vBulletin 5.0?

[Wayne Luke]

The release date of VB5 is now part of the terms of the VB4 license and dictates how long the license is active for and when people will need to pay again but no one has any idea what that date is.

Surely you can see why people are concerned about this?

You'll only need to pay if you want to upgrade to vBulletin 5.X. You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released. This is the predominant software licensing model in the world.

[Mark.B]

You'll only need to pay if you want to upgrade to vBulletin 5.X. You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released. This is the predominant software licensing model in the world.

Which is fine, except that a lot of people suspect that new major versions will be "rushed out" in order to grasp even more cash even sooner.

I now know exactly the sort of company IB is, and it's not a pleasant one. I've seen their sort before, and I don't do business with them if I can at all avoid it. They would sell your granny for an extra dollar.

[Sarthek]

You'll only need to pay if you want to upgrade to vBulletin 5.X. You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released. This is the predominant software licensing model in the world.

This licensing model should be introduced into vB years ago, and I don't think people have isues with this model.

It is similar to WinXP, Win Vista, Win7.., only thing is sudden transsition which could be handled much more painless.

For instance, while priceing model now seems to be more reasonable, estimated time is still not out there (officialy) and due to the fact priceing model was changed, this should be even more careful taken with more time to pre-buy after demo is online.

[RobParker]

You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released.

Does that include being able to update VB4.x once VB5.0 is out?

In reality any definition of "running" has to include the ability to download updates/bug fixes/security patches.

Previous replies have suggested that the support for VB4 updates with a VB4 license will end once VB5 is out.

[Mark.B]

Does that include being able to update VB4.x once VB5.0 is out?

In reality any definition of "running" has to include the ability to download updates/bug fixes/security patches.

Previous replies have suggested that the support for VB4 updates with a VB4 license will end once VB5 is out.

You will still get updates for as long as they provide them, for 4.x. Of course, eventually 4.x will be EOL'd. So then you won't.

[Shelby]

The beauty of not having a roadmap, or giving customers an expectation, is that they can launch 5.0 whenever they want and charge customers again without a resonable expectation for how long a version will last.

[Abomination]

You will still get updates for as long as they provide them, for 4.x. Of course, eventually 4.x will be EOL'd. So then you won't.

I've been asking for that estimated EOL period, tied to a calender, regardless of vb 5. I understand how it was done in the past.

Even an guess from Ray would suffice. 2 years?

[chewbacca]

From what I've seen, 18 months seems to be the estimate.

[mccollin]

You'll only need to pay if you want to upgrade to vBulletin 5.X. You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released. This is the predominant software licensing model in the world.

OK, I feel better now. I thought I had specifically seen someone post that once 5.0 was released, that the 4.0 license was dead, meaning you could not run it any longer unless you upgraded. If I can continue to run 4.0 til the end of time (without any upgrades), then I'm happy. I tend to get my site to a point that everything is working and then leave it sit for a while.

[tickedon]

Per the FAQ I put together, Ray actually said:

Indeed, the whole purpose of doing alpha and beta testing in more focused groups is not to spend 18 months in beta. (18 months from now I would hope we're knocking on the door of vB5.)

That was in June 2009 - http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showp...1&postcount=19

The FAQ Wayne had been updating also said vB v5 would be a $175 upgrade for v4 Forum owners and $250 for v4 Suite owners. That's since been removed.

[Mark.B]

I've been asking for that estimated EOL period, tied to a calender, regardless of vb 5. I understand how it was done in the past.

Even an guess from Ray would suffice. 2 years?

The EOL date *is* tied to vB5 so they cannot give you that.

Steve did put a thread in the licensed customer feedback forum with the details of how this will work, which in itself seems reasonable and realistic.

[feldon23]

I dont understand why people are talking about vB5.0 either, vB4.0 is yet to be released

Because knowing when vB5 will be released (which has been CONFIRMED to cost another $175) helps to figure out how much vB4 will cost us. If vB4 costs $175 now, and vB5 comes out in 18 months for $175, then we will have paid $350 in a period of 19 months. This is much more expensive than annual $60 fee.

You'll only need to pay if you want to upgrade to vBulletin 5.X. You'll be able to continue running vBulletin 4.X even after 5.0 is released. This is the predominant software licensing model in the world.

If the gap between vB4 and vB5 is 18 months, then our total cost of ownership for vBulletin from 2009 through the end of 2011 is $350. That is almost $200 more during that 2 year span than the vB3 license. Change the license, fine, but don't pretend you're not tripling the price.

Nope. Because we know that if we want VB5, we'll have to pay for it.... it's not going to be FREE. - And, I'm confident we will not see VB5 for a long time to come. There will be plenty of 4.X versions to get through before there's VB5.

It has been clearly stated that vB5 will be the rollup release once vBulletin has been fully refactored. vB4.x is just a development series. vB5 is the "finished product" from the vB4 development line.

This licensing model should be introduced into vB years ago, and I don't think people have isues with this model.

It is similar to WinXP, Win Vista, Win7.., only thing is sudden transsition which could be handled much more painless.

Windows XP -> Vista was 5 years.

The beauty of not having a roadmap, or giving customers an expectation, is that they can launch 5.0 whenever they want and charge customers again without a resonable expectation for how long a version will last.

Exactly.

Because some people were running around saying things like 12-18-24 months for VB5 when truthfully, they had no idea.

Just remember VB3 has been been around since 2004, that's five years of VB3. I'd expect VB4 to be around for 2+ years at the very least. [Hopefully longer, unless it's complete disaster, doubtful of course.]

You are operating on assumptions based on the past of vBulletin. The sooner you let go of that nostalgia, the more accurate your assessment of the vBulletin landscape will be.

I am operating based on actual quotes from Ray Morgan.

[feldon23]

The EOL date *is* tied to vB5 so they cannot give you that.

Steve did put a thread in the licensed customer feedback forum with the details of how this will work, which in itself seems reasonable and realistic.

Actually that was Wayne, and I have major problems with the End of Life timeline.

We've been told that vB4 series will only last about 18 months. A "rapid development process" to get us onto new code as quickly as possible.

So vB4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, etc. may all happen just a few MONTHS apart from each other.

Compare this to vB3.5, 3.6, 3.7 which were all YEARS apart from one another.

[Paul M]

I was looking at Windows 7 the other day, then I thought, why should I pay Microsoft for a Win 7 licence -they wont tell me when Windows 8 is due ...

[nexialys]

Not soon. We actually haven't even thought about vBulletin 5.0 except in the barest glimmer in the back of our minds. There is simply too much to do with the 4.X series still.
The only reference is that if you buy vBulletin 4.0 then you don't have to pay anything else until vBulletin 5.0 comes out. There will be no more annual renewal fees.

So i just hope for the clients that Ray refuse the offer that was put on the table to create a complete vBulletin 5.0 by some outsourcers company... the plan was to deliver the first alpha in 9 months... would be very cumbersome to accept that concept if you do not plan to deliver it before 2 years ....

so i can continue with my own dream, isn't it?... lol