Define Cynical Fan Forums

I'm planning on starting a forum on my band's website and am looking for good software for a forum. A natural choice would be the software used on this site. I'm also considering LiveJournal, which is KINDA like a forum. Benefits of that would be that people already have their bios written out and don't have to sign up for yet another website(if they already have a LJ account). On the other hand, I don't think people would want to include access to their private journals when commenting in it. The rest of the band and I would certainly want separate accounts. Hmm. Guess that's not an option. OR I could install the LiveJournal software on my site. But, I suppose actual "forum" software would be best. I plan on there being different sections.<br>I'd prefer free(wouldn't we all?), but cheap(under $20) is acceptable.

i have only heard of two types, one of them i don't remember, and the other one is probably a combination of two, but i'd say PHP-uber boards rock

Well, I like vbulletin personally, but it's not free, so that is not good.<br><br><a href='http://www.phpbb.com/' target='_blank'>phpbb</a> is good though. As are these forums, which are <a href='http://www.invisionboard.com/' target='_blank'>invisionboard</a>

I've used phpBB, vBulletin(illegally, I might add), IkonBoard, InvisionBoard and EzBoard.<br><br>phpBB is nice, simple, and gets the job done. vBulliten is a little bloated, and I just don't like the look. Plus, if you don't want to run the risk of being fines, you need to pay a lot. IkonBoard is just bloated and difficult. Invision is the best out of the lot, which is why I used it here, and never use EzBoard. It's horrible.<br><br>Also, I've never tried it, but <a href='http://www.wowbb.com' target='_blank'>WowBB</a> looks like nice, clean, easy forum software, but it doesn't look free. oh well.<br><br>There are my 3.6 cents. I'd like them back sometime. :P

I'm personally a fan of <a href='http://phpbb.com/' target='_blank'>phpBB</a>. It's simple and there are many "hacks" for it.<br><br>If you're looking for something free and easy and stuff, go with <a href='http://www.runboard.com' target='_blank'>Runboard</a>. It's ad-free, they host it, and you don't have to pay, but it's not very customizable beyond a header, a footer, a color scheme, and a banner. Also, get a "global" account on there rather than a "local" one.

IPB seems to have the best design of all that I've seen. Real simple and uncluttered.

<a href='http://www.invisionboard.com/' target='_blank'>Invision</a>... my personal favorite.<br><br><!--QuoteBegin--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> vBulletin(illegally, I might add)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br><br>Not wise mate (they hunt down pirates and prosecute them to the full extent so I've heard)<br><br><br><!--QuoteBegin--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> It's simple and there are many "hacks" for it.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br><br>As an admin on one, I wouldn't call it simple, praticularly the hacks.