Yeah... there is no talk of vBulletin 5. At least nothing worth repeating. There is too much work to be done on the vBulletin 4 series that would even preclude it.

i think its shambles that they are charging extra for vbulletin 4, we paid for a owned licence and we pay updates then to be given a hidden bill to upgrade to vb 4 is crap

I think what folks are arguing is this:

If vBulletin 4 comes out during that individual's year of free updates, there should be no charge, period. It is immaterial that it is going from v3 to v4, the terms of the agreement clearly state any updates during said period are free. Jelsoft really needs to ammend their EULA as well as update the website stating that it includes current version updates and if they move to a new version there may be a nominal fee. But they should honor anyone that purchased prior to the ammendment.

I just hope it comes out soon I want to play with it

I guess everyone who has a valid license (new or renewed) should get the updates free. We buy a license for 1 year of free upgrades & we renew it also for free upgrades.

BtW where is it stated that the upgrade to vB 4 will be a paid one?

ditto! if you seriously will charge i will sell vb license since you offer onw 1 free update and charge for vb4 will be ridiculous. ipb wil be cheaper and less money greedy

Well, and then if you pay the $190 for vB 4, you only get a year of updates without even an option to continue to get updates?

If that's the case, there's no benefit from vB 3 as if you paid the $180 you'd get the year of updates. If you didn't want anymore updates, you could still use the program.

With vB 4 you won't have to pay the $40 - $60 a year, but you won't get anymore updates either? If that is the case, they'll have to release new versions every year in order to continue to pull in revenue.

Under the leaked information, if you have vBulletin 4, you will get updates for the version 4 series as long as they are created whether its 1 year, 2 years, 5 years. Doesn't matter. There would be no yearly upgrade fee for vBulletin 4. You would just get them.

When vBulletin 5 is released, there would be an upgrade fee and you would receive all upgrades for version 5.

When vBulletin 6 is released, another upgrade fee and you would receive all version 6 releases.

So instead of paying $60 per year, you would just pay one upfront fee. Upgrading shouldn't cost as much as purchasing a new license either. In fact, no where was that ever stated, even in the leaked information. The prices in that information are what were discussed for brand new licenses, not upgrades.

We're missing two variables. How much the upgrades between major versions will cost and how often major versions will be released. Those two things can really swing the TCO either way. I have a feeling that since they're so hesitant to release pricing information, it is not a good sign for us forum owners.

Additionally, Internet Brands is a publicly traded company designed to profit. vBulletin is just another company in their portfolio so I'm also afraid that the interaction between staff and customer will never return to what it once was.

Or its not finalized. I don't even know what pricing is going to be. It wouldn't do anyone any good to make an announcement that says "We think prices will be like this and upgrades will be that, however we aren't quite sure yet."

100% finalized I can see. Rough idea at final pricing, not a chance in hell. Maybe I'm wrong... I guess we'll see.

New blog out - vBulletin 4 - Style Variables

it is unfortunate to see so much lack of faith on the vb user side of the scope

Well, it seems like vB 4 won't be out for a bit anyways, and then by time they work out everything, it'll be awhile.

yeah

In the first place, I rarely agree on such contracts. And on the second place, these contracts mean nothing in some countries where Laws dont allow this clauses.

i know that in the us they arent

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The one point i would like to bring up is that IB/Jelsoft Legally has to notify all License Holders active or otherwise ahead of time when they plan to change the way vbulletin is licensed. If they dont it brings up a whole legal mess for IB/Jelsoft. At least that is the case in the US where alot of state/federal courts have ordered that changes in a License/Customer Agreement are not enforceable unless the customer is notified in advance.

Whether its fair or not is one of those arguments that not everybody will agree upon or probably even change their minds on. People are already set in their ways of thinking now.

While I look forward to vb 4.0, I probably wouldn't even upgrade or think about it until a stable release is out, compatible mods are available that I need, and I can come to terms with whatever the price may be. That will be much later down the road so its almost a moot point to argue.

edytwinky you make some good points but honestly i just hope they make the right decision before the release so that everyone knows everything in advance weather they agree to it or not

Quite honestly, from my experience of the vBulletin 4 discussions over there, I think a lot of people are really, really exaggerating the point, and getting into all kinds of wild conspiracy theories rather than just going on the information that's actually available.

thats y i have said do not act on the speculation just take a kinda wait and see attitude like i have

That's what I was getting at. Right now everything is pure speculation. Many people have already made it clear they think its unfair because of the agreements and contracts and whatever. And others have said they find it kind of fair and they understand.

People have made their points and i'm sure Jelsoft and crew have taken it into consideration. Part of me thinks a decision is all but made on what they are going to do so its pointless for everybody to beat a dead horse.

We can now only sit back and hope for the best. Hope that 4.0 will be worth whatever price they decide to set it at....that is even if there is a price for current users to upgrade to. If its not then owned license owners like myself can just stick with 3.8 until we deem it necessary to spend the money and upgrade.

It was said that vb4 would be released as GOLD and there wont be any RC's. Anyway, most of us always wait for the modifications to be ported before upgrading.

true

More alpha/beta news ;

Link >> http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311075

that sounds interesting I think I might not be given preference :(

I still need to remember to apply, darn current circumstances.

So any new so called date of this coming out?

Still says the same thing on vb.com, Q2 2009

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My guess though, at the rate things are going, it probably won't be released until late July or August

Well isnt it past q2?

it will be at the end of this month

Ah okay lol.

Today 24 - 6 - 09
I am waiting 4.0 Alpha ^^
vBulletin 4.0 is so hot for this summer

it will definitely be worth seeing what changes they have made. i think it is a great format already

Q2 End in June.

Key words everyone needs to be looking at. There aren't and didn't say that they ARE releasing at the end of Q2 2009, but they PLAN to.

The more you think about it lads the longer it lasts if you think about other things it will come alot quicker than you think. Belive me.

New update on vb4

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311720

IPB 3.0 is out, VB is now under a lot of pressures XD

nah I don't think so really!