IPS Beyond Opened

[Desert Fox]

Remember - renewing your licenses does not mean you are REQUIRED to upgrade the software when new releases are made. It means you CAN if you want, but the license also entitles you to official support, and access to IPS Beyond. If you don't feel the cost is worth it, so be it. :) It's a decision each person would have to make.

Personally, I think IPS Beyond is already loading up with a wealth of information, modifications, and skins and it's been officially opened 1 day. I think it will make the cost of a license renewal justified by itself. :P

I am a new customer and IPS Beyond does not know me so I'm not able to access it at all. Hopefully this small oversight will be addressed so that my staff and I can access the wonderful services and the portal especially. Need to use it until Dynamic comes out.

[bfarber]

@Desert Fox, you must first register in your client area home page for IPS Beyond. If after that you are unable to login, you can use the Lost Password feature on IPS Beyond, or submit a ticket and I'll be happy to sort it for you.

@TwistedWeather...gee, where do I begin?

Before I came to work here, I didn't own a license. But you know what, I didn't complain that IPS went paid. Keep in mind this is my personal beliefs (not representing the company) - but they have tech support reps they have to deliver a paycheck too, plus 4-5 developers (last I counted, could be off by 1 or 2), plus management, plus office expenses (yes, there is a real office here - everyone doesn't work out of their home), plus benefits for the employees....that adds up.

You didn't honestly expect a software that people are spending FULL TIME on to be free forever did you? I didn't, and I wasn't mad when 2.0 went paid. I simply waited till I had the money (in my case I sold my site, so the new owners put up the costs) to upgrade. After you upgrade, it is up to you whether you want continued support after a year or not, but with a perpetual license you are free to download updates as long as you want.

On the subject of updates - you seem peeved that they are released. Would you prefer to leave bugs that are reported and discovered just there so that there are fewer updates? Personally I see it better to patch those issues and release an update so that customers investing hard-earned money into their forum software aren't left with bugs needlessly. Again, my personal philosophy. As a modification author before coming here - when a bug was reported with one of my mods, I patched it and offered an update, simple as that. I didn't not release a fix just because someone wouldn't want to update. That's their choice.

As for IPS Beyond's numbers reflecting the number of customers we have - far from it. Trust me, just like not even 5% of our customers post here on the forums, I'm sure not even a small fraction of our customers have signed up for IPS Beyond. Especially our larger customers, who do not need modifications (or who purchase them directly through us) and are not interested in customer-to-customer support.


And finally, on the subject of supporting a version forever - Microsoft doesn't support Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT. Why? Because frankly they know there are problems with them, the software is 10 years old+, and the issues have already been fixed in the newer releases of Windows. It makes NO sense to go back and continously make updates to outdated software just so someone doesn't have to upgrade to a newer version where the issue is fixed. We have to invest our time better than that working on the newer versions and newer software offerings.

Sadly, I see your rants more of a "make it free again" mentality, and not really offering any feedback about how the company operates or how to improve the company. As Lindy said, that is why those forums were removed - useful feedback is rare and hard to come by. :(

[FrostedPopTart]

I read Twistedweather's posts, and while at first I would have to admit that I would have agreed with him (that is way back in 2004 when IPB went paid; i.e. the time when I was banned from being a customer); I no longer agree. As in I now realize that the move was a good one.

IPS does have to pay for its servers, Internet connection, bills (electricity, water, phone, etc.); plus the computers in their office; as well as maintenance on the office (roof leaks, paint jobs, landscaping, etc.) That all adds up over time. Not to mention the salary of all the staff adds up as well.

If we want IPS to continue developing great products, such as IPBoard; IPBlog; IPGallery; IPDynamic; IPVectura; etc.; we can't expect everything to be free. That's just not reasonable. I'll gladly pay for these fine products, even though money for me is hard to come by.

[Mark]

IPVectura

Not developing that anymore.

Incidentally, I am in agreement with most people here. If you read some of my earlier posts on this forum, you will discover that I was originally on an IPS Hosting plan and was outraged to find that my files were encoded and I had to pay extra to get the product itself.
However, after digesting the itnitial shock of me paying for hundreds of things (hosting, software, domain, etc.) I began to realise that IPS offers quality products. Just look at a free board provider. PHPBB - what a hunk of rubbish (IMHO) OK, I'll give it some credit - PHPBB3 is looking much better, and could compete with IPB, but, at the end of the day, IPB still offers much more features, better support, and it didn't take them 2 years to make an upgrade (Well actually, PHPBB3 is still in developement, you only have to look at the CVS to see that its going to be a while longer :thumbsup: )
And even the other paid boards are, in my opinion, not as good as Invision. And it's prices are pretty good (besides their hosting which is outerageous - the software has decent prices, though) - I mean, $185 forever isn't bad at all when you think about it (so long as you don't need support past a year)

So, in conclusion, quality costs. And Invision gives quality.


Now, I believe we were discussing IPSBeyond opening?
Loving the skin, and the downloads section. Not to sure about the yearly charge, but hey, you can't have everything. :thumbsup:

[bfarber]

Thanks. :)

Note: the skin was released for free in the download section of IPS Beyond if you wish to use it on your own site.

The download manager will likely be released in some fashion or another, however the final details haven't been sorted just yet. Though I can say it IS in RC2 stages with no real "bugs" trickling in, so hopefully it won't be too long.

[Desert Fox]

bfarber, I did not see a place fo specificly register for IPS Beyond. I am registered client I can get into my client area fine. Very confused here tried everything to make it work. :( Should I contact support instead?

[Brandon C]

bfarber, I did not see a place fo specificly register for IPS Beyond. I am registered client I can get into my client area fine. Very confused here tried everything to make it work. :( Should I contact support instead?

It's not that difficult to register for IPS Beyond. :)

Here are the steps:

1) Login to your client area.
2) On the home page of your client area after logging in, you should see a box to enter in a username for IPS Beyond.
3) Enter in your desired username and click Register! (providing the name is not taken, which it will tell you if it is taken)
4) Login to IPS Beyond with your username you created and your client area password.

:)

[Κeith]

I find it diffacult at best to find newer skins anymore for the newer IPB. Top that off making it worse what skinners are left are now trying to make a quick buck off of those as well.

Oh right. So charging you to purchase a service provided by someone skilled at said service is evil. Next time your car breaks down, go find a free mechanic. :rolleyes:

[Mark]

Mods are done for free

[bfarber]

I *used to* charge for modification services. I did some free, some paid.

[Mark]

Yes, some mods are paid, but most are free.

[Rοb]

Next time your car breaks down, go find a free mechanic. :rolleyes:

:lol:

[Marcello]

Yes, some mods are paid, but most are free.

Can someone point me to a site which has alot of paid modifications? I want more uniqueness to my site and that's ofcourse easier by adding paid modifications :).

[Brandon C]

Can someone point me to a site which has alot of paid modifications? I want more uniqueness to my site and that's ofcourse easier by adding paid modifications :).

http://www.completelyunique.com/
http://www.munjmedia.com/

[Watty]

It amazes and amuses me when folks like twistedweather make such seemingly seedy posts.

I started "working" for Matt back in the in the old Ikonboard days. I had no real idea what a "forum software" was, but I stumbled across it somehow (back in 2000 while living on the island of Guam: US Navy). I had no idea what I was doing with CGI, etc at the time - and quite frankly, posting any question(s) on their website scared the heck out of me because of my ignorance. I finally broke down and asked my questions about some installation problems and to my surprise... the questions were answered by some folks and, as far as I could tell, no one laughed at my ignorance. I was quite pleased.

Over the next month or so, I played around with the software and was learning quite a bit from it. I started hanging out at Ikonboard and was soon answering support questions. I was eventually asked to be part of the official iB support team. If I wasn't at work (navy) or getting 4-5 hours of sleep, I was "working" for Matt. It got so busy that I revamped my flegling website into a full blown free ikonboard installation site. I recruited some of the iB helpers (both "staff" and members) to assist with the installations. It was crazy. I wish I could remember ALL of the folks that helped during those times - it was a wonderful crew. At one point, I had over 300 installation requests. I literally took 30 days off from work (again, the Navy) so that I could tackle the installations along with the install crew.

OK, so BIG DEAL! However, look at Matt's side. He also had a full time job and was doing his best to develop Ikonboard on a full time basis. I can assure you his schedule was more hectic than mine - and a lot more pressure filled. I was just a small bean in the overall big picture.

I was involved in a car accident during the time that Ikonboard was merged with some other company (the name escapes me, but I'm sure a lot of folks know who it was). 10 months later, I was able to get back to the internet and Ikonboard. Rikki just happened to be at the iB forums that particular day and immediately directed me over to the IPB forums.

I was able to deduce that a lot had changed. Charles and Matt had dediced to form IPB (now a full blown company called IPS). I'm not sure of Matt's financial involvement at the time - but Charles put in a LOT of his own money to help get things going (servers, development, etc). IPB was still free at this time. After a few months of being back, Matt went to bat for me to once again be a part of his staff. I was elated. I was just finishing up my 22 years w/ the Navy and needed something to fill my time.

In the mean time, IPB was simply exploding on the scene. Still, Matt was working full time AND developing IPB full time to the best of his ability. Charles was still paying for things and going broke. Something had to give. After some LONG phone calls (between the US and England) and a few flights across the pond, it was decided to make IPB a paid for product. This was obviously a HUGE gamble on the part of Matt, Charles, and Lindy. There was no guarantee that the product would sell - or that their hosting venture would take off either. It was very shaky in the beginning. Matt finally ended up quitting his full time job and jumped in head first.

A lot more has happened from the beginning to now - but the bottom line is that a couple of young folks took a chance to start their own company. As with most companies, things started out slow - but through dedication and hard work, it's beginning to pay off. Unfortunately, I don't work for IPS anymore - however, I fully support any/all decisions they make. Because of their company, quite a handful of people are employed full time. Opportunities have been made and dreams are being realized.

Try to get support from Microsoft for ANYTHING. Without paying $35/hour, you are nothing. Try to get your Chevy repaired for free AFTER the 3 year warranty has expired. Now you are looking at $80 an hour plus parts. IPB is well worth the price - and after a year you -should- know enough about it so that you can fix any minor problems yourself (much like Windows). Heck, you can even profit from IPB if you think about it. The subscriptions module is a GREAT benefit and motivation tool to offer your community "special" access.

As has been said - if you aren't happy with IPB and their business model... it's a free world. You are free to try out any of the other paid/free community software out on the market. Just remember... you get what you pay for.

[bfarber]

. Because of their company, quite a handful of people are employed full time. Opportunities have been made and dreams are being realized.

Boy, that sounds like exactly how I feel about my position with the company to a "T". I was making quite a lowly wage trying to support myself, my wife, and two children, and it just wasn't cutting it. I was doing free mod work because I enjoyed it, and quite a bit of paid mod work because I needed the extra money. My time was just packed 6 AM - midnight, either working at my full time job, coding, or both (I coded while I was at my job pretty often).

Now, because of IPS, I'm just not in that position anymore, and I can spend a lot more time with my two children, which is where I'd rather dedicate my spare time to. Sure, I still code in my spare time a little - but because I want to, not because I *need* to. :wub:

[Marknbowtie]

Instead of trying to develop all of these new products how about living up to your pledge of 24 hour assistance. For the first time in almost 2 years I was actually put a ticket in last night, and to my surprise it was actually moved to In Progress 7 hours ago. Should have known that was to good to believe and of course not a thing has happened since.

In the meantime I have no website.

So it's starting to look to me that the best thing to do is tear my website down and start over losing everything.

It would just be a very nice thing if IPB would remember the small things like Customer Service. I do remember the good ol days when they actually responded to tickets.

Worst part is it's more than likely a simple problem that would only take a few minutes of time of someone who knew about the conf_global file. I can access my forum from pages that are already open but can't get the frontpage.


Sorry if this is in the wrong section but really needed to blow some steam at an IPB site. Did a fast search for the proper thread but couldn't find it anywhere.

[bfarber]

We pledge a 48 hour turn around, though we strive for 24 hours (when we are able to meet that sort of turn around).

If you put in a ticket last night, it has not yet been 24 hours. Please allow us time to research the issue - we have thousands of customers, and there are other tickets that were put in before your own. :)

[Marknbowtie]

Brandon, I'm sort of sorry and really did need to blow some steam. Funny part in all of this is I've been working on my forum all this time.

I just found one piece of code that if I take it out it lets me get to every part of my forum but the mainpage. So I just take it out when I need to do a bit of work posting and then put it back in again for the techs.

So Brandon, with this job and all with IPB did you ever get around to making that bookie system you were planning way back when?

[bfarber]

I saw your topic at IPS Beyond (regarding the echo line). I'm sure it will get addressed today. The queues are not horrid now (as they tend to be immediately after an update is released). :)

No, never did do the bookie system unfortunately. But that's a discussion for another place. :P

[Marknbowtie]

It's being addressed. Sort of figured what it was after getting on all the forum pages but the front index. Damn echo line clashed with some mods so going with the full upgrade to 2.1.6 No sense sticking with 2.1.4 if the mods won't work now anyhow.

Brandon, I had been up all night working on the site when I made that post and do regret it now. Was very tired from no sleep and stressed to the max. I've been a very satisfied customer for 3 years and think Ipb is the best out there.

I've had a few hours sleep now, a couple of cups of coffee and thinking clearly again and do want to apologize for my rude behavior.

[Lindy]

It's being addressed. Sort of figured what it was after getting on all the forum pages but the front index. Damn echo line clashed with some mods so going with the full upgrade to 2.1.6 No sense sticking with 2.1.4 if the mods won't work now anyhow.

Brandon, I had been up all night working on the site when I made that post and do regret it now. Was very tired from no sleep and stressed to the max. I've been a very satisfied customer for 3 years and think Ipb is the best out there.

I've had a few hours sleep now, a couple of cups of coffee and thinking clearly again and do want to apologize for my rude behavior.

No need to apologize. We understand that it can be frustrating when your site is down and waiting for it to be diagnosed and repaired.

I'm glad our technical team were able to work at resolving this for you and please let us know if you encounter any further concerns. :)

[bfarber]

I don't take things personal, as Lindy said, no need to apologize. I'm just glad it's sorted. :D

[Eriol]

Ips Beyond looks a great site, but i not a customer :(

[lupin84]

That's a fair point actually, Zainzz. When I think about it I really don't care much either, as long as I get the services I have paid for I really don't mind who's doing it or where from. I may be a bonus for IPB staff to be able to work in one office and work together but whether that could be considered a bonus for the customers, I'm not sure.

One thing that might be handy is a feedback forum. I'm guessing there isn't one because people would post their grievances and complaints in there, but I know I'd find it useful for getting quick responses. Now there appears to be nowhere aside from the client center (which I've never been too hot about). If I was new to Invision I'd find a questions/feedback forum very very helpful. There was something like that when I first signed up, and I signed up based on what I'd discussed with staff and heard from other forum users in there.

Ooh I'd completely forgotten I'd posted that. I was actually having a lot of trouble getting some work done at the time, I'd paid for a server transfer and it had been forgotten about. Whenever I asked via the client centre I as told it would be passed on. I think (I'm going back a while here now) I was told it would take about 3 days originally. It actually took 2 weeks to complete. My complaint was simply that because I wasn't getting the help I needed via the client centre I tried posting in the Invision forum and asking for help. It was locked and I was told to talk to submit a ticket. So I posted again and said I'd already submitted one but without luck. It was locked and I was put in a mod queue. So personally for me at that time I felt there was no help coming from the client centre and I could no longer post on the forums. Luckily Debbie came to my rescue and moved it forward for me (turns out my ticket had been "resolved" without the work being done). So my point with that really was there's no alternative to the client centre. I didn't know where to turn because any tickets I submitted were "passed on" and because I asked for help more than once on the forum I was unable to post. So I guess I just felt I was being mistreated considering I'd paid for the service and it wasn't being done. I realise there are many whiney folk who will just natter and nag in the hope their work gets done quickly but I had a genuine issue. I should point out all dealings with Invision/The Client Centre before and since have been superb. It was just that one time, but I think a forum for such issues would be helpful.

So going back to the last few posts I have to agree, I think I prefered the old organisation of the forum. If only because I thought the board was more useful. When I first came here there was a thread for newbies to ask questions about the IPB forum etc. Back then I saw both positive and negative comments on the forums and that helped give an honest picture of the product. I do agree that a lot of that seems to have been cleared away. :unsure: