[jailer]

Originally Posted by peterska2

Just a quick query here.

I know that a lot of people use vBAdvanced, but would anyone be interested in a simple but effective free alternative?

Very much.
Kerry-Anne - just promise to give more support than vBA, and you're onto a winner right away.

If you are interested, what sort of things would you be looking for in it? Remember though that we are talking about a portal here and not a CMS.

Well, to be honest, anything that the vBA portal can do really.
Modular definitely.
And I'd like a nice classy Vista style user definable sidebar with a clock, auto-refreshing 'new thread' module and an RSS feed.

In short, I'd like people to want my forum to be their permanent desktop.
(well, you did ask..)

Also, would you prefer a modular system where you get a very basic package and then install add ons to provide the parts that you want (meaning that every installation is basically a custom portal for that site) or one where right out of the box everything is there and then you have to turn off the parts that you do not want to use?

I think basic first and install add-ons.
That way, people would be comfy from the outset with adding more add-ons as they were created?

Finally, if a modular system is developed, would you want it to be easy to create add ons for via the plugin system?

Yes.
Creating modules for vBA is tricky for most.

The only scary thing for me is removing vBA.
I've had to make several changes here and there to get it to behave the way I'd like it to.
VBA is great, and I'd be lost without it. But it worries me.
It just seems way over complicated at times.
So something simpler and less crowded would be a welcome addition.