It seems like all the best forums are vBulletin. (vbulletin.com)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	vbulletin.com
Date:	10/05/09 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great look! Tried and Tested extensively.

Disadvantages: None!

I do not personally own a vBulletin forum, however I am a member of a fair few forums, of which a considerable number are vbulletin boards, so my review is written as the point of view of a user/forum member. vBulletin boards are always paid forums, unlike invision power boards, which are available as free forums, and I personally like this trait, because I know I am at a high quality forum when I arrive at one of these internet bad boys.

vBulletin is a forum/message board software company that sells forum software packages which you install to your own webserver. Forums are great places to exchange information, particularly about special interest subjects and most forums do have some kind of theme, rather than just being general social hang outs, although I am sure they are great for the latter purpose aswell.

the standrad vBulletin type forum is blue, with little clipboard type symbols to the left of each forum, however there are large possibilites for customisation. I love how when you however over the name of a thread, you can begin reading it, so you avoid clicking onto a thread and waiting for it to load to discover it is totally boring and irrelevant. The vBulletin website itself is very easy to navigate, and includes prices in pounds sterling, which is great for all of us British, if you want to buy a forum.

vBulletin has been tried and tested extensively and has great support I am told, with regular updates etc. This is the kind of security you want for your 30,000 member forum really, you want as few bugs as possible. vBulletin also has a busy forum about vBulletin, so you can post questions etc and ask for support.

I know a little bit about running a vBulletin forum as I plan on one day starting my own, so the above is as a result of my research. As a forum user, they are my favourite kind of forum and I have experienced a fair few different kinds. They are the easiest to use, most aesthetically pleasing and are always fast and clear - everything one might want in a forum.

Summary: If I was starting a forum, this is the software I would go with.