Hi friends:

 

I've been away from DNN for a while, but used to do a few sites on it back around DNN 3-4-5 time frame.

 

I've got a site I'm going to do for a friend.

 

I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to answer a couple of quick questions:

 1. Regarding responsive theming, galleries, is there anything standard out there that people use today? For example, do people routinely buy the EDS Themes or Porto? Or are there good open-source responsive bootstrap enabled themes that are available for use? (The EDS Module extensions seem to be required to really manage the theme and content as it pertains to their themes. But understand, I've not purchased them and this is only what it seems from looking at the store and the theme demos).

 

2. Are there standard extensions or common extensions I should immediately add to my basic DNN 7.x installation that are necessary to help build a DNN site?

 

Please understand, while I am looking to see what non-cost items are available to help rapidly build a good looking, responsive site, I'm not an expert here with DNN. I've been away too long. I don't know what standard modules, extensions, and themes people use. ANd I don't want to spend my friends money without seeing if there's alternatives first.

The EDS package looks interesting, but at $599 per portal, wow that adds up fast. For my friends site, I plan on adding a corporate presence site at the root, but then plan on doing product specific sites using multiple portals/multi-tentant capabilities.  Seems like EDS from a cost perspective becomes significantly cost prohibitive, though it does look professionally done.

 I've not committed to DNN for my friends site. Still looking at other WCMS. I have so much good memories of working with DNN in the past, and in the .Net development commitment (I'm a .Net guy, but can do some LAMP and Java if I have to).

 I'm just trying to help understand what you folks would recommend. Some for the DNN themes in the store look great, but they all seem to require costly extensions. I'm really trying to be careful with my friends money. He's just a Joe the Plumber type guy.

 Anyways, would love to hear from you folks if you wouldn't mind helping me understand what the norms are for you folks who do DNN all day long. DO you really buy EDS Theme and MOdule collection for each site you do? Seems like that would add up to some big outlays pretty quick.

 Or are there open-source themes/modules that can do the job (and I don't mean building it from scratch).

 

I'd really like to find a nice corporate responsive theme and set of extensions that help manage a basic site: Gallery of projects, photos, carousel, menu, contact us form, article management, SEO helpers.

 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your helping me catch back up to the DNN world of things!

Thank you, Joe! It was very kind of you to share this info and I'm very grateful! I'm grabbing them now.! :)

 I spent the day tinkering with some trials of Mandeeb et al and I must say that they seem very good. 

 But for now, I think I'll try to make due with out or create from scratch. Those two resources look quite helpful! THank you!

Check out DNN Sharp for some advanced modules.

Agree with HammerFlex as a starting point for a skin, but building a bootstrap theme is pretty easy and there are tons of resources out there. You can use a tool like bootply to build a layout and convert that into a theme.

Also, if very basic/simple brochureware sites are what you are looking for, you may consider WordPress as an option (don't shoot!).