I've already graded PHPCOW on the main site, but I'd like to share my opinion here, so anyone considering PHPCOW can use it to make a decision one way or the other about purchasing PHPCOW.

PHPCOW has some very good features.

1. Where other applications have poor template implementation, PHPCOW makes it extremely simple, allowing you to use either one of their pre-built templates, or use the wizzywig editor to create your own customized templates.

2. Although there are some bugs, features like RSS/ATOM feeds and block management (how your articles are displayed) make managing a site fairly simple and straightforward.

3. Although it isn't listed or linked on their site, they evidently now have a support forum called PHPCOW HELP.....which will hopefully cut down on problems with their staff.

With the good comes the bad:

1. The root of all the evils is the wizzywig editor (which even PHPCOW has said is awful). We hooked them up with Cute Editor, which is by far the best editor I've ever seen, so hopefully PHPCOW 3 will be a much better program.

2. PHPCOW is a resource heavy application. We've used a variety of servers and had problems regardless of how much we invest. We've been told by PHPCOW that our server is the problem, but they refuse to help optimize it, or to publish fixes or recommendations on their site....instead they want you to buy into their small overpriced servers. We've lost countless articles, and hundreds of hours of work because the program decided to not save work, freeze up, etc.

3. The support is very bad. I've been as vocal as anyone about this. I think part of this is a language barrier, as they are based in Spain. However, as a business, they really need to improve how they treat customers/potential customers. With a program this involved, which has so little documentation about its features.....but uses encrypted software, they need to understand people are going to need help and guidance.....but they have little time or patience for people that need help.

Looking around, I'd say that we are one of the few people around who have anything positive to say about PHPCOW......regardless of the issues, we still recommend it based on its price, features, and ease of use.

I'm honestly hoping they come to their senses on this banning us and ignoring our emails. We've invested way too much time, effort, and money into PHPCOW to be treated the way we have, and for them to deny us any patches, fixes, support tickets, or updates to a program we purchased is unacceptable....

There is an 8 page thread that gives a lot of background on PHPCOW at Digital Point Forums