I'm starting a project with a few people and I'm looking for ideas on what we could use to communicate our ideas. Something as simple as myspace.com would be fine except we want some security not allowing anyone except us to view the content. Basically, we currently just need a secure place to blog and upload files easily. I can program, but web based stuff is not my forte. I can get what we need setup, but I'd prefer to find something simple and easily managed so that I can spend my time on the programming for the project. Of course as long as its easy to use - something more advanced than just a blog would be cool. Does anyone have suggestions?

You could always use sourceforge.net. I'm not sure if it has some sort of private forum, but it does host web pages (with mysql and php, I think) and mailing lists (I think). I'm sure private mailing lists are supported (maybe).

I really have no clue.

I thought about sourceforge, but it doesn't look like you can have it secured so that only specific members can view it - probably I'm wrong about this or its because of open source protocols. Also, while this isn't a concern so much to me - I'd like to keep the other project members excited about the project and sourceforge just isn't very aesthetically pleasing :)

I found something more like what I was hoping for here if anyone is interested:

http://www.basecamphq.com/

Its free for 3 people on 1 project. If you want to upload files its $12 a month and you have to have your own ftp server or rent space somewhere else.

Anyone know of anything better?

a simple web server with php an mySQL will do, it's fairly easy to write some sort of foum, or you could use one allready finished like phpBB.

Or as we did on a project last year, we used a wiki type sevice with a built in subversion(witch is like CVS) server, it can be made so there is an public part and a private one.
It worked out pretty well, everyone could edit and change everything and thus contribute to the project equaly.
The project leader liked it so mutch that he continued developing(it's open source) subversion so that it could be used in conjunction with maya, pretty neat.
The downside is that you would probobly need a server standing somewhere(like your computer if you have a static ip).
http://www.edgewall.com/trac/

thank you guys for the information - I really appreciate it. I think I'll be using the one I mentioned until I can get something free setup since I don't have a server of my own running yet. Now I've got to find a place with an ftp server and cheap space rental :)

thanks again

You should be able to setup a server off your existing connection using dyndns.org (make sure to check the eula for your isp before you attempt this).

Cheers,
- llvllatrix