I am thinking of using SQL Server Express as my database for now - to take advantage of its visual tools, and later I could port the db over to MySQL.. If I keep all the business logic in the app and limit my database code to CRUD, trying not to use anything Transact-SQL specific, it shouldn't be too difficult to port the db to MySQL, what do you think?
I was under the impression that Amazon's cloud required the client image to be linux?
Frankly, for smaller sites, you can get shared hosting for $10 a month that might be sufficient (and you can grow to a $50/month slice and then a $300 a month dedicated then to $$k for many dedicated). All prices are from Webhost4Life.
Since running a single EC2 instance = $70 a month if left up full time, I think there are vastly cheaper options out there.
You know, maybe they are using mono for .NET on Amazon..which is not the road I want to take - too much setup, maintenance, and uncertainty.
The shared hosting comes with a drawback - most of these shared hosts are black or white - either all linux or all windows. If I want to run php scripts, or a C++ process, I am stuck - unless I go with a VPS or dedicated, which brings up the cost to $50+, at which point one might as well go with Mosso or EC2..
Btw, if anyone wants to split Mosso with me, please PM me.