phpbb2 vs OpenBB

[Chicken]

Ala Chips :D ...

phpbb2 vs OpenBB

I'm going to be annoying and ask about two specific boards and I'd like to know if anyone has had experience with both of these (preferably) and which they feel is stronger at the moment. I've seen a bunch posted and I'm mainly looking for something free, fast, looks decent out of the box, mysql/php with install script (has to have all of those things) for a site I'm doing for work (they aren't paying me). It doesn't have to have stellar admin backend functions, though as good as possible.

These two seem to have caught my eye, though I'd be willing to hear about another *if* you've used these two and feel that the one you are suggesting is better and *why*...

In other words, no this one is best, that one is best...

If you've used only one of the above and have used one that you feel is better then that is fine too, I might rethink the choices then.

Any help & advice you can provide will be appreciated.

[Kaliber]

ok,
If your going for looks OpenBB is the one for you, but if your going for features (with a great admin panel!) Go for phpBB2.

If you did choose phpBB2 though I would wait until the first 'official' release.

[Mika]

I think that OpenBB looks a bit more professional. But often I get some errors , when I use it, specially while trying to administrate the forum. Their development team doesn't look that active too.

phpbb2, it's a really good forum, and although it's not a final release, I've never had serious problems.

Smooth installation for both of them. I haven't noticed difference with the speed of these two forums. Personally I like more openbb.

[is0lized]

from personal use, the admin panel in openbb is really bad, only a few features =\

[Kaliber]

Once again, OpenBB doesn't have many features but looks great :D

[AsianDOC]

From experience, phpbb2 is more robust, OpenBB seems to like to mess with my Group Permissions.

[trenzterra]

i think phpbb2 is better

[is0lized]

shouldnt this be in CGI forum?

[Chicken]

Errrr... maybe it should, I don't know (seems everyone always dicusses it here, though maybe they discuss it there as well).

Ok, well a minimum amount of admin function is needed, not much (I say now), so I think I'll try out phpbb2 and see what happens. Danke all.

[BioniX]

Yeah, phpBB2 is better. If you want a good alternative try wbboard at http://www.woltlab.de :D

[Bruce]

Originally posted by Chicken
so I think I'll try out phpbb2 and see what happens. Good choice. It has the best admin panel out of the free boards. Great board...

[cheatpark]

I get cookie errors with phpbb.

[Kaliber]

www.evobb.com is another nice one :D

[trenzterra]

www.idealbb.com is another good one... if you have the cash :D

[Chicken]

no no no I'm not looking to spend money on this, this isn't going to be a commercial forum like FWS, this is going to be an add-on for a site I'm building for an elementary school. They aren't paying me... thus I'm not spending a dime on it, other than my time (which sadly isn't being compensated).

[Kaliber]

wow..that ideal BB is the best ASP one I have seen!

[Kaliber]

----~ Freaking expensive ->
Here is what you get:
--
Receive a copy of the Ideal BB CORP version
Access to all source code include COM object source
5 Support incidents
Access to special developer forums where developers respond to issues within 24 hours
--

$2095

What a rip!

[The Red Guy]

Use PHPBB2. I think the RC-2 is stable enough and I never had any trouble with it. ;)

[conkermaniac]

I haven't seen any impressive features with phpBB 2 yet...They look pretty standard to me. It must be harder to customize because I see more "uncustomized" boards, in terms of images (which is understandable) AND colors (which is really weird). I will try it out, but can someone explain to me why so many people don't customize their phpBB 2 boards? (I'm not saying nobody's board is customized, but I still see very many "boring" default schemes.)

[Mika]

I think because the default themes are often much better than what many of us can do.

[Bruce]

Originally posted by conkermaniac
I haven't seen any impressive features with phpBB 2 yet...They look pretty standard to me. It must be harder to customize because I see more "uncustomized" boards, in terms of images (which is understandable) AND colors (which is really weird). I will try it out, but can someone explain to me why so many people don't customize their phpBB 2 boards? (I'm not saying nobody's board is customized, but I still see very many "boring" default schemes.) Well Mika pretty much summed it up--not in my case though. ;)

Many people also just aren't confortable opening up the templates in a text editor.

[Archbob]

OpenBB may be more professional looking but phpBB2 is definately more sleek-looking and is better overall.

[Filòs]

For some reason I have never really liked the look of phpbb.

It works great, but i just dislike the way it looks.

So far my favourite is XMB.

[Bruce]

I'll admit phpBB 1.x doesn't look so hot, but 2.x isn't too shabby.

XMB is a dead project.

[conkermaniac]

But by far, uncustomized YaBB boards are more common than ANY other leading message board script. And the colors are FAR uglier than phpBB's (though the overall black scheme would probably fit more websites). :)

I agree with Phrozen. When is the official release of XMB? They've been in BETA for a LONG time. :p

[The Red Guy]

XMB is not going anywhere. They promise the best and give the worst.

[Warp]

I think once OpenBB v2 comes out it will be very good... phpbb2 is ok.. I do not like how it works in relation to the member permissions etc...

I liked IB3... now need to wait while they nut out a new cgi and php versions of iBoard......

In the mean time, I may go with phpBB2

[Mika]

XMB is up again and they're going to release a new version. I don't think that we should expect many things, but it's better than nothing.

[The Red Guy]

Has anyone seen OpenBB2? I myself have not seen what it would be like...