ForumNG/Pro and Con

This is based on the post by Glenis Hanson here: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=169857

Advantages

1. Advanced DHTML/AJAX (dynamic web page) support in the discussion page, which allows you to reply to, edit, rate, and delete posts without leaving the page.
2. Unique (only) discussion view which combines the benefits of 'nested' and date-related views; it is a nested view, so you can see the discussion structure, but except for unread posts (and their immediate parents), posts are 'collapsed' to a short summary, so you don't have to scroll through mounds of junk to get to the unread posts. Expanding a post is one click away.
3. (Thanks to 2), when replying to a post, the whole previous discussion can be visible, not just the previous post.
4. Up to 3 attachments can be added.
5. Ability to merge discussions.
6. Forum locking.
7. Save as draft.
8. "Change subject (optional)" appears when replying as hint to do so if necessary.
9. Permalink: a direct link to a particular posting.
10. Export to Word.
11. Show readers: list of people who have viewed the discussion via the website even if they haven't posted.
12. The rating system has friendly star graphics (this can be modifed to whatever you want) and can be used for grading or without a grade.
13. Sticky discussions - choose to have a discussion stay on top of list.
14. Mark posts as important.
15. Popup message warning you to copy the message before refreshing the page.
16. Popup Warning: You must save any changes to this post before 10:19 AM. After that time you will no longer be allowed to edit the post.

Disadvantages

1. Images uploaded as attachments by students form their hard disks do not appear in the body of a message. - they appear as attachments. This was at the request of OU testers. I'd really like to have this as an option in 1.9. In 2.0 students can upload images anywhere directly through the HTML editor.
2. Not integrated with Moodle core features:
   1. Does not appear in the 'list of all a user's posts".
   2. Not integrated with the Latest Course News block.
3. A post is considered "empty" and won't post if there is no text, only an image.
4. To include teachers in "Force everyone to subscribe" the teacher ID "3" has to be manually added by the Admin to the list of Subscriber roles in the ForumNG settings.