There’s no such thing as a smooth transition these days. It appears that the even planned anxiety can be challenged with unexpected problems.
Most of my free “hobby” time is spent on vbulletin-based forums. My experience with vbulletin doesn’t yet span half of my total experience in building and managing communities, but I feel that my technical expertise and knowledge of the vbulletin system is greater than anything I’ve ever used. VB was never perfect, but it isn’t difficult to apply some creativity and mold it to what is needed.
The true Tragedy is that whatever the new vbulletin 4 becomes, it’s potential may never be realized. Although there are many, including myself, that are emphasizing a sit-and-wait approach over making a change – it appears that the revolt has grown greater and faster than I thought. Consultants and Lawyers write about this as an example of what not to do as a brand-retention strategy, and other news/blogs are more focused on the customer perception than the potential of the new version.
Can the remaining steadfast take whatever vb 4.0 becomes and transform it into impressive communities that attract participation? There are frequent improvements every time I check the vbulletin website, but can’t visualize or make a connection that would encourage a normal user to contribute. I like the direction the software is going, but they are going to need some well-developed communities to build the trust enjoyed by the previous jelsoft organization. The current licensing and pricing isn’t going to help.
