Web hosting provider recommendation?

[Sofaspud]

I'm in the market for a new web hosting provider.  Currently I am with Dotster.  Do not go with Dotster.

I need:
* phpBB/mySQL support, preferably one that either has the latest version(s) baked-in OR allows me the access needed to install it myself
* 1 GB or so of space (more = better, but I can comfortably handle a gig)
* Fast response -- my biggest complaint with Dotster isn't the throughput, it's the lag.  I and my users will be waiting upwards of 2-3 minutes for the server to finish processing a simple request and fetch back the page.  Tellingly, this happens most during high-traffic times.  They overload their servers and I'm getting sick of it.
* Direct FTP, not some craptastic web interface.
* Cheap.

I'm currently paying about $10/month.  I'd be willing to pay a little bit more if needed but frankly, looking at the market, I'm overpaying as-is for what I need.  I'm looking for recommendations, if anyone has any.

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs

[Morganite]

I'm far from being an expert, but you might check out railsplayground.net . I had an account with them for a while (before the purpose for which I got it stopped existing), and I think they meet most all your requirements. (On the price issue, a level 1 developer account (3gb storage, 30gb/month transfer) is $5 a month, although that level requires paying a year at a time.)

-Morgan.

[Bob Schroeck]

NetCarrier has been doing quite well by me for the last year-plus, and is costing me only half of what my old dial-up did for a "commercial" hosting deal that seems to hit all the points on your features list.

ETA:  It's costing me about $120 a year, which I pay annually for a bit of a discount.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[mephron]

I use Dreamhost, and they're quick, the response time from their people is good, you can use their webFTP OR you can use your own FTP, you have MySQL standard with a one-touch install of phpBB.
My account has (technically) unlimited transfer and storage space, and their "My Happy Hosting" plan costs me $36/year.  If you want, message me directly and I can give you a reference that'll give you a bit off your first year if you like.
Their one-click installer gives, as I noted phpBB, WordPress, MediaWiki, Joomla! and a bunch of other things.  I'm quite happy with them, to the point I have both my domains hosted there.Brazil has decided you're cute.

[Sofaspud]

I've been looking at the recommendations here, and none really matched what I'm after -- RailsPlayground is pretty cool, I'll admit, but it'd require far more initial investment (time) than I want to bother with to get what I've got transferred over, and NetCarrier is... well, I'm not sure, exactly.  It's hard to see what it is they're actually offering or how I'd go about getting started.

But Dreamhost... wow.  They have a free trial?  I think I may be sold.

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone, and Talienas, if my trial works out, I'll probably take you up on that reference offer.  Thanks very much!

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs