Planning a move/upgrade

[Saurus]

New to this forum.

I've had 2 domains at 1and1 for a few years and until recently have had zero problems with either of my websites. That said, I also run a free forum at ProBoards and have about had it with them and plan to run my own forum on my own domain.

I'm considering either vBulletin or phpBB, but know nothing about php code, so I don't know which will be easier for me to setup to look like my Proboards (http://sunrisers.proboards46.com) forum. I'm sure, though, that 1and1 will be a no-go for a full fledged forum. WHP's budget plan sounds like it will work for me and I can transfer my domains to them.

My forum is not that large and rarely has more than a dozen online at one time, with about 400 members total (it's a "restricted to alumni" forum).

Can anyone offer suggestions on whether or not a programming novice (I can do html and css pretty well) can handle the requirements of vBulletin? Is there a location to get skins I can start with to get the look of my current forum?

Appreciate any tips.

[Saurus]

nothing? nobody?

great...:confused:

[Zachery]

Would have been better posted in pre-sales instead of hosting options :)

You should be fine assuming you don't mind spending some time reading and learning (editing the config file is probably the hardest thing to do for installing). Though I would avoid 1&1 as a host. Their database storage limits are very restrictive.

[Zorinea]

Sorry, it's pretty quite around these sections. Well I installed vBulletin with next to no problems and I have no knowledge of software. I did hit a few problems but that was only simple things that I hadn't done properly, for example, uploading to the wrong section, but you can always get help here if you have problems.

I have used free software (iBPFree), and vBulletin is 100 time better.

Also, if you ever change hosts, do not use namesco for your domain, they rip you off with renewal prices.

I use HostGator which are pretty good.

[xnetco]

New to this forum.

I've had 2 domains at 1and1 for a few years and until recently have had zero problems with either of my websites. That said, I also run a free forum at ProBoards and have about had it with them and plan to run my own forum on my own domain.

I'm considering either vBulletin or phpBB, but know nothing about php code, so I don't know which will be easier for me to setup to look like my Proboards (http://sunrisers.proboards46.com) forum. I'm sure, though, that 1and1 will be a no-go for a full fledged forum. WHP's budget plan sounds like it will work for me and I can transfer my domains to them.

My forum is not that large and rarely has more than a dozen online at one time, with about 400 members total (it's a "restricted to alumni" forum).

Can anyone offer suggestions on whether or not a programming novice (I can do html and css pretty well) can handle the requirements of vBulletin? Is there a location to get skins I can start with to get the look of my current forum?

Appreciate any tips.

Are you looking for a UK/European host?