• Hi Guest !

    Welcome to the 500Eboard forum.

    Since its founding in late 2008, 500Eboard has become the leading resource on the Internet for all things related to the Mercedes-Benz 500E and E500. In recent years, we have also expanded to include the 400E and E420 models, which are directly related to the 500E/E500.

    We invite you to browse and take advantage of the information and resources here on the site. If you find helpful information, please register for full membership, and you'll find even more resources available. Feel free to ask questions, and make liberal use of the "Search" function to find answers.

    We hope you will become an active contributor to the community!

    Sincerely,
    500Eboard Management

POLL: How do you like the new 500Eboard.com site ?

Do you like the new XenForo forum software better than the old vBulletin software?

  • Yes

    Votes: 35 83.3%

  • No

    Votes: 3 7.1%

  • About the same

    Votes: 3 7.1%

  • We have new software? WTF?

    Votes: 1 2.4%
  • Total voters
    42
  • Poll closed .
gerryvz

gerryvz

Site Honcho
Staff member
Now that we're almost two weeks in with the new software, I'm curious to know how folks are liking -- or not liking -- the new forum software.

Is it better than the old site, or worse? Easier to use, or more difficult to use? More modern, or less modern? Faster, or slower?

Feel free to take the poll above, and reply below if you have any comments and reactions (we have a separate thread for bug-related reports).
 
Takes some getting used to. I really appreciate the work you’ve put into a smooth transition. And I REALLY like the way the pictures display on the new vs old. Thanks again,

maw
 
I like it better overall but miss some features. Specifically being able to display new posts in a thread at the top. "Filter" doesn't appear for me in a thread. The Members map is a nice upgrade even if it's not 100% accurate, I like that it's dynamic and doesn't rely on members having to add themselves.
 
I think it looks great Gerry, and I bet it must have been a mammoth effort. As you're asking, I think that you should figure out how to use make 500eboard.com address work again. I'm not sure if this is in the works but that's my only feedback.
 
I like it, I find it to be an improvement, although (not being a "computer guy") I am still trying to find my way within the forum and make a new map of it in my mind.

I am not sure though if all members show up on the "Members Map". I don't, for example. Seeing who is around you may prove very beneficial. Also I liked the "Member XYZ says thank you for this post" more than what we have now (the "Like" feature). In my mind saying "Thank You" is a bit more rewarding than a "Like", but that might be just a personal preference, however not very important.

Thank you for your work, effort and dedication, Gerry.
 
alabbasi said:
I think that you should figure out how to use make 500eboard.com address work again. I'm not sure if this is in the works but that's my only feedback.
Click to expand...
In the not too distant future, the 500Eboard.com domain will be forwarded (again) to this domain (500Eboard.co), and eventually I plan to migrate it from the old hosting provider (1&1.com) to the current hosting provider for this forum (Linode). At that point, I'll be done with 1&1.

They have been pretty good, and generally reliable, but the limitations of the managed-hosting paradigm were looming, and were potential show-stoppers.

This change was a long time in coming. With a couple of false starts along the way -- but I'm glad I waited for the XenForo software to mature. It's significantly more expensive to do it the way we are doing it, but we also now have 100% control over our own destiny...and our own virtual server from the ground up.
 
Oh, one more thing: I think in the past there was a feature at the bottom of a page where you could see who visited the thread. It may not be a bad idea if is added, is offering a clue as to who is interested in a particular topic.
 
liviu165 said:
Oh, one more thing: I think in the past there was a feature at the bottom of a page where you could see who visited the thread. It may not be a bad idea if is added, is offering a clue as to who is interested in a particular topic.
Click to expand...
Yes, actually this has been on my personal list to add on. It's not part of the "stock" XenForo install (like it was in vBulletin), but I think I can do it as an add-on, or if that doesn't exist, I will code it myself. Was just thinking about this about 2 hours ago.

I already added on the "who has visited today" on the right-side of the main page. Again that is not part of the standard setup for XenForo. I expect as the platform continues to mature (as vBulletin did over the years) that they will add this kind of stuff.

Interestingly, the size of the vBulletin software was around double the size of the XenForo software, showing how bloated that vBulletin had become over the years.

I will work on this, but won't put it on the "Bug" list.

Thanks for the push. :sel:
 
Raising my hand to say that I voted No.

And that's mostly because a forum I have been on for 15 yrs just went through the same migration. And a lot of shortcuts and features were lost. Which sucked.

The single biggest improvement on this site is the ease at which pics and docs are attached to posts.

I'm sure the well-staffed technical team behind the scenes here will work everything out eventually. The new site is functional, and that's all that really matters in the short term.
 
ace10 said:
the well-staffed technical team behind the scenes
Click to expand...
:lolol:

You mean me, myself, and I? Indeed, quite a team!!

Shortcuts and features here will be built up over time, just as they were on the old platform. The main thing is that we are again back on a cutting edge platform and infrastructure, and have even more flexibility and capability than we ever would have had with the old hosting provider, and forum software platform.

Yes, there will be some short- to mid-term pain. Particularly as people get used to the new software, and things get tweaked, configured, and added. Short-term pain for long-term gain. We had the same thing back in 2012 when I moved this site from the free "phpBB" software to the "paid" vBulletin 4.x software. The pain didn't last too long after an initial period, and things progressed and grew rapidly from there.

The alternative would have been staying stagnant. Which would have likely worked for a couple or three years into the future, but no longer than that. If you want to see a platform that is literally on life-support, go over to the PeachParts forum. That forum is using vBulletin 3.8.X -- which hasn't been supported or even worked on for years. The Banzworld site moved from vBulletin 4.X to vBulletin 5.X a couple of years ago.

I venture to say that the XenForo platform is superior to vBulletin in every known way.
 
It would be nice if the photo albums that I set up previously were migrated to the newer platform, but I suppose I cannot have it all.

Jeff
 
For me is more complicatet to find my way here.The old one was one sight and find what i am searching for. but maybe i am to old and not a computernerd :-))) but i tryed .Markus
 
Gerry,

I have always been comfortable w/ the status quo. Live in same house for 40 yrs, drive same cars forever, eat same breakfast everyday ect; you get the idea. I tend to resist change even now. BUT when I have no control over changes in my life and have to adapt or be left behind I am persistent enough to stay on top of it until I get it right. This is one of these situations for me.

As far as I’m concerned, the new xenforo works for me. I will fumble and stumble through it and eventually reach that same comfort level I had before.

This Forum for you has to be a labor of love BUT for you to take on this what I would consider a monumental effort on your part spending your own $$$ and time for all of us out here in cyberspace is simply beyond words.

I’m sure that eventually that the status quo will return for everybody. There’s no reason to be whining at this early stage of development over missing features we were used to on the vBulletin forum. It’s gone ‘Get Over It’

Again Gerry,

Thanks for everything.
 
I don't see the "Member's Map" anymore. It was in the 'Members" drop-down menu, few days later I saw it aside of the "Members" button with its own button. Now I don't see it all, in either place. Was it taken off on purpose, or is temporarily unavailable? Not complaining, just bringing it up (I found it useful).
 
liviu165 said:
I don't see the "Member's Map" anymore. It was in the 'Members" drop-down menu, few days later I saw it aside of the "Members" button with its own button. Now I don't see it all, in either place. Was it taken off on purpose, or is temporarily unavailable? Not complaining, just bringing it up (I found it useful).
Click to expand...
There was a concern raised about privacy and peoples' security, and folks not being able to "opt in" rather than the map automatically determining one's location from their IP address (which is a common thing on the Internet).

I am doing some re-work of the Maps so that folks can opt in if they want to, and it will be back up in the future in another form.

See this thread for more information: https://www.500eboard.co/forums/index.php?threads/world-map-of-e500e-owners.4803/post-180087
 
"This Forum for you has to be a labor of love BUT for you to take on this what I would consider a monumental effort on your part spending your own $$$ and time for all of us out here in cyberspace is simply beyond words."

I HOPE it is a labor of love! I, being a full time lurker and not much of a contributor, would probably not keep my car if it wasn't for this forum.

I do think that we should help defray the expenses, I did the life time thing on Ecstasy (boy was that fun), but that didn't last long.

Mark
 
mwaldron said:
I did the life time thing on Ecstasy (boy was that fun), but that didn't last long.
Click to expand...
Yes, Scott got some significant dough from folks in the latter era of the 500Ecstasy forum to help defray his expenses. I believe he (at some point) bought a new computer to run the forum and ran it out of his apartment in San Francisco, instead of at a hosting company. Not too long after asking for donations and creating a "donator" tier, he seemingly lost interest in running the forum and let it languish, which directly led to the creation of this forum.

I've said many times over the years that money corrupts, and creates expectations and perceived leverage on the part of the people that pay it. As a hobbyist forum, we want to stay true to the original goals and intent of this forum, which is to provide a safe, informative and well run resource for 500E/E500 owners, and related W124 models and perhaps a few other types of MB enthusiasts too.

We only have two tiers of folks here on this forum -- neither is paid. It's more based on how active you are, and how long you're here.
 
I am in the process of creating a web page for 500Eboard.co that will be an adjunct (part) of this forum. That's the reason I haven't redirected it. It should be done by the weekend. Only so much time, only so much bandwidth. No one is helping me with any of this stuff.....

I don't know why you just don't bookmark 500eboard.co/forums in your bookmarks, that way you'll never see that error message, anyway.
 
gerryvz said:
I don't know why you just don't bookmark 500eboard.co/forums in your bookmarks, that way you'll never see that error message, anyway.
Click to expand...

I do but the old URL is still cached and I don't want to clear my cache out. The struggle is real.

I appreciate your effort. I've been a web administrator for a car group. Leaving that position felt like a giant boil was removed from my ****
 
The Emperor said:
Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side.
Click to expand...
alabbasi said:
I appreciate your effort. I've been a web administrator for a car group. Leaving that position felt like a giant boil was removed from my ****
Click to expand...
Emperor Palpatine notsithstanding, try being a web administrator (and now a full-on system & database administrator) for a car group for 10+ years !!
 
That's awesome to hear, D_V. Thanks for the positive point of feedback. Indeed, a key element of XenForo, is the built-in mobile friendliness that doesn't require a separate program like Tapatalk !!
 
Thanks for all the work on this Gerry.

Dave's Uncle Kent told me that you changed it because you were planning to interface the site with the new Mercedes EPC portal: EXENTRY - XenForo? He's a reliable source and in-the-know.
 
gerryvz said:
That's awesome to hear, D_V. Thanks for the positive point of feedback. Indeed, a key element of XenForo, is the built-in mobile friendliness that doesn't require a separate program like Tapatalk !!
Click to expand...
To be honest, I'm quite happy not having to use the Tapatalk, never got along well with it. So indeed, thank you for all the time and effort on your part!

Regards,
D
 
Great work Gerry. Thank you for your time and effort doing this for us 500E crazies
First time on since I was on a three week vacation. Like it a lot
Now I have to go see if my car with start and run correctly after sitting for so long. Fingers crossed.
 
Russell R Coe said:
Great work Gerry. Thank you for your time and effort doing this for us 500E crazies
First time on since I was on a three week vacation. Like it a lot
Now I have to go see if my car with start and run correctly after sitting for so long. Fingers crossed.
Click to expand...
You're one of the real OG's around here, Russell ! Thank you for the post.

 
10 more days left on the poll. Looks like folks are liking the new software, which is good.

I realize it takes some getting used to. I'm just happy to be on a platform that is being actively developed and bug-fixed !!
 
Is there a way to access old links in threads by changing something in the URL? lot of useful links in those threads.
 
This poll/snapshot was taken just a few weeks after the conversion of the site to the new software.

Now that some more time has gone by, I am assuming that folks have had more time to settle in to the new site and get used to the new software. We've also implemented a lot of improvements and additions to the site, re-implemented the Wiki, and made other changes.

How are folks feeling at this point in time about the site, and its usability and friendliness?
 
New site is good.
Frankly speaking if the data/knowledge/expertise from the people on this site were on paper in some library, it would be worth the trip/effort from my perspective.

Separately, as one simple test, I just tested about 10 links that I had saved from the old site and they all redirected to the proper thread on the new site.

All good.
 
msq said:
Separately, as one simple test, I just tested about 10 links that I had saved from the old site and they all redirected to the proper thread on the new site.

All good.
Click to expand...
That's good to hear, and thanks for the input.

I haven't heard anyone complaining lately about the redirect system, since I moved the 500Eboard.com domain over and pointed it to this site (if you type in 500Eboard.com it will automatically redirect to this site now), but mainly I am wondering how people are settling into the new forum "home."
 
Best forum around.
My only wish would be for an option to have last post first (reverse order).
 
Bogeyman said:
Best forum around.
My only wish would be for an option to have last post first (reverse order).
Click to expand...
I've noticed that when clicking into a thread from What's New / New Posts, the browser *usually* will jump down to the first unread post. But not always; particularly in large threads. My workaround is to hit End then Page Up, which generally takes me to the recent post.

If you're using some sort of mobular device, dunno how those work...

:jelmerian4:
 
The forum SHOULD default from the "New Posts" screen (when these are displayed in bold text) to the newest post on the past page of the thread. This is a setting that can be disabled so that it just takes you to the first post in the thread (as it does when you just click on a regular thread link).

I am still working on that "last post (reverse order)" display. It is easily possible to do this, but then it would apply to everyone on the forum as a forum-wide default. The old vBulletin gave each user the option to display this way or the "other" way -- this forum it seems that it is either all or nothing -- no individual preference can be set.

Let me do one last round of work researching this, and see what I can do. I know @Glen had expressed desire for this, as well.

What I do is just to go to the "New Posts" link at the top of the forum's main page, and then control-click (or right-click) on each link (in bold) that comes up for each new thread with posts, and this opens a new window/tab with the newest or newest unread post on the screen.
 
gerryvz said:
What I do is just to go to the "New Posts" link at the top of the forum's main page, and then control-click (or right-click) on each link (in bold) that comes up for each new thread with posts, and this opens a new window/tab with the newest or newest unread post on the screen.
Click to expand...
This is what I do, but as noted above, for some very long threads, it doesn't always take you directly to the newest post in that thread.

:mushroom1:
 
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