ZetaBoards
- Thread starter Geoffrey
- Start date
See I am a big fan of ZetaBoards, I love the forum software to death. I was with them back when that forum software was in beta and their only service was invisionfree. However, as I have grown up and become a webmaster and web developer over the years, I still have much love for the look and feel of ZetaBoards. I just wish I was able to self-host it on my own servers or backup the database.
That said though, ZetaBoards I feel is one of the best options out there. While I like the new version of proboards which claims to really be a ball park hitter. I see ZetaBoards still as the clear winner for a few big reasons:
I mean, I really always have a hard time not choosing it for projects I want to do because I really do like it. However, just the fact I can't make my own backups, or self-host it keeps me from doing this...
That said though, ZetaBoards I feel is one of the best options out there. While I like the new version of proboards which claims to really be a ball park hitter. I see ZetaBoards still as the clear winner for a few big reasons:
- It is free to add a domain
- It does not have a branded registration/login page
- It while being hosted, is still pretty extensible
I mean, I really always have a hard time not choosing it for projects I want to do because I really do like it. However, just the fact I can't make my own backups, or self-host it keeps me from doing this...
The inability to get a backup is something that really bothers me. Servers die, sites shut down, hackers break in, etc... Any number of things can mean that data stored on their servers is gone and can't be recovered. Without the option to perform manual backups it leaves admins in a very tough position. Especially when most of the major competition now allows for some method to gain a backup.
InvisionFree users can still purchase a copy of their database. (Sure it took time for the staff to deliver it, but it was still an option.)
On Jcink Forum Hosting admins can get a copy of their database at any time for free.
Offhand, on IcyBoards admins can either pay for a single backup or pick up a month of premium to get as many backups as they want.
Even proboards offers a way to get a backup. And for years they were very explicitly against backups because they felt individual user rights trumped the admin rights. (Or admins didn't own any content on their forum so they couldn't get a backup.)
But now they can get a backup if they purchase the proboards premium and then export their database.
So basically Zetaboards is the only one of the bigger names still holding out.
Beyond that though Zetaboards is fine from a member perspective. I've never used one from the admin side long enough to really make a judgement. (The only time I ever saw the ZB admin section was back when it was in beta and we were debating whether to update to it on a site or not. And I don't remember much about it. I never really spent a ton of time messing around with it.)
InvisionFree users can still purchase a copy of their database. (Sure it took time for the staff to deliver it, but it was still an option.)
On Jcink Forum Hosting admins can get a copy of their database at any time for free.
Offhand, on IcyBoards admins can either pay for a single backup or pick up a month of premium to get as many backups as they want.
Even proboards offers a way to get a backup. And for years they were very explicitly against backups because they felt individual user rights trumped the admin rights. (Or admins didn't own any content on their forum so they couldn't get a backup.)
But now they can get a backup if they purchase the proboards premium and then export their database.
So basically Zetaboards is the only one of the bigger names still holding out.
Beyond that though Zetaboards is fine from a member perspective. I've never used one from the admin side long enough to really make a judgement. (The only time I ever saw the ZB admin section was back when it was in beta and we were debating whether to update to it on a site or not. And I don't remember much about it. I never really spent a ton of time messing around with it.)
I'm actually indifferent when it comes to Zetaboards, I like it for some features such as the Multi-login feature and there are tons of gorgeous free themes for the software. However since you have no way of obtaining a database backup you can't move your forum, like VirusZero said (love your username btw, Zero is my favorite character from the Mega Man franchise. 
) jcink is great since you can grab a copy of your database and move if you feel that you need to. (I moved my Steven Universe fan forum from jcink --> FluxBB --> MyBB --> phpBB) but the only thing jcink lacks is really great themes. (I mean there are some great themes out there, but some of them were lost because some websites are no longer online...) I think Zetaboards is great for those who are new to owning a forum and want to get a feel for owning one. The ACP is pretty easy to navigate, I remember when I first made my first Zetaboards forum I felt comfortable being able to easily navigate through the ACP with ease.
) jcink is great since you can grab a copy of your database and move if you feel that you need to. (I moved my Steven Universe fan forum from jcink --> FluxBB --> MyBB --> phpBB) but the only thing jcink lacks is really great themes. (I mean there are some great themes out there, but some of them were lost because some websites are no longer online...) I think Zetaboards is great for those who are new to owning a forum and want to get a feel for owning one. The ACP is pretty easy to navigate, I remember when I first made my first Zetaboards forum I felt comfortable being able to easily navigate through the ACP with ease.tonnyrichard1597
New Arrival
I think it is so terrible, dont use it any more
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