Comparison between PhotoPlus and 4images

[Pyro]

Hi there,

although there have been some discussions here on PhotoPost and 4images - both are fine galleries with integration in vB - I simply want to know what you guys think what would be the better choice.

So, I just intergrated 4images in my vb - spent 20 hours for make the same design as for my forum but there are some small things, that let me doubt, if 4images is really the best:

- sessions a finished 15 minutes of inactivity - but different from vB clicking a new page does not start a new session. You have to login again or to visit the vB and come back

- Netscape 4.x (yes, uuuuuhhh, but ~10% are still using it) hangs upto 90 seconds per page of 4images (at at 300MHz PII; a 2400 AMD still needs 10 sec!). I'va read alle the discussions here concerning heavy load of the servers and sometimes 4images was mentioned in that threads. Could Netscape 4.x users hang the server when browsing 4images?

- the thumbnail quality of 4images 1.7 using GD is bad, bad, bad - depends this on my server? The examples of PhotoPlus looks much better.

- Is 4images good for many users (50 avrg. / 150 max. concurrent users) and many pictures (~5000 pics)?


So, any hint / experience is highly appreciated - I want to start my gallery soon, so please write, write, write!

WOULD YOU BUY PHOTOPOST OR USE 4IMAGES?

Thank you in advance,
Markus

[gopherhockey]

I too am curious about these or any other gallery products out there. Thanks!

[JulianD]

My first impression about 4images was good... But I haven't used it for a long time to say if it's good enough and how it performs on a busy site.

Anyway... In my first impression about 4images, I can say again that it's good. I like the design (however, it's a little difficult to change it), and the admin CP is very good and it's easy to understand (PP admin CP is a little "difficult")... I haven't tested the vB integration, so I cannot say my opinions here.

Anyway, right now I'm a Photopost user, but I didn't know about 4images when I bought PP.... But now, i'm more convinced by 4images....

About the thumbs quality... Does it have to do with the program? I think it's all related to the tool you use.. For example, if you use GD1 to create the thumbs, I wouldn't be surprise for your comments... But then, try to use Image magick and you will see a big difference.