X-Cart forums

[brian_trader]

hi

has anybody used the following?

http://www.thexcartstore.com/xbanners-banner-module-for-xcart.html

and is it easy to setup?

Thanks

B

[pauldodman]

Yes, I've used these for multiple client sites.
The good thing about using a true X-Cart banner mod, ie one built for X-Cart is that it has a complete backend so you can easily add your banners etc.
Because it is so powerful, in terms of campaigns, filters etc - it can perhaps be a little daunting initially - but you don't have to worry about some of the steps.
It's not super easy because of the toolkit it brings, but it's straight forward and logical. And the end result is excellent. Given some practice you can do some really nice stuff too - for example I'm just setting one up now with banners on top of banners to create more of a presentation effect.

[Timmmer]

Does anyone know if it comes with free updates? I really dont want to have to rebuy these mods every year.
Thx eh!

[Will Hayes]

Cheers Paul - thanks for the great feedback/comments, really appreciate it.

Hi Timmer,

Will here from The xCart Store, we are the developers of xBanners. As Paul mentioned, xBanners is a very powerful banner manager module for x-cart. To answer your question, "yes" - all upgrades are free. We have been upgrading xBanners with each iteration of x-cart and we have also added some extra features throughout this time - all updates are free to existing customers.

We do have plans to create an "xBanner 2" module in about 6 months - this will be a total re-write of the module with many extra features, transitions, etc. Mostly likely, we will offer existing xBanners customer a 50% discount if they would like to upgrade to this new version. As xBanner2 will be a totally new product, we can't offer this an an free upgrade as it will contain a large number of new features not seen in xBanners1. That is how we are thinking about it at the moment.

That's the general plan anyway
Let me know if there is anything else.

[Timmmer]

thanks Will. It just seems to be the story of my life...always a 'big' upgrade just down the road. Thats why ive stopped buying mods altogether.

In the same breath though, thats why I bought x-cart. There were numerous monster upgrades with x-cart over the last 10 years since I first purchased but yet the next version is always sitting there in my file section.... no charge. Its better to keep a customer then to keep trying to buy them back every upgrade. Eventually they lose interest.

Let me know if something changes on how you wish to proceed.

Thanks...

[Will Hayes]

Hi Timmer,

I guess its the nature of the beast, as developers we want to improve our products as time goes by, this benefits all involved and keeps our products relevant. The same is true for x-cart, upgrades and improvements are part of the life cycle of the product. Keep in mind, you didnt get a free upgrade to x-cart gold plus, after they changed versions recently (after the price changes, etc).

We won't know for sure how much work is involved in developing the new version of xBanners until we get started, who knows there may or may not be an upgrade fee.

As I said, we won't be in a position to definitely say either way in about 6 months.
We'll keep you posted on our plans.

[wnc2]

Originally Posted by brian_trader

hi

has anybody used the following?

http://www.thexcartstore.com/xbanners-banner-module-for-xcart.html

and is it easy to setup?

Thanks

B

i have the full kit, Xtreme gear template and add ons included xbanners.

you can see it up and running on my site www.wnc2.biz

very powerful with lots of options.

i agree with pauldodman, in the first steps, you must stay focused and concentrated, but there are very helpful video manuals on site.

besides support is very fast

[Freakmode]

Will, if you ever bring out Xbanners2 could you make it so we can have banners in category descriptions - thanks

[carpeperdiem]

Originally Posted by Timmmer

In the same breath though, thats why I bought x-cart. There were numerous monster upgrades with x-cart over the last 10 years since I first purchased but yet the next version is always sitting there in my file section.... no charge. Its better to keep a customer then to keep trying to buy them back every upgrade. Eventually they lose interest.

I disagree.
I'd rather pay for major upgrades, as long as the upgrades ADD NEW FEATURES and are not simply bug fixes.
I also have no issue paying for version compatibility upgrades -- someone has to do the work, and someone has to be compensated for it. As long as the upgrade charge for maintenance is "nominal", it's the cost of being in business.

Where X-Cart has failed you and me and the community, is they have NOT made stable, working versions of the core - and they bundle bug fixes with new features, and they never charge for the new features -- so they have no incentive to fix anything.

I think Will's business plan is more logical: free maintenance releases if bugs are discovered, and for new features (a major release) a substantial discount to product owners.

If you want your developers to stay in business, this is the model they must follow.

[Timmmer]

Does anyone know if you have to insert a generated banner code into the smarty templates for xbanner or does the mod do everything for you?