Demo System Term Extended

FIRST COMMENT! YAY!


Nice idea to increase the time.

In a topic in the community chat, I had mentioned the idea that perhaps existing vB customers could get to use the trial for a week, using their existing data (converted of course) so that they can see it in action with existing data and even have their members looking around and trying it out to give their feedback as well. Could prove to be a selling point.

.Wolfie, on 20 February 2010 - 03:30 AM, said:

Do you realize how much time this could potentially take!? This would be way too cumbersome.

Really like the idea for extending the time though! Especially when 3.1 comes around, it will give people enough time to explore so many of the amazing features!

If someone is able to download a converter, convert the data and then submit it to IPS in some way, then IPS could let them know when it's ready to try out. If a vB admin is able to give it a try out with full live data, they get a better feel for how things work and could prove to be a selling point. It's just a thought to help bring in more customers.

.Wolfie, on 21 February 2010 - 12:21 AM, said:

Ya I guess you're right, I'm just looking at what it would be like to have to upload the thing and then for IPS to download it. I'm sure in special situations it could be done, and I do agree it's a selling point. To be perfectly honest with you though, if I was a customer with vBulletin, I would be more interested in the features of IPB, how the backend part of it works and how the users would find switching between the two; rather than having my content on there. Now, I know that's just me, but I'm sure this is how most intelligent vBulletin customers would also think of as the higher priority. I believe all that needs really be done is for a few test posts to be made, because I don't really know how the whole group conversions and everything would work out either.

miikerocks, on 21 February 2010 - 01:50 AM, said:

Actually that would be a bad way to go about it. Doing small time tests and demos of a product tend to make a product look good. The best test though is a to use actual data on it and see how it would look, work and react. It would also give you the ability to try out certain features that you otherwise wouldn't be able to get a real feel for otherwise. Allowing the actual existing member database (of the live site) to visit and try out the converted board would also yield opinions from the actual members.

Think about it.. You sign up for a demo board, it's created and then you go in and spend an hour or so toying with the settings, making member groups, categories, forums, etc. Then you make some test posts and try out some of the features and then of course, the features will work as expected (edit, hide/approve, move, split, merge, delete, etc). Wow, amazing.

But if you get some real data on there, then even though you still try out the same things, you get a better feel for how it will look and using the tools on real posts/threads will let you get a real sense of what will happen in a true live environment. Add in the fact of letting existing members be able to sign in and try things out (which in turn allows them to report any problems they have with the demo board), then the admin can come to a better decision about things. Not only that but with a week of usage, the members can get a real feel for how things would be and give better opinions on it. If there are any problems/issues that either a member or staff encounter, then it can be reported to IPS so that it can be addressed and if a positive response is received (such as, it's already been fixed for the next release, etc), then the courteous response might also be a winning factor in making the change.

With that, you not only get the admin trying it out and forming (his/her) own opinions, but then feedback from others, so you can get a sense of things from their point of view.

Yeah I give you credit for that, but it isn't a week that people are given to test the product. It's 48 hours. So if it was extended to a week exclusively for vBulletin members, and it states so on the demo application page, than this totally makes sense. You would need pretty large boards doing this to get a good response though, because posting a topic in latest news or something saying to try out the new forum, it's likely not too many actually will besides the staff.

But then again, usually they have a decent sized board when switching, unless they're new to vBulletin and just really hate it, in which case they would likely just switch over anyways. Rawr, too many possibilities!

I was thinking more like for anyone wanting to convert. Another bonus is that if an admin sees that their data would properly convert, they wouldn't feel insecure about trying to convert. If there are any problems, it can be worked on until it works, so that a potential new IPB owner would know it'd work when they finally buy and use it.

I'm afraid such a setup would practically require another full time employee to handle Wolfie. We have to be realistic with what we're able to offer here.

The converter runs from inside IPB, so a converting user could not just download the converter, use it, then send us the data. They would need IPB first, which they obviously won't have. That means one of our employees would need to do it...instead of providing tech support, or fixing bugs, or developing new features.

Nice idea in theory...just not practical.

bfarber, on 22 February 2010 - 09:20 AM, said:

Yeah I know. Still wanted to express the thought though, in case something like that becomes possible.