Does it matter where you buy your domain name?

[lucylou]

I am starting a blog, and have the name picked out. I plan to use a .com name. I have heard it's better to get your domain name and your hosting from different providers. If so, does it matter where I get my domain name from? There are cheap ones like FatCow and GoDaddy, and much more expensive ones. Also, I am in Australia. I assume I should get hosting in Australia(?), but do I need to get my domain name from an Australian provider too? Even though I'm going for a .com rather than a .com.au?
Thanks for any help you can give me! I am new to all these things and tried to find the information on provider websites but got really confused. Cheers

[Nathan]

The best hosting provider is BlueHost. There are others who might be a bit cheaper but be wary. Host Monster is a fairly good cheap host.

You don't necessarily have to have a .com.au address and in fact I probably wouldn't use such an address unless you are specifically running an Australian business.

[lucylou]

So should I get my domain name form them too or can I just get the domain name from any cheap place?

[Nathan]

Well BlueHost throws in a free domain name. Most good hosting providers will give you a free domain name as part of the hosting plan.

[blogaboutnothin]

You can't go wrong with GoDaddy either, and you should go for .com instead of the Australian one.