Using osCMax instead of standard OSC 2.2?

[oling]

This may be a dumb question, but why should I choose to use osCMax rather than the standard OSC 2.2msi for a new store?
Isn't it more likely that osCMax will not manage to follow the development process and future upgrades of the official OSC (next rel. 3)?

Thanks,
oling

[michael_s]

You would choose to use osCMax so that you will not have to spend hours adding all the features that should be in standard osCommerce but aren't. Our code is based on the 2.2 MS2 codebase and we have gone to great pains to keep compatible with the osCommerce codebase.

Whether you use standard MS2 or osCMax, you will have to do major reworking of your site to upgrade to MS3 when it comes out, so you may as well have all the features you need...

Of course, if you don't need the extras, go with MS2 stanadard. Remember that whichever you decide to use, the upgrade to the next MS3 is going to be bumpy no matter what you choose.

[oling]

Thanks for your clarification. My next newbie question is whether it would be smart to start with the standard OSC and then upgrade to osCMax if and when needed? How can I easily compare the feature difference between OSC and osCMax and will osCMAx not make the administration more complicated due to many more contributions installed? I am fairly knowledgeable in OSC.

Thanks,
oling

[michael_s]

No, it is a better idea to pick which one suits your needs and possible future needs and use it from the beginning, thus avoiding a later upgrade.

osCMax has everything that standard osCommerce has, so even if you don't use all the features, it works pretty much like standard osc. It is just under the hood that things are better.

It is just better to start with osCMax if you need even one of the added features.

[clauska]

I have been using osCMax for a while now, and it works like a charm.
The nr.1 reason for picking osCMax instead of standard osc is all the modules that you get in this package.
Just think of all the time you have to spend on first looking for modules that you want to use, then implement them, some harder then others. Some modules takes abit of coding to get to work with each other. then you will have to check for bug fixes and implement them to.
All this have been done be these fellows, and I must say, job well done.

________________
Claus K. Andersen
osCMax user

[oling]

Thanks for your input. This will certainly be helpful in selecting the right approach. One other issue I am wondering about is the difference in osCMax and CRE Loaded. The company that is selling me and modifying a OSC template is suggesting I implement CRE Loaded 6.2 - if I want to enhance the standard OSC. Any comments on this approach? Is it somehow poissible to compare these two (osCMAx and CRE Loaded)?

Thanks, oling

[michael_s]

CREloaded is just another flavor of osCommerce. It has many of the same features, some different. It really depends on your preferences and what you need.

CRE is not better or worse than osCMax. They both work well for their feature sets. I am a bit biased though, in preferring osCMax