vBulletin is far from cheap, I can't recall and i'm too lazy to check, seems liek it sold for $300 or $500 with an annual service fee.

Invision has some reasonable software, but the owners are a bunch of pervs. I know because I'm one myself.... heh heh

phpBB is free but vulnerable to hacks and malicious code, base64 problems. But it has lots of skins available, most also free. Free user support forum.

SMF is better free software, but not so many skins. Fairly easy to customize, installation is a snap. Has a free user support forum.


Of course, you're going to want a website host too. Let me know if you find something better than 350G storage and 3.5T monthly bandwidth....

vBulletin is the best hands down.
costs $160.00.
the service fee is optional

vBulletin (Owned License)
The owned vBulletin Forum license allows you to run the software on your site indefinitely. Along with this license, you will receive one year of free updates. Beyond the first year, you will have to pay a nominal fee, currently $30, to obtain updates for an additional year.

This license includes free support via email and on the community forum. Phone Support is not included in the license price but may be purchased for an additional cost either at the time of initial purchase, or afterwards through the Members' Area.

Yes I own one.

SMF is the best IMHO you can get for free
I also operate one of these, for a small site

http://xenweb.net/
The best free host I am aware of
You earn hosting by posting on his forum.

All plans include:
cPanel 9
Addon Domains, Parked Domains
PHP, Perl, CGI, SSI, MySQL, Postgresql, Frontpage Extensions
Webmail, POP3, IMAP
FTP & Browser upload
HTML editor
Fantastico Deluxe: One click installs of popular scripts
CGI: Guestbook, Counter, Clock, Countdown, FormMail
Shared SSL
Hotlink Protection
AWStats and Webalizer statistics
Custom error pages, Cron jobs, .htaccess, password protected directory
Host your domain or subdomain
Ad-free


Basic - 5 Posts
Webspace (MB): 50 MB
Bandwidth (MB): 1000 MB
Email Accounts: 999
FTP Accounts: 999
Subdomains: 999
Databases: 999
Addon Domains: 999
Parked Domains: 999

Expanded - 50 Posts
Webspace (MB): 200 MB
Bandwidth (MB): 3000 MB
Email Accounts: 999
FTP Accounts: 999
Subdomains: 999
Databases: 999
Addon Domains: 999
Parked Domains: 999

Plus - 125 Posts
Webspace (MB): 500 MB
Bandwidth (MB): 5000 MB
Email Accounts: 999
FTP Accounts: 999
Subdomains: 999
Databases: 999
Addon Domains: 999
Parked Domains: 999

Premium Small - 220 Posts
Webspace (MB): 700 MB
Bandwidth (MB): 8000 MB
Email Accounts: 999
FTP Accounts: 999
Subdomains: 999
Databases: 999
Addon Domains: 999
Parked Domains: 999

Premium - 7 Dollars (U.S.)
Webspace (MB): 1000 MB
Bandwidth (MB): 15000 MB
Email Accounts: unlimited
FTP Accounts: unlimited
Subdomains: unlimited
Databases: unlimited
Addon Domains: unlimited
Parked Domains: unlimited



-- Edited by WTF at 00:01, 2007-05-23

-- Edited by WTF at 00:03, 2007-05-23

-- Edited by WTF at 00:06, 2007-05-23

Diesel wrote:

---

WTF,
Information and education about the cheap cost of running a website (yes, I think 160 is cheap compared to how much $$$ DO has claimed to have "needed" over the years to keep replacing hardware, etc.) If people will learn and understand how it is exceedingly unnecessary to keep paying money money money, perhaps they will change their attitude about sending money all the time. They also might develop a jaundiced eye each time they see DO doing his begging act.......

.

---

That is the #1 reason I never donated.....It's a cash cow scam!
yes, it cost money to run a big time site....
but not that much..(unless you are very foolish)

Grocks new site is most likely run out the back door of the new server
tb too gay just bought for contractor.
That is why DO has root access to it, it's in a subdirectory of his server.

Grock get out now!, take your domain, and move!