For last few days I was eyeing on PHP based bulletin board, PunBB, it is basically a CSS based board which has all basic functionality needed for the discussion forums…installed one cool skin on it…also installed RSS mod on it…I liked PunBB because of its simplicity…features are only related to discussion…no extra stuff like PM, send this thread to friend or other eye candy you see in other boards….
To be frank I am quite used to vBulletin and I don’t know I somehow do not like bulletin boards other than vBulletin but still lets see…I am gonna use it for few months and if the member base increases then I will buy vBulletin 🙂
So moral of the story, if you need a simple board then you should check it out PunBB but for the board with advanced functionality…aha..this vBulletin lover is never gonna recommend any board other than vBulletin 🙂
I’ve been eyeing this board for some time now and it is neat mind you but I can’t be used to a system without PM’ing. I mean PM’ing is the 2nd most important thing in any any forum. I’m dead serious here. PunBB is nice but the default layout is too simple, not attractive and the no# features is quite less. Some may be eyecandy but the others are seriously useful. I agree vBulletin is THE THE THE BEST!! But look at it’s price. All good things have a price.
Here’s just my Small Review
vB:: Stunner ACP(Admin Panel), Great Default layout, best features, amazing support, neat hacks, easy to edit.
It’s dead expensive
phpBB:: Open-Source, Free, Neat, Fast, Lotsa Mods
It has no features (NONE) in default DL, Bad Mod System, Tough to Make Layouts
IceBB, SMF, PunBB, MyBB, WowBB
Here’s just a collection of forum system links with ratings
http://vbulletin.com – 9
http://phpbb.com – 7
http://icebb.org – 7
http://simplemachines.org – 6
http://xmbforum.com – 6
http://wowbb.com – 5
http://punbb.com – 6
http://mybb.com – 5.5
These are the best, rest are too average.
@Deep: Dude, sorry that I got carried away. I know this isn’t my blog but just though i should share 2.
Retro
I’m not able to see my comment.
Actually because of more links, wordpress automatically sent your comment for moderation automatically, I approved it just now 🙂
As mentioned earlier, PunBB is just very simple board with aim of just discusion nothing else and that is why you do not see any extra features, all the features are related to discussion…..
I will try punbb for sometime and if the member base increases then I will move to VB 🙂
btw correct URL for mybb is http://www.mybboard.com
Regards
Deep
I`m also thinking of moving from SMF . the options are MyBB & punBB . Not sure what to go for . I`ll most probably go for myBB
Sorry Deep. Sreejith why don’t you try PhpBB or IceBB. Both are good.
I wont suggest mybb coz I just saw an exploit in mybb which allows attacker to become admin of the forum and I dont see any update about it on their site too…
Deep
Retro, nice review. What bout IPB? Yeah, paid and big, not good for small stuffs.
I advocate for SMF and phpBB!