Traditional forums (vBulletin style) VS. "new age" forums (Vanilla style)

**Ivan Brezak Brkan** · 08-23-2006, 06:34 AM

Forum styles - What do you guys think of the two types of forum browsing, the traditional style that Earners Forum uses as opposed to Vanilla forums style which you can see here... Features like bookmarks, a browsing style I use (I have feeds for Earners forum, and they fuction much like Vanilla, except for updating when new posts are written

) and the fact that it is open source (meaning I can interface it very nicely with the CMS I will be using Expression Engine) make Vanilla very interesting... But again, users are used to the classical style of vBulletin and phpBB...

So in other words, I would like your input. What do you think are the pros and cons of each style and why?

Thanks in advance...

**Sebastin** · 08-23-2006, 06:58 AM

Vanilla style: its best if you want your user to search before posting.
VB/IPB style, it fits all your needs as a user/admin

**Decepti0n** · 08-23-2006, 09:59 AM

I like the traditional style with all the categories laid out down the page (so long as there isn't 500000 ^ 1235)

Its why I don't like Sitepoint forums much, theres only the hot topics on the front page, and everything else you have to resort to going to the left for.

**MK3Design** · 08-23-2006, 10:08 AM

vBulliten

**rex_b** · 08-23-2006, 11:10 AM

traditional creates more of a community, vanilla is more tech friendly.

**netdesignz** · 08-23-2006, 12:32 PM

I think Vanilla makes the forums seem quite a bit more active, so that's a definite plus. But then again, forum software like VBulletin makes it easier to really see what's going on.

**imported_Submerge** · 08-23-2006, 02:35 PM

I would never do a forum vanilla style, it unorganizes everything. vBulletin style fits best and takes less time if you know what your doing.

**Ivan Brezak Brkan** · 08-23-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastin

VB/IPB style, it fits all your needs as a user/admin

In what way exactly do you mean it fits all the needs someone can have as a user/admin? Which needs exactly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decepti0n

Its why I don't like Sitepoint forums much, theres only the hot topics on the front page, and everything else you have to resort to going to the left for.

Well you can always switch to classic mode, I did...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MK3Design

vBulliten

Now that clears everything... :glare:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digit

I think Vanilla makes the forums seem quite a bit more active, so that's a definite plus. But then again, forum software like VBulletin makes it easier to really see what's going on.

I agree with you on both...

**007** · 08-23-2006, 06:01 PM

vBulletin style. The Vanilla look is horrible. Reminds me of a blog with no organization. Ugghh. I appreciate vBulletin even more after seeing that site.

**Sygon** · 08-25-2006, 07:36 PM

Vanilla kind of reminds me of a digg site with no pagination.

**imported_htmlmaster** · 09-03-2006, 09:37 PM

Maybe I'm not adapting to change, but I think that the Vanilla style is just... pointless. In my opinion, it killed all hopes of a friendly interface. There's no organization and to top it off, it doesn't even look that great.

**SteveAR** · 09-03-2006, 11:04 PM

VB is def better.