.com vs .net

[webbo11]

I am about to create a personal site for a client, but naturally the domain name they are requesting is taken (with the .com extension). Before i suggest that they use the available .net extension, i was wandering are there any drawbacks to using a .net extension as opposed to a .com extension.

[invertedpanda]

Not really, although most non-web-savvy people type in "blah.com" when looking for blah. I originally wanted the-engine.net, but I had to settle for .org myself.

[webbo11]

thats what i was thinking...thx for the help

[MstrBob]

The sad part about domain names these days is that many are losing their meaning! A .com means its a company. A .net means it's a network. Similarly, a .org means it's an organization. Imagine if the .edu domain were unregulated? Jeeze...

[invertedpanda]

The sad part about domain names these days is that many are losing their meaning! A .com means its a company. A .net means it's a network. Similarly, a .org means it's an organization. Imagine if the .edu domain were unregulated? Jeeze...

Yeah, I know. That's why I wanted .net - Because all my websites (and a few by other people) are hosted under it.

Plus, it sure would make filtering porno sites @ schools easier if they actually used the .xxx domain..

[webbo11]

so, seeing as though it would be for his personal site, maybe we should try to figure out a different domain name so that we can use .com?

[MstrBob]

Well, first off start off with an appropriate TLD (Top Level Domain). Is this a personal website for him, the person? Then .name would probably be best. Is your client's website a company? Then .com is appropriate. Perhaps it's an organization, then .org. Take a look at the IANA's list of gTLDs:

http://www.iana.org/gtld/gtld.htm

[Stephen Philbin]

I thought .co was a company?

[MstrBob]

I thought .co was a company?

Yes, it is. But that isn't a generic TLD, that's often combined with a ccTLD. Like the UK, often times you see domainname.co.uk That would be for a company as well. I was talking in terms of gTLD and not secondary ccTLD.

[MR0624]

I had originally wanted compuker.com and waited about a month (at which the time it was available) then one day I decide i'll go get it and it turned out not to be available. I got compuker.net since it just sounded better. I relize that it means network...but if I were someone who hadn't used a computer before, and wanted to go to a compuker website, I would go to compuker.com then compuker.net and last compuker.org.

[MstrBob]

Often times people encounter domain names getting taken. If a .com is taken, you could always go for a ccTLD. Perhaps even a second level domain of a cc would help, like a .co.uk if you're a british company, or a .me.uk if a .name has been taken. .net really makes the most sense for a network, like say an ISP.

But of course, .com, .org, and .net are unregulated, so...

[webbo11]

thanks a lot, i think we will end up going with the .net because he can't figure out another domain that suits him

[MstrBob]

thanks a lot, i think we will end up going with the .net because he can't figure out another domain that suits him

Is this really a network? What's wrong with a .name if it's a personal website. Company is a different story. Even in the us, there's a .us

[webbo11]

i think that his main concern is the .name and how its not widely used nor as well known as .com or .net

[MstrBob]

People always seem hesitant about this at first. But there are more than three TLD's, and people need to realize this. This would really only be a concern of mine depending on advertising. If you've a big company, and figure a lot of people will be trying yourname.com or yourname.org without seeing it first, then I'd try a .com or .org But if you'll be handing out say, buisness cards with the address, or trading links online, than it doesn't matter as much.