Why should I purchase Vbulletin

[Covert-OPs_]

For sometime I have been interested in possibly purchasing the Vbulletin forum but I just don't know what would be the benefit. Currently I am using SMF forums and the only thing I see as a difference is the level of support. That's obviously a big deal but for 3 years we haven't had any issues.

Can anyone point out what the other benefits would be? I tried to review the features list but it seems the same as SMF. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[copiertalk]

support will be your #1 issue.

The guys/girls at vBulletin are a community. I love the support of the "support team" and the "dev team" but it is the members of the community that provide 90% of the feedback I need most of the time. That to me is what creating a community is all about.

[Covert-OPs_]

support will be your #1 issue.

The guys/girls at vBulletin are a community. I love the support of the "support team" and the "dev team" but it is the members of the community that provide 90% of the feedback I need most of the time. That to me is what creating a community is all about.

Aside from that do you have any knowledge about what we would gain from switching from SMF other than support? I just don't want to cough up money for the same thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Fusion]

SMF is free, afaik. That alone is a selling point. Free means no guarranteed dedication from the developers. Yes, vBulletin costs money, some may even call it expensive, but that's one of the major reasons I didn't choose a free alternative way back when.
Security is unrivalled, and the community you already know of.

As for other gains, don't take our word for it, see for yourself (http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo.php).

[Covert-OPs_]

SMF is free, afaik. That alone is a selling point. Free means no guarranteed dedication from the developers. Yes, vBulletin costs money, some may even call it expensive, but that's one of the major reasons I didn't choose a free alternative way back when.
Security is unrivalled, and the community you already know of.

As for other gains, don't take our word for it, see for yourself (http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo.php).

Do you have any examples of sites using it? I've done a few google searches but nothing has really stood out. We have a gaming community of about 600 members and I'd be interested in different features that would compliment that group.

[Fusion]

Do you have any examples of sites using it? I've done a few google searches but nothing has really stood out. We have a gaming community of about 600 members and I'd be interested in different features that would compliment that group.
Featured forums (http://www.vbulletin.com/links.php)

[Covert-OPs_]

Thank you Fushion, I appreciate the help.

[Covert-OPs_]

Fushion, I have another question if you don't mind. If we were to purchase them do we get any level of support? Or do we have to pay the additional 300 for support for a full year and every year after that.

[Fusion]

Support is free, always has been and I daresay, always will be. The bulk of the support consists of these very forums and the ticket system for special cases.

[Covert-OPs_]

Support is free, always has been and I daresay, always will be. The bulk of the support consists of these very forums and the ticket system for special cases.



So the 300 is just for phone support?

[Fusion]

Yes. Just for phone support.
Personally I doubt you'll need that, but you can always get that at a later date, if needed. You don't have to get it with the inital purchase.

These forums are a treasure-trove of information and it's all at your disposal.

[Covert-OPs_]

Yes. Just for phone support.
Personally I doubt you'll need that, but you can always get that at a later date, if needed. You don't have to get it with the inital purchase.

These forums are a treasure-trove of information and it's all at your disposal.

Ok, thanks again, I have more questions but I'll leave you alone for now.

[Fusion]

No problem. Feel free to poke and prod as much as you need.

[PcosKat]

vBulletin is a great investment. I'm not familar with SMF, so I can't compare, but one thing about vBulletin (in addition to the support) is the degree of flexibility that vbulletin offers. You can configure it to do many things, and there are also many 3rd party add-ons that extend the features of the core product. My 'big board' has run on vBulletin for years, and now has over 50,000 members. My new board (in my siggie) really pushes the envelope on what vBulletin can do. I wish I could take the credit, but it was really vB, and some very talented modders who made it sing.

[Nick]

vBulletin is fantastic.

Aside from the customer support and the extensive modifications and add-ons, vBulletin in general is very powerful.
You can do so much with vBulletin and it just has a better sense of functionality than free forum scripts. It's hard to explain, but once you switch to it you will feel so relieved and feel like you can accomplish tasks so much easier than before.

Don't be afraid to ask any more questions. If you annoyed any of us here we simply would ignore you :)

[Covert-OPs_]

vBulletin is fantastic.

Aside from the customer support and the extensive modifications and add-ons, vBulletin in general is very powerful.
You can do so much with vBulletin and it just has a better sense of functionality than free forum scripts. It's hard to explain, but once you switch to it you will feel so relieved and feel like you can accomplish tasks so much easier than before.

Don't be afraid to ask any more questions. If you annoyed any of us here we simply would ignore you :)


I appreciate that, I have a few guys from our team scowering the internet looking at other gaming communities that are running VB. The link Fushion provided has helped tremendously.

Right now were leaning towards VB, I'm going to go ahead and create another thread about migration because that is something that we've had problems with in the past(in terms of hosting companies) so I want to make sure we have a good understanding of that as well. I'll post a link to that thread here once I've created it.

[Abhi9]

vB does a lot more out of the box than a heavily modded SMF. I have used SMF extensively and vB is far superior to it.

[Covert-OPs_]

Can anyone take a few minutes to give me the run down on "social groups"? I'm having a hard time understanding how that is different then creating a member group and giving them their own area.

[PcosKat]

Can anyone take a few minutes to give me the run down on "social groups"? I'm having a hard time understanding how that is different then creating a member group and giving them their own area.
Of all the features on vBulletin, Social Groups is one of the LEAST functional. I love vBulletin, but the SG's aren't what they need to be. There are several threads here detailing issues that vb owners have with them.

[Fusion]

Keep in mind, though, that the SGs are still in their infancy feature-wise. I think we'll see major changes in the coming releases, not to mention with the unveiling of vBulletin 4.

[PcosKat]

Keep in mind, though, that the SGs are still in their infancy feature-wise. I think we'll see major changes in the coming releases, not to mention with the unveiling of vBulletin 4.
No changes, and no date for vb4 have been announced, so for now, a potential buyer interested in Social Groups needs to be aware of the extreme limitations and shortcoming of the 'feature', imo.

[Fusion]

Neither will be announced until they are ready, obviously. You've been around long enough to know that. As for the 'extreme limitations and short-comings' the demo speaks for itself. Potential buyers won't let this one feature be the deciding factor.

[PcosKat]

As for the 'extreme limitations and short-comings' the demo speaks for itself.
Sure, but it doesn't say 'everything', hence the questions from buyers and current owners.

Forums like this are for questions that aren't clear from demos.

Potential buyers won't let this one feature be the deciding factor.
That would depend on the needs of the potential buyer. Different buyers have different needs.

..."social groups"? I'm having a hard time understanding how that is different then creating a member group and giving them their own area.
You're not alone. Contrary to some, the demo does not 'speak for itself'.

[briansol]

advantages of SMF
-free
-mobile version built in
-better poll handeling/options

that's about it. vB does everything else smf does at least on par if not better than smf.

mobile is to be worked on for 4.0 i hear, and there's a mod at .org for it now
and polls are also slated to be re-done in 4.0

[vince730]

Do you have any examples of sites using it? I've done a few google searches but nothing has really stood out. We have a gaming community of about 600 members and I'd be interested in different features that would compliment that group.

Check out -- Webkinz Insider (http://webkinzinsider.com)

I'm a Member there....they have over 90,000 members & the vBulletin System works great there :D

[Covert-OPs_]

Should we lease or own? I read through it and it seemed like "owned" was pointless judging by the rate at which updates are released. But what do you guys think?

[ManagerJosh]

How do you see it pointless to have an owned license?

[deej290]

Whilst I'm not yet a license holder (I plan to be in a few weeks time) I must say that owned licenses are better because it's much cheaper in the long run.

Leased licenses only last for 1 year, and whilst updates aren't released every week or something like that, you would have to buy a new lease every twelve months, meaning the cost will easily end up going further than buying an owned license.

Even if you think owned isn't worth it because of the time between updates, it is a much more financially viable option.

[Eric Noa]

Should we lease or own? I read through it and it seemed like "owned" was pointless judging by the rate at which updates are released. But what do you guys think?

I think an owned license is the best choice. why?

-Because with an owned license you can run vBulletin on your site for as much time as you want for just a one time fee of $180.00 and you get the updates for a full year once you buy it, now if you want to keep getting the updates you will have to re-new your license after that years time has pass, and it will only cost you $60.00, but if you re-new your license within 60 days of the license expiring you just have to pay $40.00

Now a Leased License, I think is pointless. why?

-Because, yeah you just have to pay $100 dollars and you get the software for $80.00 left, but after a years time has pass if you want to keep getting updates and being able to keep running vBulletin on your site you will need to pay $100.00 again, see why it is pointless to get a leased license.

At least thats the way I see it and I think a lot of us see it the same way.

Also you said something about the rate the updates are released. I just re-new my license like three weeks ago and the I did it version 3.7.1 was out and now 3 weeks later they already have 3.7.2 Patch Level 1, so I think the rate is quiet fast.

[Covert-OPs_]

I think an owned license is the best choice. why?

-Because with an owned license you can run vBulletin on your site for as much time as you want for just a one time fee of $180.00 and you get the updates for a full year once you buy it, now if you want to keep getting the updates you will have to re-new your license after that years time has pass, and it will only cost you $60.00, but if you re-new your license within 60 days of the license expiring you just have to pay $40.00

Now a Leased License, I think is pointless. why?

-Because, yeah you just have to pay $100 dollars and you get the software for $80.00 left, but after a years time has pass if you want to keep getting updates and being able to keep running vBulletin on your site you will need to pay $100.00 again, see why it is pointless to get a leased license.

At least thats the way I see it and I think a lot of us see it the same way.

Also you said something about the rate the updates are released. I just re-new my license like three weeks ago and the I did it version 3.7.1 was out and now 3 weeks later they already have 3.7.2 Patch Level 1, so I think the rate is quiet fast.

Great, thank you for the information I'm going to buy it right now.

[Lightey]

Check out -- Webkinz Insider (http://webkinzinsider.com)

I'm a Member there....they have over 90,000 members & the vBulletin System works great there :D


Please don't go there! You do not want your heart broken!

[lostguy]

Vbulletin a good board ! I m big fan of this board since 7 yrs ago back then i joined someone board which using vbulletin . I always wanted to make my own board but last yr i finally setup my own and Vbulletin my first choice .

Their Support team very good and the important thing they Polite too . Im consider get second license but budget limit so might wait longer .

LostGuy

[Fusion]

Please don't go there! You do not want your heart broken!
Que?

[Nick]

Please don't go there! You do not want your heart broken!
Huh?

[Vtec44]

support and vbulletin.org, the 2 main reasons why I bought vb. :D