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, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 14:15:17
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InfoPop's UBB is unreasonably expensive, I think $300-$400. UltraBoard (a UBB clone, actually better/faster) is just $40. Once I had some spare time and decided to figure out what this whole cgi thing is about. I downloaded the freeware version of UltraBoard and installed it on a webserver that I have access to. Took about 5 minutes, no previous knowledge of cgi. Once installed on the server, you manage everything from the web through a great menu system. User registration is automatic, although the administrator has full privelages to block or remove any user or their messages. The program is totally self-sufficient. Virtually every aspect of it can be modified. You choose if you want to have people register or not, who can access what, what options are availible for posting, etc. Essentially, there is hardly anything beyond the control of the administrator, so you can't simply assume that every board will look and feel like the one you see on another site. Plus, it loads about as fast as the regular style board, as long as you keep flashy images to a minimum. The actual formatting of the board is quite compact and easily downloads at 56k.
All of this is just FYI, in case anyone was wondering. I know Scott is not a fan of the format, and I see no reason to argue. Obviously, this system works fine for Saabnet. We are quite lucky to have a community such as this, however. UBB is pretty much required on the car audio boards. Kids will do just about anything to flame eachother, and you really have to keep them from impersonating to curb that.
I will say this, however. I prefer the dynamic of the UBB/UltraBoard because large conversations remain ongoing, rather than disappearing into the archives. Add that to the convienience of not having to click through dozens of little messages to follow a conversation and I'm sold. Counterpoint, however: the classic BB promotes offshoots of conversations in many directions -- many different conversations can happen in the same thread. Since UBB keeps an entire thread together in a linear fashion, this is not so easy.
It all comes down to personal preference in the end. Plus, I don't know if the UltraBoard causes heavier server side loads than the classic. My little test forum had just one simultaneous user: me!
, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 14:15:17, Tue, 20 Feb 2001 17:36:07
, Wed, 21 Feb 2001 01:46:49, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 17:42:04, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 17:42:56, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 23:54:23
, Sun, 18 Feb 2001 23:02:14
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