Any software that charges you for support after the sale leaves a sour taste in my mouth. You pay the $350 for mediocre software and then keep paying. No thanks.

I have had several support tickets here and there was a quick response and no charge.

a) Load Averages: 0.15 0.14 0.10 - my current site which run on other script (i wont promote) www.vatrica.net
b) Load Averages: 0.47 1.22 0.39 - my skadate server

a) pure script + custom template + video and streaming server installed + audio & video chat + chat ala fb integrated
b) pure script + default template + cometchat (only chat) integrated

users registrated: 1950
users online: ~20-25
b) users on skadate chat (cometchat): 5
a) users on audio/video chat: 6

b) feautures which my current script dont have or dont use and skadate did:
- games
- video upload
- music upload
- clasifieds

a) feautures which skadate dont have or i didnt use and my current do use:
- payment gateways
- history of chats
- video linking
- music linking

--------------

All is clear. + skadate was hosted in Europe, while now mine script in USA.

same amount of users.
same server, just skadate server had 4 GB and this one now have 8GB, but its not used even this 4 GB... so it doesnt really matter.
Max used on skadate server was 3 GB.

My opinion:
skadate:
- Good support, but very low support (only 1 month it has rank excellent from me) even if its problem bug.

- Bug status: Very heavy... lots of bugs which are fixed from one to other build and sometimes it still brings errors.

- Forum - One represententive of skadate, answering pretty good and up-to date (when we see how many bugs/fixes/posts). Doesnt provide coding for extra feautures.

- Forum members and content: Very high, lot of active members cos everyone have some active problem. Helping each other as we can. No members which will provide You with full coding. Locked forum for public (??)

Builds and updates: Every ~ 2 months.  Updates are done merging files which results often in wrongly done update. Big lvl of problems according to Forum.

Support customization: as far as I know nothing lower than 75$ untill about 140$ for about same work as on my script. (on my script custom shoutbox cost 50$, which is much better than default skadate)

Feautures and pricing:  we all know about skadate and feautures. cost 350$ no modern chat ala cometchat or similar. only old fashioned ajax chat

Community: Non of free additional mods

my script:
- Excellent support, 1 year of support. All tickets are answered in 24 hours max, also at Suturday and Sundays.

- Bug Status: Low, there is known bugs which you can count on one hand. Things which work (no errors!!, but dont work as ment to be)

- Forum - Two representative, one of them main and other as needed. Answers are given on daily basis but not on all posts (or most) as on Skadate. Coding help is included if its not too complicated, but its always pointed on strings and files ment to be used. Open forum for public (they dont hide problems).

Forum and members and content: Medium, SInce lot of things works without problem, there is not so active forum, even answers are given from other members and there is always someone to help. Some members are known that thay provide coding help and also sell their work and owner and those guys.. its like family already haha suggesting new options and feautures for new builds.. very nice indeed.

Builds and updates: About 3-4 per year maximum. Updates are done automatic ower running setup file over web. Customization are re-appied after. Low lvl of problems according to forum

Support customization: from 20$ - 50$ for mods, including fixes if u do something wrong and coding of some changes, new features. not too complicated ~100$ for serius work with db and script (db migrations etc)

Feautures and pricing:  Almost all as skadate has, just there is no linking of audio and video files , only upload. and there is no facebook connect . there is no clasifieds. BUT there is chat similar to cometchat which work even better than cometchat! (fast as msn) Price: 199$

Community: Lot of free additional mods

Ok I think I covered all things. Now, this is my final review of skadate as ex-user of it. Am sorry to say it, but as i said, Skadate need to listen us and work harder. we dont have time to wait untill other ppl vote, we need elementary things now. not tomorrow. Jane, thank You for nice support. Am glad we had chance to meet cos Your work is excellent, but- script and organization lack little bit (of company).
One thing which pains me is 350$. Which is really expensive... And thats why I wish I could refund it  ah well... maybe some lucky buy my licence. half price. more than half for cometchat, skadate mobile and skadate (now You can see how un-satisfyed I was and i am with skadate. when I jumped on new horse).

I hope my review helps to Skadate to improve. I ll keep track this post untill I dont sell licence (if i ever), and than If my future buyer see this - my apologize m8 but i need some of those 350$ back ;D

Last edited by Rexi (2011-03-13 10:12:01)

The reason I purchased this script is because:

1. Vlad mentioned on the front page "Safe From Hackers" (You can't say that for all software. E.g. OSDate is very unstable).
2. I like to pay for software out of respect for all the hard work programmers are doing! :
3. If I have any questions, I can always come back and ask Vlad. (I promise I won't ask too many questions)
4. I found kick-ass flash template for VLD. It's about $70 + I just need to figure out how to customize it for my site. I don't have adobe flash editing software to do it, so hopefully I figure this one by the end of this week No rush

Really? I've never heard of this before. Hopefully it is not a growing trend!

Regards, B

Last edited by lbode3 (2011-11-30 08:57:57)