Future of vbulletin?

[onehost]

I wonder the future of vbulletin really is? I noticed unwarranted price hike of leasing the software for the year, I have to ask is it really worth it, so by the time you rent or buy, then you run across some lame wore out theme that 1000 others are also using, or pay $200-300 more just so you have a nice looking site with no visitors, but what really bothers me is the price hike along with a huge decline of mod makers, which seems to be dropping like flies everytime a new vb version comes out. You find some new stuff out for vb, but not as near as you did on past versions of VB. a lot of those mods over on vbulletin.org are well outdated mods never to be used again (kids grew up, stopped making mods) and thats life, but those that are leaving are not being replaced, and it makes me wonder the true worth of vbulletin if mostly everything now is outdated, or will be outdated in the future. Everyday that Vbulletin advances, more mods are outdated, and less new ones come into play, and at this rate, it seems that vbulletin will be on its own with no new mods, and in these bad economic times, they pull a price increase, they must be fairly confident, for now.

what do you guys think?

[Big Dan]

Not necessarily.. For the most part popular mods seem to be kept up to date. Some of the older ones aren't maintained any more but that's with any forum software.. phpBB, myBB, etc all have old mods that no longer work. Lots of the simpler mods for 3.5 and 3.6 still work on 3.7.

Nobody works for free forever even in the free forum software community. If people aren't sending a few dollars here and there what's the point of spending time maintaining the mod and dealing with the endless support requests that most likely aren't even the devs problem from the get go.

I still think vB is worth the money because it's the most feature packed and secure forum software out there at a decent price.

[Peggy]

Unwarranted price increase?? I'm not sure how you can possibly feel that the price increase is unwarranted. They've not increased the price of vBulletin since its release, yet developers salaries go up, the cost of living goes up, the cost of operating a business goes up..... and you call it an unwarranted increase? Have you ever owned a business selling a product and not had to raise the cost of the product?

With all of the features that vBulletin offers for its users (whether they're all used or not), I feel that the price increase was not only warranted, but that vB is still well worth the price tag.

[2dub]

After reading the OP I got worried and went to vb.com to look at the prices because I'm due for renewal soon. The increase in prices is not what I'd call an unwarranted price hike. I still feel it is a good value at the newer prices.

There are free forum apps out there, but not with the features and support of vBulletin.

[MadMax1228]

No issues here. I lease 3 licenses. vB rocks!

[bobbaf3nn]

having used "free" software before i'll go on recored and say im very happy with my Vb

[Aneurysm]

Free is good (I started my board Mambo & Simpleforum) but you get what you pay for. I outgrew the free stuff after about a year and have been very happy with VB and feel it is worth the price.

[popowich]

I am a happy vBulletin customer.

-Raymond

[ArnyVee]

After trying a 'free' alternative, I have to say that vB is absolutely worth the money. It's not so much the software, but the 'free' modifications and community involved with vBulletin that makes it a no-brainer when starting a forum-based website. :D

[Peggy]

I agree with you Arny, altho I have to say that, right out of the box, vBulletin is pretty amazing all on its own.
When I first purchased mine, it was months before I installed the first modification.

[qryztufre]

When I first purchased mine, it was months before I installed the first modification.

Me too, and now I have several mods. Would you believe that each and every one that I got ALL happened to make it into the graveyard for being hackable? *sigh* Most have been fixed by my webby guys, but OH THE HORROR!

Now I no longer have a webby guy, and need to upgrade. Sadly I am having issues trying to figure it out myself. What makes it worse for me is the promise of having regular updates/upgrades...

I wish it was simply a matter of clicking an UPDATE button in the ACP, as that would simply ROCK! I'd nix each and every mod I have and use straight vB out of the box. I can handle the template tweaks, but once I'm in the server I'm 100% lost. Maybe they will streamline things for vB4... (Wordpress can seemingly do it)

Anyone know of a cheap worker bee that'll do upgrades for peanuts?

Though, as for the price increase, I agree that it's still well worth the new price, though I was not all that happy about paying more....but then, my forum is member driven, and I am barely breaking even. I don't have a conventional job so do not have a conventional income... *shrug*

[ArnyVee]

qryztufre,

I know that I've had help from several folks (many of them here on the vb-faq boards!) that have helped me get through the upgrades. They are not that difficult at all for the most part. But, if you wanted to hire someone, I know that Chris (on these boards, he goes by Xhris, I think) is usually very open to help with those things and already helps a couple of other admins that I know with co-admin type duties.

[qryztufre]

thanks...

I've posted for help: http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13792

*shrug* But really, I'm hoping that my webby guy will show up and save the day...

I'm still really hoping that they can better automate the entire process... then again, hehe, it's likely easier then I'm guessing, as thus far the only thing I've personally done was install the first time (3.5 something I think) and have had others do all the dirty work after that.

[Peggy]

... I've posted for help: http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13792


I sent you a PM ;)

I have errands to run, but will be back late this afternoon.