[lucyblue]

Are there any FReepers out there who can give me the quick overview or advice, opinions, experiences, etc.?

Thanks!

[rocksblues]

If your looking to register a domain name and want reliable service I suggest trying ipowerweb. Look it up on Google. Less than $100.00 a year and great/lots of features.

[Servant of the 9]

I have used Register.Com for mine.
Just go to the site and follow the instructions there.

SO9

[xcamel]

use the oldest/best

http://networksolutions.com

[Lady Jag]

Register.com. Just buy the domain name and place your site here http://www.ixwebhosting.com/, it's cheap and the most reliable I've used.

[Fiddlstix]

I own several domain names. I've used several different registrars over the years.

I like:

Total Online Solutions
Domain Name Registrations

Very reasonable prices.
Good service
Best for the Buck, IMHO

[krakath]

Domains can be stolen if they aren't renewed in time.

I got my domains registered from www.1and1.com and www.cheap-domain-name-registrar.com

I first got my domain registered at the second link, then had it renewed at the first. Both are legit (at least at the time I did my business with them).

As far as experience goes, I would suggest you handle domain renewals very early or face paying extra to re-secure your domain!

Shop around for a good price. Pay with credit card that has purchase protection so you don't get frauded out of some dough.

[GMMAC]

For whatever it's worth as I'm unfamiliar with U.S. prices for same, I use a Canadian outfit called Sibername.
(http://sibername.com/)

It has an excellent domain name search engine on its site and charges about $16 CDN for names with the rate going down the more years purchased.
For anyone who hasn't a present need for a website (it also hosts them), Sibername will spin e-addresses off your domain name for about 1/3 $15/25 CDN per year.
These addresses work seamlessly once you're on the internet via any ISP - thus allowing you to change ISP's at will without changing your e-address. It's yours for as long as you keep paying the yearly domain fee and can always be transferred to another registrar if you ever become dissatisfied with Sibername.

I use my "permanent" addresses for friends, family and business and "official" purposes and generic ones from my current ISP for public forums etc rather than a Yahoo or Hotmail address because either has far more mailbox capacity than most standard "freebie" addresses.

[HitmanLV]

Register at godaddy.com for under $10 a year. They can host it for plans starting at around $4 a month, and more if you need more sophisticated services.

[silent_jonny]

marker

[Cedar]

bump for later

[Alia]

bookmark

[Rakkasan1]

can't help you,but here's an interesting idea...
Blogger grabs DFL-friendly domain names
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1354735/posts

[solitas]

I use http://www.directnic.com

[evilC]

Most providers allow you to register your domain name and "park it" (i.e. hold it without a website). Once you are ready to put up your web site you can "point" the domain to the correct address (your webspace provider will give you the address). You usually do not have to register and host with the same people.

You should be able to register for about $8 or $9. Unless you expect very high traffic, you should be able to host for less than $10 and possibly less than $5 per month.

[ThePythonicCow]

Is there a way to secure a domain name without using companies like godaddy.com or register.com?

There are three separate steps here:

1. Register the domain name ($5 to $10 per year).
2. Setup a website (on your own computers, with your ISP, perhaps some free websites with limitations, or $5 to $$$$ per month).
3. Point ("forward") the name to your website (free - normal part of domain registration service).

To 'secure' a domain name you will need to register it. I use GoDaddy.com for all my registrations. I recommend them.

I recommend registering your names at a site that makes a major business of registering names, not at your local ISP, and not at the first place you happen to have a website at. The sites you will choose for your websites will change over time, and it is more convenient to have a separate, long term, registrant with whom you work, independent of where you happen to have websites at the moment.

[HAL9000]

Is there a way to secure a domain name without using companies like godaddy.com or register.com?

They're all about the same. Do you have some specific reason not to use godaddy.com or register.com?

If you're trying to avoid having your real name on the domain registration, some of those registrars have proxy ownership products to accomplish that.