Another vBulletin Article

[Nick]

Here's yet another blog entry about the recent vBulletin hoopla: vBulletin Holds Consumers? Puppy Hostage | I Was Around

I only skimmed it, but it looks interesting, and even has a few price-comparison charts.

[Foo]

Hallo,
I'd like to thank this forum for having an open discussion on the new vBulletin Policies. I lurked around and read most of the posts here on the subject and they all contributed to the article. It's a mix of humor and fact.

More over, I wanted to remind the license holders our actions carry down onto our users. vBulletin's software has millions of users across the world their actions carry onto. It rests on us to make the right decision (stay or leave) because we have a greater social responsibility. Also, we'll hear the complaints first.

The article is always open to suggestions and criticism. I'll even change and apologize if something is outright wrong.

-Foo

[David McHenry]

Thanks for the back Link Foo! I was surprised to see that in there!

Great article!

[Brandon Sheley]

nice title, but it's just the same thing over and over again (another vbulletin screwed it's customers article)

but that is the joy of free speech

[Foo]

Actually, that is the blessing of having differing opinions.

Unlike other articles, I at least try to address one alternative of using Joomla, phpBB, and jFusion Bridge to accomplish the CMS goal.

My major concern, which is easy to fix, is an update path for the vBulletin 3.8.x series that doesn't involve purchasing the vBulletin 4.x series. vBulletin would only have to charge $30/yr for updates. As it is now, there is no license renewal, and no further security patches when the subscription runs out.

A lot are disillusioned and would love to wait before upgrading to vBulletin 4. Not be fanatically rushed into new software without a demo. Poor Jelsoft, they made two poor decisions. The first being this promotion, the second is the handling of their community.

[Brandon Sheley]

I hope you didn't take it personal, but after you read the same article on blog after blog, or thread after thread or twitter account, it's gets a bit old and anti-productive.
I'll admit, I wasn't a fan of the way iNet handled itself, but I would rather focus on being productive and moving forward.
I purchased an IPB license a few months back when I saw the vB devs dropping out, I'm not planning on changing my current vBulletin board, but I'm not going to limit myself either.

[Foo]

Of course I take it personally! Every time someone replies to a thread, you have to squash any contrary opinion. (Sarcasm)

I have not picked up a IPB License yet. Nor have I installed phpBB with it's wonderful "Open Source" mod. I'll probably make the decision next month "Where to go from here?"

I really like Juan from vBSEO and his efforts over there. With that package, I am assured I'll have the best Forum SEO hands down. Something very important to me.

For now, I am going to watch how vBulletin handles themselves after Nov 1st.

[Brandon Sheley]

Originally Posted by Foo

Of course I take it personally! Every time someone replies to a thread, you have to squash any contrary opinion. (Sarcasm)

I have not picked up a IPB License yet. Nor have I installed phpBB with it's wonderful "Open Source" mod. I'll probably make the decision next month "Where to go from here?"

I really like Juan from vBSEO and his efforts over there. With that package, I am assured I'll have the best Forum SEO hands down. Something very important to me.

For now, I am going to watch how vBulletin handles themselves after Nov 1st.

I think vBSEO is one of the best things vBulletin has going for them

[Been Told]

Here's a follow-up article from The Reg:
vBulletin denies busting downloads in paid-up protester ban ? The Register

[ptwiggens]

"vBulletin also denies that it prevented customers from downloading certain software modifications from a sister site at vBulletin.org - again contradicting statements from multiple users."

And later:

"But a separate vBulletin representative acknowledges that the company revoked some users' ability to access vbulletin.org as licensed customers. This would prevent them from downloading software modifications from the site."

Anyone still think vBulletin is playing fair?

[nohuhu]

Originally Posted by Foo

Nor have I installed phpBB with it's wonderful "Open Source" mod.

i ran my forum on phpbb for two years and i have a strong impression that it's only suited for simple communities without any special needs. if you run plain vanilla phpbb, it's fine, but once you've installed a couple of mods, it becomes a maintenance PITA and the more you add, the less manageable it gets. i didn't move to vbulletin just because i had some money burning my pocket, i realized that it can't go on like that anymore, i can't support a forum where a mod is on top of a mod on top of a patch on top of a poorly written software, it was just ugly unholy mess and frankly i was afraid to breathe on it. the main vbulletin advantage is, in my opinion, its mod engine and there is nothing like it in phpbb. with vbulletin, if some mod gives you any merde you can just switch it off, and with phpbb you'd have to get your board source from a backup and copy it over. if you have more than one mod installed and one of them is misbehaving, well, go figure what was installed after what and what the hell you're supposed to do with all this mess. no way i'm going back to this and i can't advise anyone to go for it.
oh, and the gaia online project you've mentioned is not a good example either. even phpbb developers admit that gaia is not phpbb anymore, it was heavily rewritten and optimized but not for free, as far as i know.

[Nick]

Another one has cropped up: vBulletin 4 Forum - The Upgrade Dispute | The Law Professor

[Gordie]

Originally Posted by Nick

Another one has cropped up: vBulletin 4 Forum - The Upgrade Dispute | The Law Professor

Thanks Nick - good find.

That's probably the most concise article written yet, although he completely missed the issues surrounding customers with blog licenses.

[banger]

Originally Posted by Nick

Another one has cropped up: vBulletin 4 Forum - The Upgrade Dispute | The Law Professor

Originally Posted by Gordie

Thanks Nick - good find. That's probably the most concise article written yet, although he completely missed the issues surrounding customers with blog licenses.

Yes, very comprehensive and concise. There is a small part about the blog and developers addons but I think that there were so many blunders on so many levels that it's difficult to capture them all. This is an organized presentation.

[tryfuhl]

Internet Brands reminds me a lot of my favorite football team, The Washington Redskins.

Let's make decisions based purely on money that we can get ASAP and then quiet the dissenters.