[mashby]

I run a web site for Palm User Groups (aka PalmPilots, PDAs, etc.). We host these groups for free and offer support and assistance in helping them run their local organization. Given our position, we are constantly facing the issue of mailing list vs. online forum.

Some users prefer mailing lists, some prefer online forums. It's a discussion that we have time and time again. Then there's the small group that want both. The hurdle I'm faced with is that we have to try and support any one, if not all of these options. The one that I've not really supported has been e-mail lists and those PUGs have turned to Yahoo Groups.

In the last year, I've become more and more familiar with vBulletin and have truly fallen in love. :knockedout: and I'm constantly amazed by what can be done with it and I'm really interested in this thread.

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E-mail vs Forums
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Pro E-mail: Those who prefer mailing lists, appear to like the fact that they can easily participate in discussions simply by using e-mail. No need to log-in to a web site, browse various forums, etc.

Pro Forum: Those who prefer forums like the fact that threads are organized and that you can review all posts when it's convenient, etc. Of course we all here don't have go on how great forms are here.

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Can We Get The Best Of Both Worlds?
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So can this elusive hack bridge the two and create the best of both worlds? Allow those users who prefer e-mail to post and respond via e-mail and those users who prefer to use forums to access vB as normal? I'd like to think so, but has this hack taken any form?

I noticed this thread regarding the E-mail gateway support and it would appear that this hack could be a start. However, I don't know any site that is using this with e-mail.

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Throw A Bone
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Anyone know if there's a way to merge the best of Yahoo Groups and the best of vBulletin into one total solution? Any help on this subject would be most appreciative.