2 major questions before I buy:
 

Hello, hopefully this makes sense: :nervous:

1) can you create a website that "ties in" with vBulletin? I'm talking about a site where you can log in with vBulletin's login boxes, and only logged in members can see certain parts of the site AND certain parts of the message board, etc. In addition, if you search for keywords, you'll get results not only in the vbulletin message board, but in the website itself.

2) more importantly -- is there any way to have a "paid subscriber" feature that is run by Paypal? Let's say I have an area of the website that only paid members can view...can this be done? Will it manage subscriptions -- such as when a member's annual subscription runs out, he/she becomes a regular member automatically and can't view members-only areas?

Just note, while I'm open to looking at portal addons, I really dislike them, because I dont like the whole "look" with the three column format and boxes stacked on top of each other. I'd rather design my own site in Photoshop & Imageready, and plug things in with Dreamweaver (or, make it look as close as possible to a custom made site).

Thanks!!

1) Yes, you can, you can use vBulletin to manage your whole website with abit of work. For the searching bit, im not sure how it could be done, but im sure that with enough effort it could be done
2) Yes, as long as its tied into vBulletin you can most likly do this, vBulletin has a subscription system setup. Yes, they get moved back out after the subscription ends.

Most of the portals can be changed, and are all template based, so its totaly up to you how you want to make them look, the 3 collum format is just the default ;)

thanks very much!!

Do you have a suggestion for a portal I should look into, for my intentions stated above?

Might want to look at vBadvanced Hompage and vBindex :)

That is, after you have your license; )

yes theyre both very good, I reccommend them.