Recommendations for Web 2.0 site

I need something different than phpBB + phpGallery + phpAdvanced

[bluemi]

Ok, I have bought myself the complete package of phpBB, vBGallery, vBSEO and vbAdvanced and even though I'm a complete newcomer to this kind of sites have managed to get everything running. However, I can't hide the fact that now I'm feeling completely uncomfortable with it. Bear in mind that I'm not a programmer and have no intention to become one.

What I'm afraid of is this combination of several programs coming from different companies, plus outside skins, plus dozens of outside add-ons that somehow have to be brought to the point where everything works together. Then comes a phpBB update with the effect that it might not work 100% anymore with one or several of the other programs, the skin probably needs an updated versions as well and some of the add-ons also screw up with the new version of phpBB. So I have to wait for updates and start a whole update cycle during which some of my own changes might get lost. By the time I have managed to update everything phpBB will probably come out with another new version... Plus bugfixes, security updates and and and which all seems to be very common for all these programs.

This is no rant about vBAdvanced or any of the other programs. However, if I pay for something I kind of expect it to run without my intereference for at least a while. I want to focus on the content of my site and not spend 2 or 3 hours each day on technical aspects and trying to keep everything running.

Is it just me being stupid or what are other people's experiences with this kind of package?

What I'm trying to set up is a site with some own content and some of the usual Web 2.0 ingredients, like a forum, a blog and a video upload with user rating. I'm looking for a program that is reasonably easy to handle, has everything "under one roof", the ability to keep spammers out as much as possible and doesn't need security updates and bug fixes every two weeks. I just came accross Joomla and Drupal but didn't have a close look yet.

Would be grateful for all kinds of comments and suggestions.

[Turbulence]

Bluemi, hello,

From all that you've written so far, I think the best solution for you is either Joomla or Mambo. You've mentioned that you've already come across Joomla - well, I do strongly recommend you to take a close look at it (Mambo is one more option).

Both Mambo and Joomla are exclusively newcomer-in-web-design-friendly, so I guess they would work perfectly for you.

Have a nice day!

[edited by: Turbulence at 8:24 am (utc) on Feb. 21, 2007]

[Beagle]

I haven't used this yet so can't personally vouch for it - and it's not cheap - but I've been looking at the integrated add-ons to the Invision PowerBoard forum. I don't think there's a video upload included, but there's an image gallery and a blogging set-up. What I like about the blog add-on is that members can either start up a blog on your site or make an integrated link to a blog they already have elsewhere. A lot of my visitors already have blogs elsewhere, but they do like the convenience of consolidating things in one place, so that option might be useful.

On one of the IPB user forums, I also ran across someone who's come up with a wiki that's specifically made to work seamlessly with IPB. Sounds interesting but, again, I haven't tried it.