Have you already planned your migration?

[John L.]

After taking a good look at the features this software has, it definitely shows promise and is already better than vB4 in many key areas. My only concerns would be some of my forums that are reliant on many 3rd party vBulletin plugins. But I do have 1 forum I would like to give this a shot with. So my question to you guys is how many forums do you plan to migrate and do you have any outstanding issues holding you back when available?

Also a question to the developers, will there be a special offer available to users who have vBulletin licenses and wish to switch (I currently have 3)? So some type of savings would be great . Thanks for your time and YAY first thread for me!

 

[John L.]

Surely the incentive to purchase would be your forums running a good quality software coded by people who know and care about what they're doing?

I too purchased a vBulletin 4 license, I didn't like the price or the way it was done but I bought it because it was a good piece of software and I assumed that it could only get better. Of course like other people I was very wrong and, like most other people, had I been able to see version 4 I would never have bought it.

But that isn't the case here. We can see XenForo in action as it's being developed, we know for the most part what we're going to get for our money and I personally don't care how much it costs, I will be ditching vBulletin.

It's not just the software itself being better, the support here is in a completely different class to vBulletin. Kier and Mike seem like nice guys who care about their potential customers and not because they want money from them. Should there be any problems with the software, I feel that I would get the support I need and deserve as a customer here - I don't have that with vBulletin and that is my incentive to purchase, not discounts or free beta's and whatever else has cropped up.

I clearly am not going to win any type of argument here, so I will leave it at this. I am not stating that there is absolutely no other incentive except to get money off of this software. What I am saying is that there will be penny pinchers (like myself) who view value not just in the product itself, but the price tag associated with it. So if it's something outrageous in price, probably won't be switching no matter how much better it is. Support is great as well, but I have never had to put a ticket in with vBulletin for the years I have been using it (2.x.x days). So that doesn't exactly say anything to me. I don't doubt Kier and Mike are dedicated to the success of this software, but I'm just curious about what we could expect in terms of pricing, nothing more or less. I swear this is almost like getting into an argument with Apple fan boys about Apple products. I'm in no way putting this product down or attempting to lowball it's worth. Just a simple Yes/No answer to the discount question, which you provided and I was thankful for. The later part of my response was just MY OPINION, nothing more or less.

The truth of the matter is that I will probably use this software once it's released for my small software company I am developing with a friend as a test run for a potential migration in the future. Just making plans for the future guys.

 

[John L.]

I would have to buy at least one license to try, currently have 5 owned vB licenses, one of which is the vB4 suite. Not sure if my members of my largest site (Running vB4 Suite) could take a change again, vB to IPB back to vB again but if vB4 doesn't improve, I see no other choice. I think I would probably convert my smaller vB sites over though, depending on costs.

For me, Kier and Mike obviously enjoy what they do, and it's not all about money. Why else would they start coding again taking all that time, effort, and i'm sure, wife rage to create a product like this. They have released something that is missing from most forums, and continue to listen to what people want. They have focussed on what a forum is about, a community of people wanting to talk and share. I can see great things happening with this software, and I can't believe how well the site looks and works at such an early development process. Well done.

Agreed, the product so far looks amazing. I really like a lot of the subtle details, but I'm mostly interested in the admin panel looks. I have seen some of the videos and definitely impressive! I love alternatives, always gives the consumer much more options to choose from. I don't like IPB, but I also don't like vB4. So this will definitely give me food for thought .

 

[Elizabeth]

I clearly am not going to win any type of argument here, so I will leave it at this. I am not stating that there is absolutely no other incentive except to get money off of this software. What I am saying is that there will be penny pinchers (like myself) who view value not just in the product itself, but the price tag associated with it. So if it's something outrageous in price, probably won't be switching no matter how much better it is. Support is great as well, but I have never had to put a ticket in with vBulletin for the years I have been using it (2.x.x days). So that doesn't exactly say anything to me. I don't doubt Kier and Mike are dedicated to the success of this software, but I'm just curious about what we could expect in terms of pricing, nothing more or less. I swear this is almost like getting into an argument with Apple fan boys about Apple products. I'm in no way putting this product down or attempting to lowball it's worth. Just a simple Yes/No answer to the discount question, which you provided and I was thankful for. The later part of my response was just MY OPINION, nothing more or less.

The truth of the matter is that I will probably use this software once it's released for my small software company I am developing with a friend as a test run for a potential migration in the future. Just making plans for the future guys.

You are talking to the queen of the penny pinchers here. My buying VB 4 only came when I HAD to renew my license. I didn't want to but I had no option. 

Now, on one of these threads there is a mention of an early adopters discount by Kier but it does NOT mention how much  (I would assume the members of the forum but I may be wrong). 

But just because we own a copy of VB does not make us special. In fact, this forum and company is doing it's best to put that part behind them. Let it go. This isn't a new vb, it's XenForo, a whole NEW direction in forum software.

Liz 

 

[Shanj]

But just because we own a copy of VB does not make us special. In fact, this forum and company is doing it's best to put that part behind them. Let it go. This isn't a new vb, it's XenForo, a whole NEW direction in forum software.

Right on.

Thinking loyal XF fan I want to pay full price to support K&M&mates brilliance and listening.

Thinking business head I'd guess XF needs to slightly undercut other providers but needs not be by much.

Also the "permanent licence" scam which wasn't a permanent licence at all, on another provider, caused a lot of hostility so none of that shenanigans. But XF wouldn't do that.

A proper permanent licence would be good. That would give us a longer term discount and build a memberbase.
Also being able to post here and get support only if holding a current licence is tough love but it makes sense.

 

[John L.]

You are talking to the queen of the penny pinchers here. My buying VB 4 only came when I HAD to renew my license. I didn't want to but I had no option.

Now, on one of these threads there is a mention of an early adopters discount by Kier but it does NOT mention how much (I would assume the members of the forum but I may be wrong).

But just because we own a copy of VB does not make us special. In fact, this forum and company is doing it's best to put that part behind them. Let it go. This isn't a new vb, it's XenForo, a whole NEW direction in forum software.

Liz

Okay, sorry. You win, I suppose I'm a bad person for wanting to save a little bit of money haha. Moderators can remove this thread if they see fit. Thanks for the interesting discussion.

 

[Lycaon]

I clearly am not going to win any type of argument here.

No-ones arguing here. We're all just stating our opinions.

Of course the main trouble with opinions is they're like arseholes, every one's got one and every one thinks theirs smells best.

But seriously I don't think anyone is arguing with each other.

 

[Elizabeth]

Okay, sorry. You win, I suppose I'm a bad person for wanting to save a little bit of money haha. Moderators can remove this thread if they see fit. Thanks for the interesting discussion.

No, you're not a bad person...

But running it into the ground may have been a bit of overkill.  

 

[John L.]

No, you're not a bad person...

But running it into the ground may have been a bit of overkill.

I did state I wished to switch the discussion to actual title of my topic, but everyone kept responding...

 

[Mike]

So my question to you guys is how many forums do you plan to migrate and do you have any outstanding issues holding you back when available?

Back to that --^ people!

 

[Lycaon]

I will eventually convert my forums over to XenForo all though not sure when, not before it's for sale of course.

I also have plans for a couple of new forums which I'm holding off until XenForo's released. Mainly because I want to see what it's like to convert a forum and start a new one.

 

[John L.]

I will eventually convert my forums over to XenForo all though not sure when, not before it's for sale of course.

I also have plans for a couple of new forums which I'm holding off until XenForo's released. Mainly because I want to see what it's like to convert a forum and start a new one.

You know, it's silly but there is actually just 1 main plugin from vB that would hold a few of my forums back and that's the Easy Forms plugin. That is the best free plugin I have used to date on any of my installations of vB.

 

[Lycaon]

Downloads 2 and v3 Arcade are the only plugins I use.

I can live without both but Downloads 2 is what I would miss the most.

I'll probably just knock up something crappy to replace it. We only host 4 files and add one every few months.

 

[Shanj]

I'm keenly awaiting XF for my 2 communities.

On one I need a work tracking mod to email notify a usergroup/ or several on a selected forum A
and
for another special type of forum B that places markers on a user's Page according to which thread is added to.
Markers then change color (icons) according to activity on the second type of specialised forum B. Plus send notifications.
Plus pre-set searches for these Pages re the markers/ or maybe searching the forums that generate the markers.

On the other community I'd want user customised Profiles (colours, layout)
and Groups linked to their own forums.

Oh and bbcode editor on Pages option/ access by usergroup.

But I think there will be eager coders for all this.

 

[John L.]

I definitely want to see how the coding community reacts to this new software. I am sure a lot of vB developers would love to jump on something just as easy to code with if not easier. I'm no plugin developer (more of a GUI developer), but if it's truly close (or better) I can only imagine the type of scripts we will see .

 

[dutchbb]

Infraction system is needed before considering a switch. And need to find out the best procedure for redirecting old URL's.

 

["Mark"]

Myself, most likely none, at least not for the foreseeable future.

Though I may use XenForo on a new forum, if the price is reasonable for the application.

A lot will depend on the license terms.

 

[Ruven]

No-ones arguing here. We're all just stating our opinions.

Of course the main trouble with opinions is they're like arseholes, every one's got one and every one thinks theirs smells best.

But seriously I don't think anyone is arguing with each other.

Yeah, but he did have a point with the fanboy like responses he and others have received for even mentioning money issues.
Im 100% behind what Kier and Mike are doing here, ive already put my ass on the table by telling my mod team about all the cool new features coming soon (i promised myself i wouldnt say anything till a release date was announced... but like most of you im really amped up over XF), so im going to have to buy the software no matter what.
Saying all that though, i dont have to like everything going on with XF and yet still support it 100%.
I am a huge fan of what ive seen of XF, and i cant wait to see what else the guys have in store for us.
But its not really necessary for people to come and defend Kier and Mikes honor when someone doesnt go with the flow. Seems a bit off putting to me.
I remember reading a thread when i first got here that dealt with how Kier and Mike werent doing this for the money but for the forum community or something... cmon, thats pretty naive folks.
Obviously what we know of these guys is that they try their best to give us an honest piece of work, thats why some of us are here, we trust that they will do their best at giving us something thats good... but of course its about the money.
And there is ZERO wrong with that.

What makes it even more weird though is that the same people who were in that thread saying that "XF is not about the money" (im paraphrasing here), are the same folks who use psychological warfare against people who bring up the idea of X type of discount for Y type of customer or Z type of situation.

It really should go without saying that Kier and Mike want to make money, that they need to make money in order to keep their new company going, that Kier and Mike making money can only be a good thing for the customers who want more long term return on our initial investments in XF... i dont think its necessary or fair to use those facts as tools to guilt trip people into feeling like a "bad person".
The user jljr222 didnt just say that to get attention. He was made out to look like the "bad guy", most likely subconsciously.
Do we want to make people with legitimate issues feel this way in our zeal to defend XF/Kier&Mike over perceived existential threats?

Kier and Mike do not need people defending them, they have created what seems to me the best defense against any real or perceived threats... A great piece of software in XF.

 

[yoghurtfarmer]

Initially I was going to wait a few months to see the reaction and then hopefully there will be an SMF to xF import tool.

Now, I'm way too impatient so I might just take the SMF --> vB (if I can get a copy) --> xF route.

Either way I'm going to have trouble with 301ing the urls due to a url rewriting mod that I have installed on SMF. I think I might resort to manually redirecting all the thread links (~500-600) of them since my forum is still young.

This all of course, depends on the price and how licensing is set up.

 

[Floris]

The quick answer is yes.

I've started updating the postbit, turning off features that xenforo currently doesn't include to de-clutter, and teaching the staff the new forum product.

 

[That One Guy]

It may not be all about money but we all have to eat and we all have to plan for the future. Money is important regardless of what we want to believe.

Personally I hope XenForo doesn't try to compete based on price. That's a good way to destroy a company or an entire market sector. Personally I have no problem with paying a fair price for a solid product. If XenForo is as good as it appears to be so far I'll be happy to pay the market price for the product, i.e., what the "other guys" are charging for their forum software. I'm not willing to purchase the market leader's product because the current version seems bloated and buggy. And I don't have any experience with the main commercial competitor to the market leader. XenForo seems to be exactly what I need and want.