Why does everyone hate proboards?

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GlennTheDragoon

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Now really tell me why? Cause I don't get why everyone hates them... They are just the same as every other free host. I find them easier to use and custimize, while some things are ill placed for the admin sometimes the forum works just as well as this place. (oh yes, I did just compare this place to proboards sites -razz- )
 
Simple Glenn, they suck. IMO, and in many others as well. First you must consider the facts...

-Free host
-Limited Skins
-No backups
-Cant switch hosts and keep everything
-Requires alot of java to look good (older browsers dont like this)

Think about it, as with most free hosts theres the no database access issue, and you have no MODs that can be installed without adding tons of java which doesnt always work for everyone. People claim theyre very safe, but I disagree. The lack of hacking can be explained with a simple "They arnt worth hacking" phrase. I, im my life, have never seen a big PB forum. I dont think they even know what would happen to the forum if the database got large, what if it crashes around 50,000 members?

When you look at the other software, like phpBB for example, you can see why its so terrible. Installing MODs on phpBB sucks, I will admit this, but atleast they work with older browsers. Look at the skin selection for phpBB, much better.
 
As I expected the bigges reason you have is and I quote "they suck."

Proboards has tons of skins, try looking. Plus all the skins i've seen for other places besides Proboards aren't that great. I don't like using the same skin as other people thats why I like proboards, they let me choose any colors I want and its easy.

It doesn't require a lot of java to look good my sites have probably less then your sites.

The host doesn't make the site its the members and the admins, a huge site on proboards is possible.

I've never seen a proboards forum lose any info if the admin new what they were doing, proboards has backup servers.

So lets see your reasons are:
-they suck.
-Cant switch hosts and keep everything

anything else anyone wants to add to the list?
 
-Free host
-Limited Skins
-No backups
-Cant switch hosts and keep everything
-Requires alot of java to look good (older browsers dont like this)
Click to expand...
- So what? Thats the whole point!
- Actually, there are unlimited skins. You make it yourself.
- Actually, there are. They just don't release them, but they're avaliable should you need them
- And...?
- Get a better browser then!

Proboards is quick and easy to use!

KtF
Joe
 
Its a losing battle, but I will continue to debate as I have nothing better to do.

Heres a reason to add, they teach no admin basics. Usually people start out on a free host and work theyre way up, learning the software so they can do better once theyre paid hosting. ProBoards only closely relates to SMF from what ive seen, which only a handful of people use now.

Ive yet to hear from someone that they contacted ProBoard staff and got their forum restored, I doubt they take daily backups anyway, so youd lose alot. I like to have constant access to my backups, and if everything crashes and I dont have one off hand, thats my fault.

By older browsers, I also didnt say "mobile" browsers. Havnt you forgotten that more and more people are using cell phones and such to get online? That comment about getting a better browser...I use Opera, there is no "better" browser. Opera meets web standards, if it cant display correctly then your programming is off. Dont forget that over 44 million use Opera Mobile on their phones everyday. So remind me why alot of java can be bad at times? Theres no way a MODded ProBoards forum (Ive seen your scripts Glenn, I know you MOD them heavy) has more java than phpBB...it just doesnt.

The host does have a HUGE factor in the site, by the way. If not, then why wouldnt everyone have a free hosted site? Why bother to pay for hosting at all eh? If someone looks at a IPB powered forum, theyre more likely to join than a ProBoard forum with the same general topic, ect.

Ive yet to see a ProBoard skin ive liked, now that could be my problem, but if so many people use them and there are alot of skins, why havnt I seen one I liked? Ive seen plenty of phpBB, IPB, and even vBulletin skins that look amazing.

The switch host thing is huge. Hardly worth a simple "so" unless you want to stay limited for the life of your site. At some point, (admit it) youll want to switch to a different forum software and host so that your site can grow. That alone makes ProBoards worthless. How can you take your posts and members with you without using an illegal crawler? ProBoards doesnt sell the databases, so your stuck. Using a copy of phpBB, even if installed on a free host like http://000webhost.com allows you to simply convert the database when you need to.

Bottom line, ProBoards is wonderful if you have no plans of your site getting big at some point and you dont wish to bother learning real admin "skills" like installing scripts on a server and setting up a database. Or using a ftp program, or making file edits. However, if you see your site getting big at some point, and think it might be worth it to swicth to IPB or vBulletin one day, install a copy of phpBB, its just a conversion away at any point in time, no waiting on your illegal crawler to make a copy for you.
 
I'm pretty sure I had a forum there, so I'll say I hate it. To me, its slow at points, and its just not appealing to me, and other members. Its just boring, and like they suck.
 
GlennTheDragoon said:
You said you liked my skin ghost... infact I think it was you really like it. -razz-
Click to expand...
I say things to make people feel better, it happens. I will never love a ProBoards skin, but your colors blind me enough that it seems nice-ish. Its too simple though, just a basic background color with others added. Buttons dont match either >_>

Will no one attack the points ive made? I rather like this topic.
 
Ive yet to hear from someone that they contacted ProBoard staff and got their forum restored, I doubt they take daily backups anyway, so youd lose alot. I like to have constant access to my backups, and if everything crashes and I dont have one off hand, thats my fault.
Click to expand...

http://support.proboards.com/index.cgi? ... 505&page=1

http://support.proboards.com/index.cgi? ... 273&page=1

http://support.proboards.com/index.cgi? ... ead=285251

Took all of 5 seconds to find 😛

By older browsers, I also didnt say "mobile" browsers. Havnt you forgotten that more and more people are using cell phones and such to get online? That comment about getting a better browser...I use Opera, there is no "better" browser. Opera meets web standards, if it cant display correctly then your programming is off. Dont forget that over 44 million use Opera Mobile on their phones everyday. So remind me why alot of java can be bad at times? Theres no way a MODded ProBoards forum (Ive seen your scripts Glenn, I know you MOD them heavy) has more java than phpBB...it just doesnt.
Click to expand...
Firefox and IE are much better than Opera!



Ive yet to see a ProBoard skin ive liked, now that could be my problem, but if so many people use them and there are alot of skins, why havnt I seen one I liked? Ive seen plenty of phpBB, IPB, and even vBulletin skins that look amazing.
Click to expand...

http://forumforfootball.com/
http://ssdesigns.proboards17.com/index.cgi
http://studiozero.proboards44.com/
http://captkozmo.proboards1.com/ (To an extent!)
http://saybox.proboards28.com/
http://templates.proboards1.com/
http://socal.proboards.com/

Need I say more?!

The switch host thing is huge. Hardly worth a simple "so" unless you want to stay limited for the life of your site. At some point, (admit it) youll want to switch to a different forum software and host so that your site can grow. That alone makes ProBoards worthless. How can you take your posts and members with you without using an illegal crawler? ProBoards doesnt sell the databases, so your stuck. Using a copy of phpBB, even if installed on a free host like http://000webhost.com allows you to simply convert the database when you need to.
Click to expand...
What difference does the host make?
For example, most of the above forums look better than a badly done vbullien board!

Bottom line, ProBoards is wonderful if you have no plans of your site getting big at some point and you dont wish to bother learning real admin "skills" like installing scripts on a server and setting up a database. Or using a ftp program, or making file edits. However, if you see your site getting big at some point, and think it might be worth it to swicth to IPB or vBulletin one day, install a copy of phpBB, its just a conversion away at any point in time, no waiting on your illegal crawler to make a copy for you.
Click to expand...

What makes a forum 'big'?

I'm a reg on a forum with 300+ members, and about 30 regs.

Im not regular on SoCal, so I dont know how many regs there are there, but there are over 5,000 members, and over 115,000 posts.

Forum For Football has 3,000 members, and almost 375,000 posts! (That's an average of 175 posts each, folks!)

In theory, FFF is 3 3/4 times bigger than FP - yet everyone here was (and rightly so!) in a tizzy about 100k posts!

KtF
Joe
 
Like I said before, the skins need piles of java (view the scripts) in order to work correctly. And to be honest, they arnt that good. The only good skin was http://ssdesigns.proboards17.com/index.cgi and its got waaaay too much java with the floating stuff.

Dont waste your breath saying Opera isnt good, or that IE or FF is better. Youre just telling yourself lies as Opera is the safest browser, IE and FF have unpatched exploits. IE is the worst anyway, every geek knows that. I dont see 44 million people using IE on their mobile phones daily.

For the last time, the host is everything. Free forum hosts will always be terrible, its just the way it is. Otherwise, why wouldnt we all use them? Explain to me why this site, Forum Promotion, is not on a free phpBB host.

To me big, well I suppose I have a different look really. Forum Promotion isnt big if you ask me, its still rather small. Big forums to me have over a million posts, 20,000+ members, and usually have 5,000 users on at once. Thats a big forum if you ask me. Theres plenty of these sites out there, but theyre powered by other software.

Again, bottom line. ProBoards is fine if you want to stay small and have limits on what you can do. If you think your site will get big at some point, or even as big as Forum Promotion is, its a good idea to change hosts to one that allows you to backup.
 
Nothing wrong with Proboards but i have always thought it would be harder to get members using Suddenlaunch,Proboards or Boardnation etc

Don't know why though :S
 
Ill tell you why...its because people are more likely to join a forum that isnt freely hosted...I used to have the same issues. Then I switched to paid hosting, and now I got over 50 members in the first two weeks :\
 
The styles are extremely ugly, and Proboards is slow. Those are the main reasons I really don't like PB, plus there are less features - like the MCP, Report System, Permission System, etc.
 
Ghost said:
Ill tell you why...its because people are more likely to join a forum that isnt freely hosted...I used to have the same issues. Then I switched to paid hosting, and now I got over 50 members in the first two weeks :\
Click to expand...

Well Invisionfree/Zetaboards is pretty decent in all fairness.
 
Proboards are ugly and very unattractive. I would never join one, or create one.
 
The reason i dislike and stay away from PB forums are that they look terrible whatever style you have and they are quite often slow and aren't nice to use.
 
I dont hate proboards. I am a member of a couple proboads forums and they are alright. I go for content and community over software any day. I have made some good friends on one and the owner even sent me a camera all the way from england. -happy-
 
Fowler said:
The reason i dislike and stay away from PB forums are that they look terrible whatever style you have and they are quite often slow and aren't nice to use.
Click to expand...
Another great point to back me up. The servers are over crowed and are much too slow for what id like. Someone else also agrees on the skins as well.
 
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