I would like to find the most appropriate piece of software to
integrate / facilitate a group work type discussion board into our
website.
Our needs are:
- web accessible discussion board
- free, or low cost
- controlled access to the discussions (just registering email will
suffice)
- easily navigable and simple interface
- ease of following threads of conversation/topics
- ability to respond to individual posts in public, by private
message or email
- search through the messages
- fast loading
Nice to have:
- real time chat capability
- easy to integrate document sharing at a later time ie.: allow for
multiple users to read & edit the same document leading to
final group
document
I have found several sites that suggest phpbb, Invision Power Board
1.1, flashbb, etc.
From there I thought phpbb (www.phpbb.com) seemed good. But our
current web host does not provide for the use of a database, so we may
need to change the host as well if we go with a database oriented
package.
The questions we have are:
1. Knowledge of, or experience with good discussion board software
2. Recommendations re: software and sites that may provide good
professional
reviews of strengths and weaknesses of discussion board software
3. Value of using database oriented software versus others
4. Are there any reviews of Canadian web hosting services as CNET has
for American ones. And if not how can one determine a good provider
that can meet our needs quickly and accurately?
Thanks.
Jaspal |
