How would YOU rate the new forums?

[Pokerface]

I like having a "View next unread" button in each thread, but other than that, it feels a little clunky for my tastes. Everything's so much bigger, and the size doesn't seem to have any added value.

[Wolfie]

I wish

I wish

I wish

Someone recently found a genie in a lamp???

[L0GiCaL1]

As with any script you decide to run, there are obvious tradeoffs. You will have people that are not 100% pleased with how it turns out. On the upside, most of the issues people discuss are rectifiable by "hacks", "mods", or "add-ons". vB is no exception. I, personally, don't like vB, but as Sarc mentioned, the forums are usable for what they were intended for. I don't like the fact that you have to severely modify vB to do simple things like allow RSS feeds and XML news syndication. vB also has some very strange code copyrights that don't allow for easy modification by end-users. I voted 3, but I don't think that necessarily correlates to how well they function but more about how well I like using them.

The only suggestion I could make is to use Invision Power Board instead of vB but I also understand why the decision was made to use vB. If you want to extend vB, might I suggest cruising through http://www.vbulletin.org ? The offer some ways to save on page creation time as well as integrating the front-page with the forum, either with Portal "hacks" or webtemplate "add-ons". Also using a release canidate reduces the amount of functional extensions you can use for the forum base over a long period of time. Good luck with it, and if you need help, let me know.

[Apophis]

As with any script you decide to run, there are obvious tradeoffs. You will have people that are not 100% pleased with how it turns out. On the upside, most of the issues people discuss are rectifiable by "hacks", "mods", or "add-ons". vB is no exception. I, personally, don't like vB, but as Sarc mentioned, the forums are usable for what they were intended for. I don't like the fact that you have to severely modify vB to do simple things like allow RSS feeds and XML news syndication. vB also has some very strange code copyrights that don't allow for easy modification by end-users. I voted 3, but I don't think that necessarily correlates to how well they function but more about how well I like using them.

vB3 supports both RSS and XML by default. It is also now, easier than ever, to modify any portion of the code. You have to license it, but once you do you may modify and change what you will.

[fr1j0l3]

I can attach stuff!

[L0GiCaL1]

vB3 supports both RSS and XML by default. It is also now, easier than ever, to modify any portion of the code. You have to license it, but once you do you may modify and change what you will.

I found no mention of that anywhere on vB's site or in the readme when I actually downloaded RC4... maybe I need to look closer. I would definitely like to see some forum syndication integrated on the main-page (and made available to users for things like DesktopSideBar and Trillian), and it also allows you to get away from the PostNUKE CMS front-end/back-end all together. I'll take a look again and cook up something for you to trial run if I like what I see. That would definitely raise my vote to a 4.

[OSD]

After several of days of pokeing around. I have a couple of things to say.

I haven't tried out all the goodies but what I have tried is great for and old fart... Thanks for the effort Apo. and Staff.


Thumbs up guys....

[Apophis]

I found no mention of that anywhere on vB's site or in the readme when I actually downloaded RC4... maybe I need to look closer. I would definitely like to see some forum syndication integrated on the main-page (and made available to users for things like DesktopSideBar and Trillian), and it also allows you to get away from the PostNUKE CMS front-end/back-end all together. I'll take a look again and cook up something for you to trial run if I like what I see. That would definitely raise my vote to a 4.

I have already got a lot more done than we are publically running. There are a LOT of new things in the works now that we're breaking way from packaged software with packaged mods. I gave up on that philosophy and I'm just building the integration I need rather than getting it from someone else.

If you've set up vB3 you'll see the options for XML and RSS syndication.

[DudeMan]

color is obly problem

[Apophis]

color is obly problem

Did toning down the bright white background help?

[Overlag]

what about more green?

ill post a pic maybe...

[H-Hour]

I think it looks a lot better without the white background, Apo. The colors never really bothered me that much, though. I can see where Dudeman is coming from. It is a sharp contrast, but it hasn't bugged me all that much.

[DudeMan]

Did toning down the bright white background help?

YES IT DID I knew something had been changed.. i want getting a headache... tyhanks man... i have no quams now... i must admit i did like to old looks better but there is alot more features.. and now i can read the forumns without squinting. brilliant.

[DudeMan]

I can attach stuff!

i want to be that harley.... or atleast the seat....lol

[_Ender_]

Ok my turn,

Like;
- Subscribe to just the threads you want and not every thread you have replied in.
- They seem to load a hell of a lot faster now... I dont know if thats the new software or just the web site itself.
- The ability to have the newest posts (in a thread) displayed at the top, instead of having to weed through posts upon posts to read the newest.
- Sigs are back, YAY!!! (Now I can rip off great comic book quotes again!)
- Ability to attach stuff. Been waiting silently for this for a little while now.
- Ability to adjust the number of posts per-page.

Hate
- I dont like the feel, the colors are bad, the design isnt all that great, its all kinda "bla". I wished you could set it up so we can have our design\colors\ect. I dont know if thats at all possible with this software though.
- Trillian still isnt supported - the IM features and the "add user to contact list". Sadly this will probably never get fixed and its not anybodies fault.
- Still no spell checker
- Quick reply takes some time to get used too.

To be honest, thats about all I hate about the new forums, I just dont like the design. The rest I dont really have that big of a problem with and after you get used to the quick replys, they're not that bad. It beats having to quote everything to reply to it. I voted option #4, GJ Paul and gang.