discussion board ubb vs ub

[Charles Capps]

$170.[nbsp][nbsp]And you don't even need to pay that, you can get a one year license for $80.[nbsp][nbsp]:)

UltraBoard may be free, but does it come with the UBB's level of support?[nbsp][nbsp]:)

[kickster]

Charles
Are you the guy who works for UBB? I think I have seen your name on ubb site!
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[Dan Kaplan]

Before Charles has to defend his integrity :) let me say this as a non-UBB user but admirer from afar, that if a forum is an integral aspect of your site, UBB is well worth the money.[nbsp][nbsp]Everyone that I have talked to agrees that UBB is by far the most intuitive forum software from the users' standpoint.[nbsp][nbsp]If I averaged more than 1-2 messages a week on my board, I'd probably consider UBB...

UltraBoard looks promising, but last time I played with it (I think there is a newer version, and a "2000" version is due out soon), it was too buggy to really be considered beyond beta status.[nbsp][nbsp]Plus, weeks and months seemed to go by without updates, which echoes Charles' statement about UBB's level of support.

Dan

[Shalazar]

I use UltraBoard myself, and have found it to be an outstanding resource to my website, without a doubt.[nbsp][nbsp]The scripts are super-easy to configure, the syle options are configurable from several different aspects, and I have yet to have one complaint from anyone using it.

It's free, and it is very good at completely auto-configuring itself upon the installation.

I've had no problem with support, as I have regular contact with the developers through ICQ.

The only minor problem I've found in the board is that the cookie function required to save a person's login information is faulty.[nbsp][nbsp]And if I knew PERL at all, I'm sure it would be a simple fix since I've found the code relating to it.

Other than that, I think it's pretty spectacular and a worthy addition to any kind of site.

[Charles Capps]

kickster: Yup...[nbsp][nbsp]I'm the one.[nbsp][nbsp]I see you posted in my forum as well...[nbsp][nbsp];)[nbsp]

[kickster]

Humm... I hope you are paying Advertisng fee to FQ :)

DEBBB.....some one is advertising on your board..... :)

Ok Just give me a UBB board for free and I wont tell Deb about this.

Honestly I think UBB is over rated. A discussion board should not cost 170 for one year ($25 extra update after one year).
$50 or $75 would be better. By the way[nbsp][nbsp]indexfinger.com
also has a UBB look a like for $100 free upgrade.
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[Dan Kaplan]

I've had no problem with support, as I have regular contact with the developers through ICQ. Is that the way they provide support?[nbsp][nbsp]Wouldn't it make sense for the developers of a forum use that same forum for their main means of support?[nbsp][nbsp]It certainly would reflect better on the product than would relying on ICQ.

Does UltraBoard make it possible to modify menu text/image links and the actual layout of the board?[nbsp][nbsp]I think 1.61 was the last one I tested, and it was virtually impossible (I couldn't make much sense out of the code structure, but I did manage to hack a 1.5x to look almost identical to UBB) to do anything other than add your own images.

Dan

[Shalazar]

Yes, in v1.62, there is a principal configuration file which allows modification of the layout of the board, so it is possible to change the order in which things are loaded, the style and look of those loaded, or to remove/add things altogether.

If one is not real comfortable with hacking, then perhaps something more easily maniupulated like UBB would be a better choice.[nbsp][nbsp]But I haven't used that, so I cannot comment.

But with the imminent release of UB2000, as checking their new webpage, yes they are using their own board as a support forum in the Demo area, and apparently will also use that in their support forum as well when the links become active.

The new version seems to correct the minor problems I had mentioned earlier, as well as provide a bevy of brand new features.

I will upgrade to it.

[ubu]

I have only installed the Free version of UBB and the Free version of UltraBoard, and I believe that I like UltraBoard better.[nbsp][nbsp]I know UBB has more features after you registered it, and I know it's a widely used board, but I also believe that it's a bit pricey.[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Now I know the though of "you get what you pay for" comes up, but go to most any forum about UBB and see how many times it takes patches and fixes to get everything right, and by then it's another version released..

I honestly don't know about either board because I have not had a site in which to put them through the paces..[nbsp][nbsp]I only know what I see and read in the posts from others that have the boards.

Jamie

[Charles Capps]

By the way[nbsp][nbsp]indexfinger.com also has a UBB look a like for $100 free upgrade.
*no comment on either the board or the person who wrote it...*

[Justin]

While I agree that the UBB is a bit pricey, I use it, and will continue to. Why? It is known - most of your users will already know how to use it, what features are buggy and how to work around them, and so on. I know that sounds silly, but that's what users think...

When I installed WWWThreads a while back, I didn't like it. It is a nicer design, is faster, and of course is free, but I was fumbling for the first couple of days. I realized that most users would have the same problem, and decided on the UBB...

I won't comment on UB or Index Finger... don't want to start another war ;)

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[Melprophet]

I think UBB is well worth the money (I took a 1 year lease)if for nothing else, the support. I had one problem with it, e-mailed them and they replied in 25 minutes with detailed instructions on what I needed to do, an offer to do it for me if I couldn't or wasn't comfortable trying it, and they sent me not one, but two follow up e-mails to make sure that all was well.

When my board was dead several months ago I was wondering why I bothered shelling out money for it when I could have had something like UB for free. But now that my board is active, and a vital part of my site, I'd rather pay the $82 annual lease price and know that the support is there.

Mel

[JE]

I agree with Dan on this one. I finally purchased a one year license from InfoPop. I have admired UBB for a long time now..it was infact FQ that got me hooked on it. When I first heard about FutureQuest, the board was the place I posted messages and I instantly got hooked to it's design and I wanted it BAD!!! So, finally I got my wish.

As for UB, I have gone to the site to view the demo board and it looks nothing like UBB. It may have a design like it, but it's far from an UBB.

As for other boards, I don't know their URL's. I recently ran into Sporum...that thing is "JUST HOOOOOORRIBLE!!!".
It's ugly and slow..kinda like Ultra Board...uggghhhhh!!

But far be it UBB deserves the credit. The only thing I don't like with UBB, is that you can't delete messages.

I recently removed UBB from my site because I just wanted to test it out and see how good I was at working it. I'm waiting for a higher version and waiting to get my site up n going before I put it on again.

I had it before back in June when I first found FQ, and I downloaded the FREE 5.10 version and I set it up on my other site..where I thought it was the hardest thing I had ever done..now it's like oil..slick n smoove.
hahahahahahhaha :)

I tell you, it's worth the $82.00 1 year license..although that price is kind of sketchy..it can come down some more, but i'd buy it again in a century (willing i'm still alive ;0).

You can get the UBB free2000 version from UBB@
http://www.ultimatebb.com

Also, as for the bugs n stuff, I think Ted should just wait about a month or two before releasing version after version.
Just wait to collect all the bugs and create a new version with less bugs. There seems to be something wrong with every version released..bug wise...
If you notice, there are about 4 or 5 versions released a month. Just wait and release the buggone version 6.0..hahahahahahahahhaha..I love it!!

try it...you'll never go back!
Thanks
JE
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Noody Does It Better In The Y2Gg!!
http://www.blazing-hot.com
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[This message has been edited by JE (edited 01-22-00@9:02 pm)]

[Charles Capps]

Yes, that is definately a gripe...[nbsp][nbsp]Ted releases versions sometimes with what apparently seems to be insuffecient testing.[nbsp][nbsp]The entire 5.38-5.40 fiasco could have been prevented with proper testing.[nbsp][nbsp]It's made even worse by only keeping the current release version in the members area.[nbsp][nbsp]

We moderators are still trying to talk some sense into him.[nbsp][nbsp]:)

[Shalazar]

I'm kind of disappointed in the anti-anything but UBB sentiment.[nbsp][nbsp]For some people, there are greater financial priorities than a brand-name bulletin board, when there exists a freeware version which is very similar in nearly all respects and appears to work just fine for all intensive purposes.

UB is free, it works for what its supposed to work for, and I think some credit is due even if only for the great feat it takes to make something like that.

And just because something costs more doesn't necessarily make it bigger and/or better.[nbsp][nbsp]An 80-100 dollar per year solution just isn't feasible for most websites.

[Dan Kaplan]

Shalazar,

I agree with many of your points.[nbsp][nbsp]Let me reiterate that I do not use UBB.[nbsp][nbsp]I use the free version of Discus, and that is quite sufficient for my limited needs.[nbsp][nbsp]However, the majority of people express greater comfort with the interface of UBB, and that is why many people feel it is worth the cost.

UltraBoard has definitely done a great job of producing a full-featured product for an unbeatable price.[nbsp][nbsp]However, from the standpoint of the casual observer, they have not demonstrated that they will put its usability or support in the same league as UBB.[nbsp][nbsp]Going back to my econ schooling, I think this calls for a cost-benefit analysis...

By the way, and I'm sure this could be taken in a war-inciting way, the reason I was able to hack UltraBoard 1.5x into a near duplicate of UBB is that it could not have been written any more similarly.[nbsp][nbsp];)[nbsp][nbsp] I picked up many a hack over at ScriptKeeper, and they all carried over with little difficulty!

Dan

[Shalazar]

Dan:

No offense taken, very valid points made :)

I fully understand UB is a knock-off of UBB, afterall, it's hard to imagine creating a program that looks and functions exactly like another board without the coding structure being very similar.[nbsp][nbsp]That statement, however, comes from my extremely limited programming knowledge, but in and of itself shouldn't automatically discredit UB as being a viable option for any website, however popular.

It is an interesting comment about not putting the usability or support in the same league as UBB.[nbsp][nbsp]It could, to the outside observer, show a lack of confidence in their own product or an unwillingness to acknowledge inherent problems and better serve their patrons.[nbsp][nbsp]Or, it may show an arrogance that their product works fine and therefore anything more than minimal support isn't warranted.[nbsp][nbsp]In any event, the contact I have had with the developers has been VERY positive, and they have taken any and all suggestions under consideration for their new release, showing to me they do value user input and are actively engaged in bettering their product.[nbsp][nbsp]But from reviewing the new UB2000 website, they appear aware of this "outside observation" and are making strides to change it and increase interactivity.
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp] As for UB, by contrast, when you're charging 80 dollars per year for the thousands and thousands of copies in circulation it becomes much easier to maintain a league of developers, testers and forum moderators to publicize your product.[nbsp][nbsp]
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]As for cost-benefit analysis, to me it would seem to be against UBB - in the fact that their copious release of[nbsp][nbsp]patches may highlight an inherent or persistent problem in the product, or an ignorance of the effect so many "repairs" might have on users who, as many have stated, are attracted to UBB for "greater comfort with [its] interface," simplicity of use, ad nauseum.[nbsp][nbsp]Even Half Life doesn't have the frequency of patches UBB does.

I simply disagree with what I consider ad hominem attacks against UB here in response to kickster's question, be it from programmers disparaging the code or people involved in the publicity of UBB itself as it works only to discredit their own viewpoints.
[This message has been edited by Shalazar (edited 01-23-00@12:12 am)]

[Dan Kaplan]

Ok, here's a little ammo to fire back at the UBB supporters:[nbsp][nbsp]Most would agree that UBB encourages increased user activity (through its intuitiveness), and more activity creates higher bandwidth and disk space usage.[nbsp][nbsp]Considering the concerns of the parallel threads currently about these issues, I'll happily take my minimal forum activity![nbsp][nbsp]:)

I'll take your word for it that UltraBoard is making strides to increase their service.[nbsp][nbsp]That's certainly a good thing.[nbsp][nbsp]Last time I checked in on them I got confused which site is their official one and may have missed some of the support issues.[nbsp][nbsp]I think they have at least three sites pointing to different content.

Dan

[kickster]

Does any one know any advantage over UB board?
UBB is $180 but ultra board is free they both look the same
too!! I dont know if its worth the $180.

It seems that every major site is using ubb is there any reason for that, I guess I am just looking for a justification for spending $180.

[PaulKroll]

Has anyone looked into or actually set up one of the PHP-centric discussion groups? There are a few listed on http://www.php.net/projects.php3 Phorum, Neoboard, W-Agora, and EU-Webboard (Site is in German!).[nbsp][nbsp]I'd be interested in hearing about these and others, as A) being PHP based should be server friendly, B) most use MySQL for storing messages, which is convenient given the MySQL access for (some) packages here.[nbsp][nbsp]They're also free (as in beer), but frankly that's not a whole lot of concern to me as I'm not the one footing the bills for the site. :)

Now of course after I write this I go search, and find the references to Phorum in another discussion at http://www.aota.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000323-3.html, back in May of last year.[nbsp][nbsp]At the time two major problems with it were A) lack of features, and B) required a Gold package to run it as it required the use of MySQL.[nbsp][nbsp](Here is where the line used to be where I claimed Silver packages now came with MySQL support. I was wrong. Darn you Dan... :))Anyone got one up and running, or tried it, recently, and seen if the features are at least up to spec?

We've had enough trouble with mailing lists at my place of business that we've considered moving everyone to egroups.com, a discussion group host of immense proportions.[nbsp][nbsp]Their price is right: free. But they do banner ads at the top of their pages. I don't know if you've ever dealt with 70,000 members in the medical field, but they get a little touchy about that sort of thing... I'd love to have an efficient, flexible alternative that we could control, instead of handing them off to a remote server.[nbsp][nbsp]I suspect if I directed 70,000 people to a UBB running here at FutureQuest, the techs would show up at my house with hockey masks and chainsaws.

(To be fair, only perhaps 5,000 members would become part of any discussion groups in the next few months... I think... but the potential number is closer to 30,000, which is on the bad side of terrifying.)

[This message has been edited by PaulKroll (edited 01-23-00@04:12 am)]

[Dan Kaplan]

but at least the Silver package now includes MySQL Really?[nbsp][nbsp]Did I miss an announcement about this?[nbsp][nbsp]http://www.futurequest.net/Packages.php still shows MySQL only being on Gold packages and up.[nbsp][nbsp]Of course, I'd be happy to be wrong.[nbsp][nbsp]:)

Database

[PaulKroll]

Darn it, I went by that page just a few minutes ago and realized I had spouted nonsense, and before I could edit the message, there you go and make it impossible for me to hide it from the world. :)

Gold it is.[nbsp][nbsp]Sigh.

[sheila]

I've been reading this thread with a mild amount of interest. I have a nearly inactive discussion board on my site. I run e_Board
( http://www.e-scripts.com/eboard/index.htm )
which only cost me $9.95 and it certainly has some features I like. Recently, however, I realized (when I wanted to edit a message I'd made) that it doesn't allow edit capabilities. Also, I can't list all my forums on the same page, so if anyone wanted to navigate between forums, it's a little awkward.

Given my situation (low usage, low funds availability, no mySQL package) limits my choices. I had looked at Discus previously and decided against it (don't recall why right now). However, this discussion prompted me to go look at UltraBoard2000. And I liked what I saw. Imagine my disappointment when I couldn't download the software. I don't know...I went to this page:
http://www.ultraboard.org/
I find UltraBoard2000, nice demo, but no download. Took quite a while to find out that UB2000 is not scheduled for release until Feb. 10, 2000. In the meantime you can download UB 1.62 here: http://www.ultrasupport.org/

I wasn't impressed with the difficulty in finding this info.

In the meantime, I decided to also look at indexfinger.com. Here's a funny one. On their list of sites running their BB,
http://www.indexfinger.com/software/bigtalker/inaction.shtml
I looked at a few. When I looked at the Webmasterforums, turns out they're running UBB. ;)

[elite]

Without going into details, the guy who made indexfinger, basically was a mod @ Ultimate BB. He then made a competing product while still a mod, and whenever some one said negative things about his program he deleted the posts..

Other unethical things were done but its been so long I cant recall them.
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[Charles Capps]

*helped webmasterforums switch from BigTalker to the UBB...* The guys came to me and said they needed help making a post conversion script...[nbsp][nbsp]I couldn't help too much with that, but they got it done.[nbsp][nbsp]*L*
[This message has been edited by Charles Capps (edited 01-23-00@3:49 pm)]