I think vbulletin should release a kind of demo that you can install on your own server for like 7 days and then expires. So that people who want to test the vbulletin functions do not have to download the warez version first.

I don't know exactly how this can be accomplished but with a encoder from ioncube or zend it will work I think.

What do you think of this?

W00ps made a typo. The third option must be without in stead of with :P

I've voted 'demo on site is enough', because encoding isn't the answer, but if downloadable it should not be view-source and it should be both URL / IP and time / instance / post / members / etc feature-limited, at least.

you can just use the demo provided by vbulletin. it lets you do everything you want to get a feel for the board so there is no need to let people install their own demos.
for the guests who dont know of it: http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo.php

I think the demo provided at the vBulletin site is fair enough. It lets you give the software a test drive and if you like it enough you can buy it and mess around with it further.

The thing with a downloadable demo is .. that the majority does not want to pay for vBulletin and thinks it would be the solution to their problem. Right now, with hosting the demo, the majority are actually potential customers who want to purchase it, rather then try it-not to buy it.

I have talked with a vb Live Support tech about this and she told me this would most likely not happen because too many people know a lot of php and could alter the code to work like the pro version

alright but: you can also download the warez version, easyer then to hack the demo then you have the same as the real version so I see no problems :)

But if you get caught then I don't think you will be on good terms with the vb staff they can sue you and they would most likely when.

Bypassing the demo to make it a full forum will have the -near-same effect :)

I vote for demo on site as it's more than enough to get an idea of what it's like. It's also very handy as the potential customer doesn't have to go to the trouble of installing the software on their server just to see what vBulletin is like.

As with any software, there are piracy teams that will crack demos and open them up to be almost the full product. Jelsoft have enough issues with full versions of vBulletin already being made available illegally, the demo on their site does the job nicely.. :)

I like to have a demo without encoding because you can't mod it anymore,
I don't need al the features...

A demo without encoding would mean that people could much more easily strip out the restriction(s) and avoid having to buy a license.

A demo without encoding would mean that people could much more easily strip out the restriction(s) and avoid having to buy a license.
Agreed .. I think it's much better as it is .. else you have lots of "demo" sites around the net .. and demo "mods" appearing ..

mmm .... .....

mmm .... .....
:confused:

Agreed .. I think it's much better as it is .. else you have lots of "demo" sites around the net .. and demo "mods" appearing ..
Anyway, I know I'd get frustrated if I joined a forum that was only demo only to have it close in a couple days. I agree with you, Slave.

I voted for ' demo site is enough ' . That website is fully functional so why bother ?. It's nice to test it out and no hassle with installing vbulletin software ( if you think it's a hassle that is ). And if you don't like it, you can just close the browser and never look back. If you install a temp vbulletin on your host you will have to remove the whole thing again. That take's time, and whenever you think something sucks you usually don't feel like seeing it again. So yea, the demosite is enough IMO.

yeah the demo on the site is good enough to test out :D

demo's = crackable....always :P

I agree that the demo on vB's site is enough to decide if you want the software.

I like the way it's set up now, because if they spend time setting up something for loading for a limited time trial, that's less time for them to spend playing around with updates for us! :D
I think they way they have it set up is great... there's a "test run" for those of us who don't buy without trying, but keeping that up in the form of downloadable versions would be a nightmare, I think... :)

I voted - Yes, without encoding and with less options
Maybe more options but not encoding, but the demo on the site is good enough.
And there is always the fact that demo's can be cracked easy.
But if security is good enough i would loe to try it out on my owns site or anything.

The demo on their site is enough, but I think it would be nice to have a demo version.

I think if the security is good enough... People should really see how comfortable the vB AdminCP is and it should show all the options but there should be restrictions on what settings demo admins can change...