Forum Required . . .

[FreeLocal]

I am looking for a simple format free Forum to use with www.freelocal.co.uk and www.seeitlocal.co.uk . . . . Can you advise.

[ewan]

http://www.phpbb.com/

Down for now, but worth checking out once there up again. I know many forums that use phpbb

[Ravenfire]

Are there any particular features you want the forum to have?

[DarrenC]

I'm using PHPBB - it's okay, fairly easy to change the design of the forum. From a search engine optimisation point of view, its difficult, but theres plenty of guidance around.

Oh and it's free.

[desk2web]

Check with your current host, as they may well be able to install phpBB or SMF direct for you, no need to get your hands dirty.

[Ozzy]

This forum currently is running on phpBB, mentioned above. However, in about 2-3 weeks time its going to be migrated over to vBulletin.

I opted to move from phpBB because as the forum gets more and more traffic I needed to go for a commercial better supported application.

[Ravenfire]

Yayy vBulletin, wise choice. I use that and the difference is amazing. Hopefully I might actually know how to work everything on it as well!

[Magsite]

I think the layout of this forum is great. Can't wait to see the improved one!

Any news Ozzy on other changes?

Cheers

Lisa

[FreeLocal]

Are there any particular features you want the forum to have?

It would be accessed via www.freelocal.co.uk and be accessible via local sites such as www.seeitlocal.co.uk . Users would eventually need to post and search by town or county and I ideally would like to ba able to add a sponsor / advertising on the header.
Thanks for your reply
Keith

[adnan278]

Hi Keith,
If you're looking for a free and easy forum to set up, I would probably recommend Invision PowerBoard. In my hosting package it came free, so it was really easy to setup. Check to see if you have this too.
Thanks,
adnan

[FreeLocal]

Hi Keith,
If you're looking for a free and easy forum to set up, I would probably recommend Invision PowerBoard. In my hosting package it came free, so it was really easy to setup. Check to see if you have this too.
Thanks,
adnan

Thanks . . . I'll take a look.

[Ravenfire]

It will be the older version of IPB if you want the free one as with the current versions you do have to pay. Depends on how much you expect to get from your forum as you will also find that the ones you are paying for not only run better but do tend to be more secure.

With IPB and vBulletin you have the option of buying a license outright or of buying one on a yearly basis and they have some great features and add-ons available to them.

Of all of them available I would have to say though that vBulletin is by far the easiest to use.

Toni

[FreeLocal]

Thanks Toni . . .
I have to say I like the one you are using on Mumzone.
Keith

[lyndonw]

I've used phpBB and Simpleboard in the past, I purchased a vBulletin licence yesterday (see my sig!) and have fallen in love!

It is so easy to modify and change things - phpBB breaks so easily when adding add-ins but vB is a dream - well worth the £45 (which is going up soon!)

[Bulldog Design]

Get VBulletin, well worth it and the whole look is way more professional

Also, i should point out that there are a few security holes in PHPbb and some sad, lonely people who will spend all their time exploiting them

[Ravenfire]

Thanks Keith.

Mine is vBulletin and I cant recommend it highly enough. I have tried various different other forums including PHPbb, InvisionFree and IPB and vBulletin is by far the easiest to use and add modifications to, well worth the money.

I also know of people with PHPbb that have found security problems and also that it is pretty heavy bandwidth wise compared to some of the others as well.

Toni

[jk]

i prefer phpBB myself, im just used to it :-)