I'm curious how many Hostony customers use them and how reliable they are.

Would I be better off getting a dedicated server or do they go down just as much as the shared servers do?

Rastus,
Dedicated servers are considered to be the most reliable ones. No doubt you'd better have a dedicated server rather then a shared one, as they really go down rather seldom.

To help, I'll add an analogy...

Think of your Home's Master Bathroom. Its has plenty of space, decent lighting, etc... Its as clean you YOU keep it, it works great, rarely has problems and if it does, you usually caused it by trying to flush an entire roll of toilet paper etc... This is Dedicated Hosting...

Now think of the Public Restroom at the Local City Park. Its Lighting is just enough that you can see what you are doing, not much more, Its usually in some state of filthyness, even though the janitors might try as hard as they can to keep it clean, someone always Poops on the floor. You have to share the bathroom with many people, you each get your own cramped stall. If the guy/girl next to you flushes an entire roll of toilet paper, guess what, your toilet now wont flush. On the plus side, Public restrooms are usually built with no frills and using "industrial stength" toilets, sinks, faucets etc so they are made to take a little more abuse than your home Bathroom. This is Shared Hosting...

Jason

edit: And some Public Restrooms are always out of order because of a few of its patrons always trying to flush that proverbial Roll of Toilet Paper down the toilet... (server22) /humor

The only thing missing is the Glory Holes between the stalls!

*Rolls over laughing*
Don't mind if I do!