I did some research today with regards to forum and video options that WordPress offers as well as some other non-WordPress options for these two things. My research is below. Please let me know if I made an error or misrepresented anything.
Thanks!
Videos
Option #1: VideoPress:
- All VideoPress videos are stored on the WordPress.com servers.
- Pricing is by space used. There is a base charge of $60/year, which includes 3 GB of storage. Additional storage can be purchased at the rate of
5GB for $19.97
15GB for $49.97
25GB for $89.97
50GB for $159.97
100GB for $289.97 - VideoPress should work similar to any other streaming video behind a firewall. If a user is able to stream YouTube videos, then he should be able to stream VideoPress. Of course, the IT folks might need to make an exception to their site-blocking list for WordPress.com’s servers.
Option #2: WordPress video upload feature
- Provide video download links to users.
- Included in any WordPress installation and will require no setup. However, by default, WordPress does not provide a video “wrapper” (play/pause/video screen). You could, however, install a “wrapper”/”media player” plugin to handle video playback (http://isagoksu.com/proplayer-wordpress-plugin/, http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/stream-video-player/, http://www.themelab.com/2008/05/03/easily-add-videos-to-your-wordpress-blogs/, http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/vipers-video-quicktags/). Doing this usually requires that videos be encoded in a certain manner.
Forums
Option 1: Forum Software such as phpBB, Vanilla, or punBB.
Pros: Open source; Robust options; Traditional forum software
Cons: Requires a separate installation; Users are not integrated with the WordPress user database; Works like traditional forum software; Requires extra time to customize; No threaded comments
Option 2: Simple-Press (http://simple-press.com/)
Pros: WordPress plugin; User database is the same as WordPress; Integrates with WordPress theme
Cons: Requires a bit of customization; No threaded comments
Option 3: WordPress post comments
Pros: Already installed with WordPress; Intuitive interface for replying to posts/comments; Completely integrated with WordPress; Easily manage discussions; Includes threaded comments
Cons: Requires a bit of customization; Requires a bit of design and usability planning
Option 4: BuddyPress Forums (http://testbp.org/forums/)
Pros: Easily set up group forums with access restrictions; Integrates nicely with WordPress; Plugin maintained by WordPress
Cons: No threaded comments
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