Should we upgrade to vbulletin 3.0

[Ray]

Here is an example of how it looks:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/index.php?

Let me know if you like it or not, Its $85 to upgrade so I can get it done if needed.

[larchmont]

I don't mind how it looks, but I don't see anything wrong with what we have currently either.

I can't judge other things about the upgrade because I don't know about these kinds of things. But I don't see anything lacking in the technical aspects of how this site works at present.

Just my 0.014 U.S.

[ChinchillaX]

I prefer this current layout more than vBulletin 3.0. I've seen many other forums with the newer version, but I still like this version the best.

[hip]

Originally posted by tsxclub
Here is an example of how it looks:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/index.php?

Let me know if you like it or not, Its $85 to upgrade so I can get it done if needed.

Perhaps it would be good to know beside the new look (is it Microsoft or Mac?) what other features/improvements there are?

I actually like the look of it, but if it runs extra bucks and offers no real benefit...

My response would also be save the $85 for a contest or something?

[johnej]

I think no..(also voted as such) The forums are not as user friendly either.....

[Joker]

I voted yes. I love 3.0, and after using it now for two days cannot find any problems with it :thumbsup:

[Whatchamacallit]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it. I like the current 2.2.9 version as is.

If we're upgrading just because every other site is upgrading, I could give a hoot. :woot:

[larchmont]

BTW I thought I should mention.....I LOVE how the site looks now.

IMHO it's the classiest, most elegant and pleasant look of any site I've seen, including everything.

But maybe that's not what's best for it to look like. :donno:
Not everybody loves "classy elegant pleasant."

[dnb]

Looks like the FCS version just got released last March 19. I'm seeing a fair number of install problems being reported, though I don't know if this is unusual or not.

Y'all can browse www.vbulletin.com/forums for the gory details.

I haven't encountered any bugs in the currently installed version, so I wouldn't mind keeping things the way they are now.

[Ray]

Alright, I can upgrade the site for us tonight if anyone does not want it to take place let me know now.

[TSX 'R' US]

Originally posted by Ray
Alright, I can upgrade the site for us tonight if anyone does not want it to take place let me know now.
Is there more functionality than the current version?

[larchmont]

No problem, seems like you really think it's a good idea..... but I don't understand why it should be done, since (as you can see) nobody has any problem with the current version, and, if anything, most people seem to prefer staying with it (at least those who replied here). :donno:

But if you feel you have good reasons for the change.....

[Ray]

Originally posted by larchmont
No problem, seems like you really think it's a good idea..... but I don't understand why it should be done, since (as you can see) nobody has any problem with the current version, and, if anything, most people seem to prefer staying with it (at least those who replied here). :donno:

But if you feel you have good reasons for the change..... I like this version too.. The new version may not work with our php portal so i am still thinking about all this.

[Joker]

I am all for upgrading, and you know this man :p

[tony4311]

on looks alone I'd say no. But if i performs better and is easier to use and offers good benefits over this one I say go for it. If not then stay as is

[ChinchillaX]

Originally posted by Joker
I am all for upgrading, and you know this man :p

I like the current layout more than the 3.0 version.

[larchmont]

BTW I haven't voted, because I just don't know. I don't see any reason to change, but maybe it's because I don't realize what the advantages would be. And it doesn't seem like other people are particularly clear on that either.

[Whatchamacallit]

Maybe it makes sense to "test it out" and see how people like it. (Make another poll or something afterward).

If people like it, we can stick with 3.0

If people don't like it, we can go back to 2.2.9 (I think we can, right? Of course, this won't bring back the $85 upgrade fee).

[Ray]

Originally posted by Whatchamacallit
Maybe it makes sense to "test it out" and see how people like it. (Make another poll or something afterward).

If people like it, we can stick with 3.0

If people don't like it, we can go back to 2.2.9 (I think we can, right? Of course, this won't bring back the $85 upgrade fee). did I mention the fact that if I make a single mistake during the upgrade I can mess up everything :rolleyes:

I will be watching my friend upgrade his forum next weekend, If all goes well I will upgrade our forum to the new version.

The new version :

General Features
Scalable solution - database server and web servers can reside on separate machines.
MySQL back-end database
vBulletin can be run on any machine that can support PHP and MySQL (Solaris, BSD, Linux, Windows, Mac)
Written in PHP which makes for a fast and efficient product
Admin Control Panel
Moderator Control Panel
User Control Panel
Compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. See this page for more information: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.htm

General Forum Features
Threads

Thread display options - sort by, sort order, from date
Thread and forum subscription (notification by email optional)
Thread preview on mouse-over (optional, via Admin CP)
Active Users viewing thread shown
New Post Indicator
Printer Friendly versions on threads
Admin tools for Threads - edit/delete/move/lock/Make sticky/ etc
Email page to a friend option
Similar Threads displayed on all thread views
Posts

Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available
Supports BB Code in posts
Supports HTML in post
Smilies
Avatars
Optional WYSIWYG or standard editors for posts and Private Messages
Attachment images (.gif,.jpg, etc) are no longer in the database (optional, via Admin CP)
Quick reply box (with optional "forced" click on post to quote)
Preview post option
Post rating
User reputation
Polls
Post Reporting - report posts to moderators
User post count
Admin tools for Posts - edit/delete/move/ etc
Preview safe attachments
Members

Member List
Member Search
User Style picker
Private Messaging
Buddy list
Member Birthdays shown on Forum home
Calendar Features

Supports multiple private and public calendars
Viewable public and private events (adminCP option)
Weekly, monthly and yearly views
Jump to Today option
Add single, ranged or recurring events
Add all day events
Option to show calendar event on forum home page (adminCP option)
Show events to specific usergroups (adminCP option)
Calendar Moderation
Private events reminder
Ability to add custom fields
General

Who's online
Search

User Control Panel Features
Editable user profile

This information can be viewed by other members from the member list. Custom user title, URL home page, date of birth, instant messaging medium, location, occupation, biography, interests, vB version, plus any other custom user fields that may be defined by the administrator
Profile pictures

Allows members to upload pictures that can be viewed in the users' profile.
Private Messaging

Pop-up notification when new PM recieved
Private Message Tracking
Private Message filing in custom folders
User Options

These include Daylight Savings options, forum style chooser, selection of notification types for PM, emails etc, thread display options, WYSIWYG editor options, language chooser, vCard downloads to allow the user profile to be placed into an address book
Attachment Management

View attachment statistics - shows limit and used space
View the attachments you have posted (link or thumbnail views available)
Remove attachments
Avatar Options

Admin Defined Avatars
Custom Avatars - upload from your own computer or specify a URL
General

View and manage subscribed threads and forums
Calendar event reminders for subscribed events
Pop-up auto-refreshing buddylist with ICQ-style alerts when new buddies come online
Signature Editor
Email and password changes require current password
Joinable Public User Groups

[larchmont]

Originally posted by Ray
did I mention the fact that if I make a single mistake during the upgrade I can mess up everything :rolleyes:.....
IMHO that settles it:


NO!



If you're even half serious about what you say there, I don't see why you'd want to do it, when nobody seems to have any complaints about the current version. (If they do, that would be a different story.)

BTW that's quite a list of features -- but it doesn't indicate which ones would be NEW for us. My impression is that the current version has most of them. (I do seem to recognize at least a couple that would be new.)

[Joker]

Larch, I think you are only looking at the upgrade from one side. Ours.. Which is all fine, and well... But what is also being considered here is attracting new members.
Although the current version works fine, the new version not only has an updated look, but also new features.
With everything said, it gives current, and future members one more reason to be a part of our board.

[larchmont]

Originally posted by Joker
.....what is also being considered here is attracting new members.
Although the current version works fine, the new version not only has an updated look, but also new features.....
Good points, of course.

BTW it might be helpful if you or Ray or anybody would specify which features would be "new." As I noted, WE CURRENTLY ALREADY HAVE the great majority of the listed features, and it's not really clear which at all would be new. I'd bet you that virtually nobody has any clear idea.

If you want to persuade people that this is a good idea -- or even just to help them understand why y'all want to do this -- it would be a good idea to indicate what actually would be new.


P.S. And look at Agent Chen's post below this.
It's not that you need everybody's agreement, it's just that you haven't laid the groundwork for people to understand what this is about, much less to agree with it.

[ChinchillaX]

I already like like this board the way it is. Yeah, the newer version may have new features and updates, but its pretty much works in the same function as the current one. Also, the 3.0 layout/interface doesn't look good as vBulletin 2.5 IMO.

[larchmont]

A couple of things for people to be aware of about the "New Posts" page on the new format, things that are different from the old format, and if you don't know it, you'll miss posts. (If you never used the feature very much, you probably won't understand a word of this. Don't worry about it.)

(1) When you come back to the "New Posts" page, unless you click the New Posts button on that horizonal bar, you'll only see the threads that were on that page before, but not any threads that have newly gotten some posts. This is the case even if you "refresh" the page -- you won't get the additional threads.

(2) While you're logged on, when you come back to the "New Posts" page, the order of threads on the page will stay the same. On the old format, the threads with the most recent posts would always appear on the TOP of the page. If you're used to that (as I am) and if you don't know about this change, you'll overlook a lot of new posts.

[sjlee]

I'm assuming that this is already a done deal?

[Ray]

I'm assuming that this is already a done deal?

Yep, we upgraded the site. I will be working on it this weekend to fix up a few things.

[sjlee]

Looks great. I belong to another site that uses this version as well, so I'm used to it. At least here the upgrade went much smoother. Good job Ray.

[ChinchillaX]

this upgrade is better than I expected, good job Ray!

Now, if only the avatars can be moved to the leftside....that will make the upgrade complete.:)

[Ray]

this upgrade is better than I expected, good job Ray!

Now, if only the avatars can be moved to the leftside....that will make the upgrade complete.:)

Working on that, this weekend.

[sjlee]

this upgrade is better than I expected, good job Ray!

Now, if only the avatars can be moved to the leftside....that will make the upgrade complete.:)

What do you mean, the avatars look like their on the left side to me?

[TSX 'R' US]

What do you mean, the avatars look like their on the left side to me?
I think they're talking about having the avatar, joined date, # of posts on the left side of one's post...

Now we have the avatar & friends up top...before everything was on the left hand side.

[Joker]

I like the darker color you added between each post.
Great job Ray, keep up the good work ;) :)

[larchmont]

I like the darker color you added between each post.
Great job Ray, keep up the good work ;) :)
Absolutely -- looks great! Makes everything clearer, and nicer too.

BTW I'm not sure exactly what all else was changed, but it's more than just the darker color that Joker mentioned, right?
Another thing I notice is that the "post reply" box is pure white, and the stuff that we type is clear pure black. Don't remember what it was before, but this is fantastic.

[Joker]

I'm not sure exactly what all else was changed
If I'm not mistaken, the quoted material now has a light blue background. I like it!! :D

[larchmont]

If I'm not mistaken, the quoted material now has a light blue background. I like it!! :D
Right -- that's new too. Nice, and it helps the quoted material stand out nicely.