PHPbb vs. vBulletin

[Lord Chaos]

I am using PHPbb right now and considering upgrading to vBullitin. What I'd like to know is:

1. What are the advantages of vBullitin over PHPbb?
2. How easy is it to make templates, modifications and adding mods that other people have made to it?
3. Is it possible to convert PHPbb forum data into vBullitin?

[MindTrix]

1. There are too many to list mate Basically you get official prompt support, a huge site here of hacks, and then another huge site full of template mods and so much more performance wise. I used to run PHPBB and i havent looked back since

2.Very easy to make templates, you simply click a button called ADD and you can create a new one, Everything you see on the forum, you can customise in the admin cp.Also installing someone elses template mod's or Hacks is easy too. Each come with a step by step guide, and if you run in too trouble you meerly have to post stating what is wrong and you have about 5 people pounce on you too help

3.I believe there is a converter yes.

[Lord Chaos]

Sounds cool...I am sorry if its a big trouble, but could you mention some of the main features?

Also, does vB contain subforums?
can subforums get individual templates?
can you have super moderators or other levels of moderators?
Can users set their own posts per page and threads per page?
Can features be disabled? (like the calender and others that might not be needed)
Is vBulletin avaliable in other languages, like danish...and can you set a default language and allow users to switch between them in your profile?

If I purchased the full version would support be avaliable to convert "non-traditional" PHPbb data, ie. data that has been modded to for instance PHPbb subforums?

[MindTrix]

Also, does vB contain subforums? --- Yes it sure does

can subforums get individual templates? -- You can assign styles to certain forums on your site, as for templates, that might require some hacking to be done.

can you have super moderators or other levels of moderators? Sure you can make your own user groups, set how many posts too get into them, if any, and what actions they can do

Can users set their own posts per page and threads per page? -- How do you mean?

Can features be disabled? (like the calender and others that might not be needed) -- You can simply remove the link to the calendar from the header template (its a template that holds the logo and buttons) Most features especially with the release of the new vB board RC1 which was released today, pretty much every option has a on and off switch

Is vBulletin avaliable in other languages, like danish...and can you set a default language and allow users to switch between them in your profile? -- There are language packs available at vbulletin.com and here at vbulletin.org. I believe the user can select their language, i am not 100% sure however as i have never had the need for multi languages

If I purchased the full version would support be avaliable to convert "non-traditional" PHPbb data, ie. data that has been modded to for instance PHPbb subforums? -- Hmm i think there would be support given to move over your threads and posts and members and catagorys etc.

[Lord Chaos]

That each individual can set how many threads they want to see per page, and when they enter a thread, how many posts they wish to see on each page? (like one person would like to see 20 posts, another 99 posts)

[MindTrix]

Ah yes i believe the user can, if not im sure there is a hack for it

[Lord Chaos]

How are hacks applied, do you have to program them in yourself or can they "install" themselves, or how does it work?

[MindTrix]

Depends on the hack. Most require you to find code in the php file, then add some after/before it, or replace code etc. All straight forward. Then some require you to create a new template and they give you the code, Once again this is very very very simple too do

Some hacks automatically do the database edits and template edits when the file is run, yet you still need to make the php edits yourself.

[Lord Chaos]

Oh that reminds me of another thing...which PHP version is required and can this run on MySQL and what other DBs does it run on, and is it possible to "upgrade" a DB?

[incript]

vBulletin is best coz even i am switching to it from phpbb.