I'm looking at putting up a software support forum. I haven't rana forum for many years so I'm not really up to date with what is good and what is worth it. Things I need to consider: -I'm looking at probably 500 active members (i.e. +1 post/month) -Need to have option for paid membership plus areas for premium membership. -Easy management -Stable and secure -Support ticketing mod?? (if available) -Easy templates --> I can't stand smarty templates -SEO Friendly --> Really important Right now I have looked at (in list of what will most likely work): vBullentin MyBB phpBB3 SMF PowerBoards SMF - I hear there is quite a bit of problems with SMF? Is this true? phpBB3 - they used to be big good, but I here they are laggy in technology? vBullentin - Don't want to shell out the cash but I hear it is worth it. Is it really that much better and why? MyBB - I hear it is simple which is what a like but does it have mods? Also, I hear it doesn't handle large traffic sites!??! Is this really true? PowerBoards - don't know much. Any replies are welcome, rep will be added for anything worth the time to read. Thanks in advance.
I don't remember where I read it but I read that SMF had problems with the mods and templates other then the default one. Anyways, I read this http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21798 I'm pretty much decided on SMF. Maybe I will convert to vBul later if needed but I know php/mysql and can probably get what I need out of SMF. I think I like the model of giving a basic package with the option mods to make it what you want. On the note, is there any problems with SMF?
The only negative thing I've ever heard or read about Vbullitin is that it costs money, which really isn't all that bad. I'd stay away from phpBB3 right now unless you're comfortable working with code & don't mind keeping up with release candidates since it's still not entirely stable. I believe they're on RC7 right now. I've heard good things from developers about SMF, but I never see any SMF forums really ever being very active. The only experience I've had with Invision PowerBoards is people who don't want to renew their license & end up converting to phpBB2. I've never even heard of MyBB.
SMF is very troublesome with mods that do not react together well and can easily cause forum crashes. I have done a lot of work with phpbb and find it easy to modify. VB is good and i also do a lot of work with this one
vBulletin or IP.Board -- I was having a look at Invision Power Board and found the adminCP quite amazing, I think they've done major improvements the past few years, however I'm still a vB user and will pretty much stick by this platform for a few years - Meti
Meh, phpBB3 is OK, but not great. Its SE friendly when modded, and has a paid subscription module. It's a combination of vBulletin and uniqueness. Much more user friendly on the Administrator than vB. It has an SE mod, but no paid subscriptions, though a mod will be developed for it when the next version is released. And it has plenty of mods: htp://mods.mybboard.net
vBulletin is very SE friendly, IMO if you add Sitemap integration and minor modifications, it becomes a very SE friendly platform. myBB is in a different league, whilst myBB may have good amount of features, lacking themes and modifications is a quite big issue. vB has lots of modifications/styles available, IMO if you want to go with a free forum platform, I would most likely advise someone to choose phpBB in front of myBB. myBB isin't as SE friendly as vB, and I think lots of users agree with me about vB having a great adminCP, I don't like the adminCP myBB uses due to very complicated, and I never admired the styles editor. - Meti
Mybb can handle large traffic sites just fine. http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/ 3 million posts, 20k members I think mybb can handle your support forum just fine.
Umm...vB and MyBB virtually have the same ACP with different colour schemes. And it is so bloody easy to have a custom theme made...plugins too. And there are plenty of them. And the MyBB SEO friendly mod puts you in the same league as vB (in terms of SEO). Though if you are going to pay $150 on VBSeo, well, obviously that'll have better SEO again. I forgot where I was going with this BP
Ripoff I always think myBB has based their overall look & adminCP on vBulletin, I don't blaim them I find vB having the best ACP ever; but I know that myBB offers a great ACP, too. - Meti
Mybb 1.4 admincp will be a suprise to many. You can forget the whole..."looks like VB admincp" thing. I can't say more though.
I'll do a local install and try it out when its released, comparable with the vB being constructed? - Meti