[Johan Hiemstra]

I don't need to see screen shots or a demo, it takes little imagination what it will look like (bad with your default templates ) and what it will do. I'm very happy with vBulletin Forums and I trust the v4 and the CMS will be a decent quality product as well. But really, are you expecting me to buy it without having a realistic estimate on the release date? Is it going to be released this year? A 'month' would be nice to know... November after the presales period is over? Or December? early/late? Or do you really expect us to buy something that is going to be released in 2010?

'Force' would almost fit better than 'expect', because it's either pay up $130 now for the full suite or pay at least $175 (for the forums alone) within the next 12 months (when v3.8 license expires). So even if you don't want to the CMS, this deal is for many the cheapest way to get the forums to v4.0 unless your v3.8 is fairly new. At first it seems the upgrade to the forums alone will be free, but that's the product upgrade, it doesn't effect the duration of your current license.

So basically those who stick to 3.8 won't have to pay anything, but those who take this socalled free upgrade will be forced to buy 4.0 or move to another product (as moving back to the 3.8 obviously won't be an option...) once their 3.8 license expires (which costs $45 more than upgrading to the full suite costs now) and those who know for certain they want vb4.0 forums should take this deal now. Let's say my v3.8 expires in 4 months. Why pay $175 then to upgrade the forums if for $45 less I can get the full suite. But isn't 'that' exactly the stain on this who announcement/deal...

I'm sure all this negativity isn't what you hoped for but I really think a lot of it could have been prevented by a. providing a lot more screen shots (come on, how can you not have time to post more of those, make time,delay this pre-sales announcement 10 minutes.., almost makes me think there's nothing else in such a final stage it's safe to post ss of) and b. posting a release date (-estimate). The latter would have made all the difference (between being a great deal and a weird feeling in my stomach.)