Vbulletin 4.0

[Peterpigman]

You may or may not be aware that Jelsoft was taken over by Internet Brands and is now known as vBulletin Solutions. As a result a new quite "aggressive" pricing structure has been put in place pretty much blackmailing current users to pay for the new release of vB 4.0 before 30/10/09 when there is no sign of a trial copy to test. It is clear that as 4.0 is a major rewrite of the software a large amount of current features and plugins will not work and from the feedback on various sites a lot of the software writers may desert vB. This has put many people in an awkward position for various reasons (mainly $s though) UR atm is in a good position as the ads just about pay for the server.

The dilemma faced is...

Do we sign up for the new software even if it can not be tested?

Wait and see.

Change the software to another type ie mybb or ipb.

Stay as UR is with 3.8.

There are quite a few issues that need to be cleared up such as vbseo etc so could we open a new forum on the new software.

[Alias]

Staying with 3.8 is the best option imo. I believe a lot of owners will do that, and support for the 3x series has not yet been given an End of Life deadline. Even if/when vB stop supporting it, it remains a stable piece of software and there are many skins & mods out there for 3.8. A lot of people feel the same way about vB's new pricing structure and as you say:

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

from the feedback on various sites a lot of the software writers may desert vB

It's the add-ons which developers often release free which have made vB so popular. If those coders desert vB, they'll either code for other forum software, or (if it was me) carry on coding for 3.8 just to spite the greedy bastards. It could be some time before any decent mods are coded for vB4, and with developers feeling as they do, they may not be so willing to release them free.

My advice would be to stay with 3.8 for at least another year, and then see how the wind's blowing before considering a change to different board software. Anyone with an owned licence is entitled to run whatever version they currently have indefinitely - even if the licence is no longer "active".

IPB is not free, and imo if vBulletin get away with their increased charges, IBP could well bump their prices too. MyBB is free and they also have conversion software. phpBB has also seen considerable improvements recently.

The danger of upgrading (apart from buying a product which is still in Alpha and not even tested) is that the steps between major releases will be shortened. vB5 will be knocking at the door within 18 months, and that'll be another $250 or so. The difference between the old system of $40 to $60 a year renewal and the new system which will be mugging owners for $250 every 15 to 18 months is absurd. Paying vB/Jelsoft/Internet Brands is not an option that I would consider.

[Peterpigman]

Originally Posted by Alias

...

I have a owned license so this software is mine, that is why I came up with the idea of adding a new forum and keeping this one. 4.0 will no doubt have new features but many of the current ones would probably not work and the fact we use vbseo means if we change to 4.0 we will lose a huge amount of links on other sites and pages on google . Luckily I will most likely be able to download 4.0 before I need to renew as I renewed in September. So it is possible we might be able to try it before I have to pay.

[Alias]

Yup, so long as they release 4.0 whilst your licence is still active, you get the forum software free (but not the publishing suite etc). If you have a test board you can check it out before commiting. As with all new software I have a feeling there'll be a few bugs, and getting left with a buggy version of 4, (if your licence expires before they fix them) rather than a stable version of 3.8 is a big risk on a live board . . . just my opinion again. And of course the issue of modifications, SEO etc. vB 4 is a complete re-write, and virtually nothing from the 3.x series will work with it.

[RORER-714]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

I have a owned license so this software is mine, that is why I came up with the idea of adding a new forum and keeping this one. 4.0 will no doubt have new features but many of the current ones would probably not work and the fact we use vbseo means if we change to 4.0 we will lose a huge amount of links on other sites and pages on google . Luckily I will most likely be able to download 4.0 before I need to renew as I renewed in September. So it is possible we might be able to try it before I have to pay.

This dont sound bad.

[HeadSStrong]

why would you want to switch. works fine as it is now.

[Peterpigman]

Originally Posted by HeadSStrong

why would you want to switch. works fine as it is now.

The main problem is security, if we don't update various security flaws may be found and exploited. Also when mysql is updated it may not support 3.8

Originally Posted by RORER-714

This dont sound bad.

Indeed but if I get it now it is $130, if I wait it is nearly $300

[RORER-714]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

Indeed but if I get it now it is $130, if I wait it is nearly $300

Thats the fucked up part,buy something that isnt proven or even finished.

[HeadSStrong]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

The main problem is security, if we don't update various security flaws may be found and exploited. Also when mysql is updated it may not support 3.8

yes but i assume they will still give updates to 3.8? did you ask them? same about mysql... seems strange to me.

[Peterpigman]

Originally Posted by HeadSStrong

yes but i assume they will still give updates to 3.8? did you ask them? same about mysql... seems strange to me.

Updates on 3.8 will only carry on for about 6 months.

[HeadSStrong]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

Updates on 3.8 will only carry on for about 6 months.

jesus, that dumb... http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320341

I would still wait though and see what's going to happen, it's not like this site is the only one using vbulletin.

Problem with going to another system (and probably to new vbulletin) is that all the links you have in google are not going to work anymore. Then google will delete them.

[Alias]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

The main problem is security, if we don't update various security flaws may be found and exploited.

That's what vB want people to believe, but there are forums running happily & securely on version 3.0 and even on 2.0

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

when mysql is updated it may not support 3.8

That seems very unlikely - MySQL is behind open source too, and that will take a while to catch up to where 3.8 is now.

[zxxyxzxzz]

As a result a new quite "aggressive" pricing structure has been put in place pretty much blackmailing current users to pay for the new release of vB 4.0 before 30/10/09 when there is no sign of a trial copy to test.

upgrades are always better but "no trial copy" and "blackmailing users to pay" makes me want to stay and wait and see what happens for the future. an upgrade would awesome but not like this.

[Daughter of Satan]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

I have a owned license so this software is mine, that is why I came up with the idea of adding a new forum and keeping this one. 4.0 will no doubt have new features but many of the current ones would probably not work and the fact we use vbseo means if we change to 4.0 we will lose a huge amount of links on other sites and pages on google . Luckily I will most likely be able to download 4.0 before I need to renew as I renewed in September. So it is possible we might be able to try it before I have to pay.

could you not test it out on r and s first?

and stay with the 3.8

[Peterpigman]

Originally Posted by Daughter of Satan

could you not test it out on r and s first?

and stay with the 3.8

I aint gonna spend $300 on R&S lol.