Gotta few questions before I buy

[Anx]

1. If I buy the owned license and don't upgrade with each release, will in say 5 years I be able to still buy the renewal and upgrade from what I would have to the newest version?

2. Im not to good at all this stuff so how easy compared to phpBB which I have now is vB to use? Im exspecially interested in the subsciption feature as soon my community will no longer be able to last on a virtual server and I dont have 150$ a month to pay for a dedicated one ;) Also basic fuctions of adding new threads, andding mods, deleting threads ect ect

3. Templates, are they easy to upload like in phpBB? Where I just find the one I like and FTP it into the templates directory where I can then swap images to match my site?

4. Is there a free place to get templates and mods or is everyone charging for them now for this board system?

5. How is this software compared to other free (IPB & phpBB) as far as queries used, server stress, bandwidth, stablity ect?

6. Are errors and problems only helped if your license is still valid or can I come here if I have a problem at any time to rectify any thing that worst to happen?

Thanks, thats all for now I think. Hopefully I can make a choice by the time vB3 is out. :)

[okrogius]

1. You would have to buy the newest version in order to download it. But by buying you would be buying a $30 renewal fee, not a new license.

2. If you can do phpbb, you shoudln't find much harder with vbulletin.

3. I consider ite ven easier. They're not files and instead are something editable from within the control panel.

4. There are free styles to be found, but I won't vouch for their quality as I have no experience with them.

5. Less intensive, specifically version 3.

5. You can come in with your (owned - iof leased you can't run your board after its experied) expired license, you will still receive support. However, if your problem is addressed with a version newer then the one your'e running, you will just be pointed to that version.