[TenPercenter]

At the constant gentle urging from my web host, I am thinking of upgrading the site software from the free phpBB to another, commercial package. There are many reasons, but the most important is security since a commercial package will include support for patches and hotfixes.

My secondary concern is cost, and my primary concern is theme retention.

The first suggestion so far is using vBulletin. I'd like to consider other options too, so everyone that knows anythink about forums help me out with suggestions.

[phatlad]

I post on a vbulletin forum, and it seems a lot smoother than phpBB boards I'm a member at.

That's about the only input I have. I would donate to the costs. (I know that's not your point; I'm just saying there's lots like me who would donate).

[X-Files]

I will put in another vote for vBulletin. I have used it on many forums.
Maybe you should put up a poll with some choices. I know vBulliten can handle a huge amount of data. The TiVo forum uses it and it gets over 3000 viewers at the same time.

[seymour]

I use phpBB on my own forums, but they're mostly smaller. One is kinda big, but probably a little less active than Chiptalk.

I haven't really used vBulletin, but it does seem to share a lot of the same look as phpBB forums generally do. I had to do a quick check to make sure that it wasn't the other forum software that I was thinking aout that I hate (ubb). I really didn't like that one at all.

Personally, I'll probably install it on my own server just to mess around with and see what it's like I think phpBB does get a lot of security issues mainly because it's free and pretty simple to set up, and quite often the maintainers don't keep it up to date. Which is pretty hard to do when you have a ton of customizations, which I do, so I'm sure I have an idea of what a pain it is for you to keep it up to date

The only thing that slightly bothers me about the forums now (which isn't even related to the forum software) is the alignment of the menu in Firefox. It just doesn't seem right.

Oh, and the recent database connection problems here have been annoying as well

[Kalimba]

I don't know how much research you've already done, but vBulletin currently runs $160 for a lifetime license. There are other pricing plans, but I think the $160/life plan is the no-brainer best deal. I've spent a little time playing with the admin control panel and it was very simple and intuitive. I don't have anything else to compare to, though.

I believe the phpBB and vBulletin client views are, feature-for-feature, very similar, so the member experience shouldn't change much at all.

[X-Files]

Her is an idea of how ChipTalk would look on vBulletin.

[hachkc]

Looks fine to me.

[buffalopoker]

i use vbulletin on my site


best switch I ever made!!

[[/img]

[TenPercenter]

Ok, I'm ready to fork over the $160 for vBulletin since I already see that x-files is going to save CT a ton of money by helping out with the site theme migration. With a little help on images I think we can keep the CT look and feel.

One CRITICAL mod I have to find is: points system. Other toys we can do without, but people have too much invested in their points. I can't switch unless I find a points mod for vBulletin.

[TenPercenter]

Originally Posted by TenPercenter

One CRITICAL mod I have to find is: points system. Other toys we can do without, but people have too much invested in their points. I can't switch unless I find a points mod for vBulletin.

Thanks to Yster, I can look into "uCash and uShop" and see if it'll do the trick.