is around £400

Any suggestions?

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Appreciate if you can also share when you have found the one you wish to
use.

For my 2 cents contribution as I am also in the process of finding one -

My current focus on Miva (http://www.miva.com/) which is provided by many
ISPs (our solution approach) and can be purchased as well.

I am still "studying" it but it seems to be one of top and frequently used
and mentioned E-Commerce software.

There is one thing that I dislike this company is difficult to get certain
information from it or its partners. One of my major criterions is the
ability for multi-languages and I am currently stuck because no where can I
obtain if it can do it.

Another one is open source commerce software
(http://www.oscommerce.com/solutions). I am more reluctant to use open
source for serious business ventures, but that might just my bias.

Anyway, good luck and appreciate if you can share your findings as well.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

since you're looking at Miva ( I think it's a CGI) and OSC, which is a PHP
script, you ought to look at ZenCart: www.zencart.com


--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks for the sharing and I will definitely look into it.

Are Miva and OSC PHP based? I don't know that.

Maybe an maturate question, will that affect anything is the environment is
based on Windows platform with IIS, FP server extensions, ASP, and so on?

Once again, thanks for sharing.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

I believe Miva is a CGI/Pearl type script.
I'm certain OS Commerce is PHP

regarding the fp extensions/ windows environment: I've found that PHP stuff
runs surprisingly well on a windows server so it'll be OK. beyond that,
it's usually easiest to keep an app like a shopping cart in a FrontPage
subweb but isn't absolutely necessary.

It's actually kind of fun to "skin" one of these carts or other similar
apps, where you make it look identical (or acceptably close) to the rest of
the web you're installing it in.

--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Once again, appreciate your kind comments.

I feel a bit of more comfortable now and I will certainly make sure the web
will look consistently.

Apart from the topic, I wish to consult another question about PHP. My
understanding is that PHP scripts should be ok for Windows environment
(again, by general definition - Win 2003 server, FP server extensions, IIS,
ASP, and so on).

But I saw many ISPs offer PHP scripts only for Linux platform and not for
Windows.

Why is that? And if I use Windows platform, will I be able to use PHP
scripts?

Thanks again.

 

[Ronx]

Some Hosts do not install PHP or Perl on Windows servers, some do.
On my own server (Windows 2003), both PHP and Perl run very nicely -
on my Host (Win2003), Perl is a little slow. ASP and asp.NET is
faster though, and IMO easier to manage through FrontPage.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

I agree that asp and asp.net are faster and "better" on a windows server,
and I'm not surprised by that. I was surprised, however, not only how well
(anecdotal tests only) php runs AND how slick the installer works. it's
really a one click deal to install it on your local server.

I would generally stay with .asp on a windows server unless there was a PHP
script that was very close to what I needed and there was no .asp
alternative that was comparable.

PHP is only slightly harder (for me) to read and understand than asp.
Pearl, on the other hand, just doesn't feel nearly as comfortable.

--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks for the sharing from all of you.

So, I guess it's not about a pure "technical compatibility" issue (as I
assumed) but a choice of ISP's offer, for which, I am sure that it can be
negotiated.

The only reason that I am considering PHP (although my level is at "Hello
World") is that I have several books about it and heard that it works well
with mySQL. So I am thinking, just in case, if needed, it will be the best
if the platform can support it.

Once again, much appreciated.