The Message Board Conundrum!

[Gene Steinberg]

The folks who write our forum software, vBulletin, have announced that once our support contract is over, we'll have to pay a big "ransom" for new licenses to stay eligible for upgrades. This is the result of the impending release of version 4.0.

Here are the specifics:

vBulletin-The Most Powerful Forum Software Available

So by next spring, we have to pay $195 for each of three licenses for the forums we use.

In addition, we will be forced to do extensive reconfiguration of the new forum, since the style sheet for this forum won't translate.

We could stay put with the older version for a while, but we'll still be unable to download critical security updates once the support contract ends and we'll be forced to buy the new licenses anyway.

Our other choice is to switch completely over to Invision Power Board, the major rival to vBulletin.

Here is more information:

IPS, Inc. - Were community experts

So if we're going to pay, might as well decide whether to stick with what we have or try something new. In either case, we'll have to add mods or plugins to cover some of the features we have in place here. And we'd have to see whether some of the capabilities you take for granted, such as being able to paste code for videos, will still function in the new environment.

IPB's advantage, by the way, is that it will provide a simplified display customized for mobile devices such as the iPhone.

Either way, we might have to do a fund-raiser to cover the costs of switching or staying, and I hesitate to do that, since I know you listeners have more important uses for your hard-earned money.

But I'm looking for input anyway about whether we should be considering the forum switch. And, yes, IPB can translate vBulletin content, so we won't lose any messages.

 

[dusty]

In all honesty I like things the way they are here,

I'm not one for mobile phones, but it seems to me that their popularity and usefulness for those wishing to stay in touch and informed via the web at all times is a strong plus for the IPS option though. I must admit if I had an iPhone I would probably never get any work done. I wouldn't want one as a phone, rather just as another way to hang out here or Google stuff all day long .

I do hope the video linking option works out if you do go with them, I find that very helpful sometimes. Whatever way it goes I'm good for 20 quid.

Mark

 

[Gene Steinberg]

In all honesty I like things the way they are here,

I'm not one for mobile phones, but it seems to me that their popularity and usefulness for those wishing to stay in touch and informed via the web at all times is a strong plus for the IPS option though. I must admit if I had an iPhone I would probably never get any work done. I wouldn't want one as a phone, rather just as another way to hang out here or Google stuff all day long .

I do hope the video linking option works out if you do go with them, I find that very helpful sometimes. Whatever way it goes I'm good for 20 quid.

Mark

It appears that IPB does indeed have a built-in video embedding option, so in that regard we're OK.

There is a mobile option for vBulletin, but it requires users pay for iPhone software on which to see it. That's not fair and not something we want to do.

But no final decision has been made. We are going to take our time and do this the right way.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

One more thing:

Free bulletin board software is not an option. I tried almost every one that made sense last year as an experiment, and none had the wealth of features or support quality of the paid options. Our board is too popular to play games with apps that just don't do the job.

 

[Jonah]

I'ved used IPB and appreciated it's UI, additional Modules (Blog and Gallery) and pricing structure. As far as security isues go, IIRC, IPB is better coded overall.

FWIW...

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I'ved used IPB and appreciated it's UI, additional Modules (Blog and Gallery) and pricing structure. As far as security isues go, IIRC, IPB is better coded overall.

FWIW...

We'll probably sidestep the Gallery and Blog if we go to IPB, since the front-end of this site is already in WordPress, with custom PHP for everything.

I appreciate your input.

 

[Jonah]

The Blog module is more a multi-user thing within the Forum itself. There are sites that use that functionality as a members only/premium account add-on type thing. Same with the IPB Gallery add on. I haven't felt compelled to pay for it elsewhere. I probably would here though..

The Wordpress front end would/could remain just that.

IP.Blog

ETA - I'd even be willing to pay the $49.95 it cost, if you decide to go IPB. Having guys like Decker, Hastings, O'Brien, Warren, Bishop and others of their caliber with their own blogs (RSS capabilty included) within the forum would be...well...priceless. I'd give it away (the upgraded capability) to those guys....

Just an idea...

 

[Gene Steinberg]

The Blog module is more a multi-user thing within the Forum itself. There are sites that use that functionality as a members only/premium account add-on type thing. Same with the IPB Gallery add on. I haven't felt compelled to pay for it elsewhere. I probably would here though..

The Wordpress front end would/could remain just that.

IP.Blog

ETA - I'd even be willing to pay the $49.95 it cost, if you decide to go IPB. Having guys like Decker, Hastings, O'Brien, Warren, Bishop and others of their caliber with their own blogs (RSS capabilty included) within the forum would be...well...priceless. I'd give it away (the upgraded capability) to those guys....

Just an idea...

I'm not nuts about the usefulness of a premium-only channel at this point. I don't want to exclude people who may not be able to afford extras. As to integrating a blog in our free content, however, well, I suppose that's a possibility. But we could just as well add a Blog section to our WordPress content without installing new software.

All it requires is to create a new category, and put a link in our nav bar there and here.

 

[Jonah]

I'm not nuts about the usefulness of a premium-only channel at this point. I don't want to exclude people who may not be able to afford extras.

I appreciate that Gene and it is what I suspected you'd say (and why I offered to cover the initial expense). You guys (and the members here) are worth the fifty to me to add this fuctionality. Just sayin some go the other way....

As to integrating a blog in our free content, however, well, I suppose that's a possibility. But we could just as well add a Blog section to our WordPress content without installing new software.

All it requires is to create a new category, and put a link in our nav bar there and here.

We may (or may not) be talking Apple and Oranges here. If you're interested in what it looks like click here and then click the Blog links along the Nav bar. The Blog Mod is really integrated into the members profile page, nothing more. Wordpress would require an MU install and much more backend admin on your part to equate to what is accomplished w/ the IP.Blog module.

Just wanted to be very clear here for your edification...

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I understand. But we're talking of different things here. You don't need a WordPress MU installation to add articles from different authors via a single link on our site. You can have more than one author on a WordPress blog without the MU version.

We can even add that link to the forum nav bar as well as the main site's nav bar. This site already has custom additions to the nav bar (such as the RSS feed). I'm sure we can do that without difficulty in IPB, right?

But I do appreciate the offer anyway, really. Let's see where the decision about what forum software to use takes us. We can consider add-ons later if need be.

If we do decide to switch, though, would you cover a third of the cost?

 

[Jonah]

If we do decide to switch, though, would you cover a third of the cost?

Done.

Hope it helps, whichever way you decide to go...

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I'll hold onto it for forum-related expenses, OK?

Thank you friend.

 

[Jonah]

Thank you friend.

Right back atcha...and extended to your partner, guest and our fellow forum members. My pleasure.

~J

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Right back atcha...and extended to your partner, guest and our fellow forum members. My pleasure.

~J

If we go to IPB, would you perhaps be available to us to assist in the migration, styling, etc?

No rush to a decision. We're still looking into the options.

 

[methshin]

I use the VGEVO forums in addition to this one, and they both use the vbulletin format. What they have done is made different sort of subscriptions. Bronze, which is free, silver, which is 2.99 a year, and gold, which is 4.99 a year.

The different subscription levels allows many different capabilities for gold, silver, and bronze, and even though every account is able to post and read posts, only gold members can have subscriptions and a multitude of other features.

Hop over to VGEVO and check out the different levels to kind of get a feel whether this is something that you might be able to effectively utilize. Just a thought.

Personally, I like the layout of vbulletin, but will post here no matter what type of forum it is. The members of this forum make it what it is, not the layout.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I don't really like subscription-based forums, myself. This doesn't mean there's no consideration of a fee system of some sort for value-added content. I have to talk this over with David and work out an approach we're comfortable with -- and you folks as well, of course.

 

[methshin]

I don't really like subscription-based forums, myself. This doesn't mean there's no consideration of a fee system of some sort for value-added content. I have to talk this over with David and work out an approach we're comfortable with -- and you folks as well, of course.

I understand, just food for thought.

 

[Rudolf Steiner]

Do whatever you think is right. But I can't afford a golden account. Sorry

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Do whatever you think is right. But I can't afford a golden account. Sorry

I couldn't either under the same circumstances. This is something that isn't high on our list of priorities.

 

[Jonah]

If we go to IPB, would you perhaps be available to us to assist in the migration, styling, etc?

I'd be happy to help if the opportunity arises.

FWIW - An ongoing thread on the IPB Community forum regarding disenchantment with vBulletin and what IPB can offer.

As an aside, I only brought up what others do with added features and ways to support the time, expense and energy with such projects as an example, rather than a suggestion. Just to clarify...