Which Version is Easier To Modify?
 

So I am strongly leaning towards purchasing vBulletin to upgrade a forum I've been operating for a year. I've seen some really awesome sites using vBulletin like motorcycle.com and girlsgetgoing.com and, while that is waaay beyond my scope and wallet, I would like to do something similar in that I do not want my website to be only a message board, I would just like the message board to be one section of the overall site. I have been posting and helping out as an admin on a vBulletin college football site that is strictly a message board, so I'm familiar with some of the basic behind the scenes things of version 4, but only basic things so I have no pre-possessed attachment to the back end of 3 vs 4 vs 5. Like everyone else, I have seen the considerable bashing of version 5, so I'm obviously nervous about the purchase and which version to go with at install.

My biggest question is which version is easier to modify for a newb? For example, as I said, my main goal is that I don't want it to be a site where you log on and there is just a giant page of the message board. I'd like a home page, tab for photos or whatever the heck I decide to put on there, etc. The page I've actually had experience with is www.anygivensaturday.com and I'm assuming it is pretty basic. If I just purchased vBulletin and installed it, is this the default way it would appear (not necessarily the theme colors and such, but just a single page with a message board)? Thanks for any advice you can give, just trying to figure out which path to go down before I start down it.

I would go with vb4.2.2 full suite and the site in question I did a lot of coding for him but never got paid was not happy but that story is for another time.

The motorcycle one is wordpress.... A free CMS with a vB version 3 for the forum.

The second one is a vB version 3.0.9.

Any Given Saturday looks to be vB version 4.

"Easier to modify" is subjective. It all depends on the skills and experience of the person doing the modifications. I believe v4 is as easy for a "noob" to learn is wordpress or v3 is.

Hey Res, didn't know you were here. Sorry to hear about your other situation, but thanks for the recommendation.

--------------- Added [DATE]1395805390[/DATE] at [TIME]1395805390[/TIME] ---------------

Thanks for the info. Do wordpress and vB integrate fairly well without a lot of experience needed or would I be better served trying to find someone? I'm not a complete dumb@ss, like I said I've helped do some minor stuff and I have used proboards (I know, not even close, but just saying I understand some basic CSS coding and such) and phpBB on other sites. But it seems to be a pretty big leap from those to vB, which is honestly what I'm looking for.

4.2.2 is definitely the way to go

If you get the vB 4 suite, it comes with a CMS and blogs, so you won't need a wordpress bridge since you won't be needing wordpress.

Thanks for all of your help in directing me to the right version, much appreciated.

I'm a vB 3.8 guy who detests everything about version 4. I'm not making a recommendation, just pointing out the version 4 suite comes with a CMS.

I believe you can buy it without the suite if not needed. :)

Yeah... But the OP wants a CMS and wordpress really sucks.:D

If you buy a new license it is a VB5 Connect license, you can download VB4 Suite if you prefer but it is the suite, not the forum only version. There is no way to get the forum only version of VB 4.x anymore with a new license.

You can however disable the Blog and CMS/Article product if you don't want to use them.

Another vote for VB 4.2.2 being the best choice right now for someone who wants to do a lot of modification.

Thanks, It has been awhile since I purchased a new license. I wasn't aware that you could no longer purchase just the forum.

--------------- Added [DATE]1395856657[/DATE] at [TIME]1395856657[/TIME] ---------------

Thanks, I did not rwad that post as thoroughly as I should have. :)

In regards to WPress it is good for certain types of sites but integrating it with Vbulletin is not easy and not cheap to do it correctly. I would skip doing this and bbpress, the wpress version of a forum does suck.

3.8 and Vbadvanced is also a possibility but my vote is for 4.2.

I agree, if it is a "noob" like he says and just starting out, might as well start out on that.

I would have to say, go with vB4. :)

Thanks for all the info from everyone. Much appreciated.

I started to come in and say version 4 but seeing as so many already replied with helpful info I'll just chime in and say nice name! :cool: lol

I can't tell if YOU are the last one, or is it him now?

Or is he a imposter?:D

lol

Hard to tell. One is TheLastSuperman but he was here first. I think he needs a username change to TheFirstSuperman

Ok, now to make this still seem like it is on topic - I think from a beginner perspective modifying VB 4 0would be as easy as changing a style-var or adding a plug in. Plus many features are built in.

Actually a gaming buddy of mine called me out on that about 6yrs ago right after my son was born he hit me up with "So Supes... now that you have a son, I guess you're not The Last Superman anymore huh?" and he was right ;).

What is that about? I never saw this until today but you did get paid and in a very timely fashion and I have Paypal and emails from you not only showing payment but you saying "thank you, this is more than I expected".

Why would you say this? This is absolutely not true. I greatly appreciated your help and expertise but could not have you going around moderating things on my forum after I had asked you not to several times. That is how things went South.

Sorry to anyone else for bumping an old thread but saw this and didn't know why I was attacked over this.

Well truth be told speaking of paid requests in the open forums is not allowed, I don't know nor does anyone care who was right/wrong (being decent folks shocked at how some would do aside) we just want clean forums to discuss vBulletin customization on :p. So it seems things did work out between you two hopefully and we all now know that discussions like this shouldn't take place whether in part (short comments) or in whole - if for example I were not a moderator, this would be a "whole" lot of discussion in my paragraph here just now eh? ;)

One day you all will realize like my kids have, that once I start talking you just want me to shut up (I tend to OVER explain rofl) but hey I'm not your parent just a funny father of three trying to crack some humor to always lighten the mood :D.

I apologize, it was just sort of shocking to see on the board like that. Sorry about that. From what I've seen you do a fine job with the humor and mood lightening.

Humor and mood lightening? I've never had anyone word it that way... least not by my wife J/K J/K!

I prefer the phrase "Comic Relief" :cool: but I know what you mean, we all try I just want everyone to smile when they log off or close a tab to vb.org... either that or they're inspired and ready to test/tackle something and soon very soon what they've been working on will come to fruition muwaaahahahahahahaha *cough cough* excuse me there bad cough and such but yeah, you get the gist of it ;).