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What do you think about the Joomla template clubs now? I think it's really a good way for developer to save money, is that true?

I've known some famous template clubs such as Joomlart, Yootheme, Rockettheme. Which place have you ever joined? Can you please share me some experience about it? I've searched on Google but there's not much information about this topic.

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I think that Joomla template clubs are good for developers to get various design choices and save money. Even though I haven't joined any clubs

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Get started with Joomla 3.0 easily - http://www.joomlashine.com/blog/free-ebook-joomla-30-made-easy-a-perfect-start-for-joomla-novices.html

When I started out on my own in 2009 I wasn't especially confident with designing websites from scratch. I purchased a Developer subscription from RocketTheme and have renewed it each year since. Together with ChronoForms, this has probably been the best value for money I have spent on Joomla extensions so far.

There are probably more template "clubs" on offer now compared to 2009 but I haven't had much reason to check out the others. One quibble I had with RocketTheme was that the Gantry templates all had a fixed width of 960 pixels but this has recently been fixed with the release of Gantry 4.

Some developers disapprove of commercial templates as they claim that websites look too much the same. While this can be true, it doesn't have to be. The best frameworks provide comprehensive template control panels so that layouts, backgrounds, colours, textures, fonts and so on can be infinitely customised.

Another advantage of buying templates from good quality developers is that they are tested in all the major browsers including iPhone and Android and you don't have to spend a lot of time testing every website you build. Updates are released periodically to address issues e.g with new versions of a browser or even a new version of Joomla. This saves me a lot of time and enables me to deliver websites at a much lower price point than if I were developing unique templates for each website.

Neil.

P.S. I'm not on a commission!

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NEIL ROBERTSON
Webilicious Web Design and Development
http://webilicious.com.au

I subscribe to Shape5, RocketTheme, JoomlaBamboo, and Yootheme. I find that clients don't care if you create everything from scratch or use a template. They just want a good looking and functional site, regardless of where it comes from. And these days everyone is on a tight budget, so if I can shave a little cost off the site by not spending extra hours developing it, then all the better for the client.

I bought a theme from http://www.joomlashine.com For a microbiology website I was building. It looked great and I was quite satisfied with the website.

I am sure that buying themes from clubs would be a great way to save time and money in developing web sites for people. Its always great if you do not have to re-invent the wheel when building a website.

I like the extensions from Joomlashine. I would really like to see a good Joomla 3.0 template.

I have websites using Joomla 3.x and 2.5.x. I only have one Joomla 3.x site. I really love the new Joomla 3.0 and look forward to the upcoming changes.

DOCMan doesn't work with Joomla 3.0 so if you use that plugin hold off on upgrading to Joomla 3.0 as DOCMan does not plan on building a 3.x until Joomla 3.5 comes out.

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Most of the themes I use are ones that I have built. I have used a few free themes and customized those but for the most part I prefer to use my own designed themes.

The thing I like most about Joomlashine is that their themes are reasonably priced. I am sure other theme clubs would be good as well. I am just on a tight budget

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John Boone
http://www.boonewebmaster.com - Web Design - Joomla 3.x
http://www.genealogyarticles.com - Articles about Genealogy - Joomla 2.5.x

On the plus side.....

The foremost Joomla clubs generate some utterly jaw dropping artwork and functionality within their templates. On the whole, it's a very slick experience engineered by some exceptional web designers and devs.

On the minus side.....

I've run into Joomla templates with every bell and whistle running, whilst being used as a 3 page website to advertise a plumber. Honestly, we're talking corporate giant levels of code to run 2 static pages and a contact form. A lot of them have a huge footprint.

I think it's just the purist in me that likes to strip away the bits I can, to make everything run that little bit more smoothly.

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Joomla developer for hire: http://www.joomladeveloperforhire.com
The generalised web dev site: http://www.eloquentlunacy.com

Its Good for joomla Developers and new Joomla Developer can join groups...

New developer can get help from Old and Experienced joomla Developer

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http://www.mojoomla.com/template/responsive-joomla-template.html - Responsive Joomla Template
http://www.mojoomla.com/template/responsive-zencart-template.html - Responsive Zencart template

We do all of our websites from scratch - a website should match the brand of a business, not just be a random 'pretty' design with a logo stuck on the top. Lots of the templates are very good, but they're just a bit too 'generic' for me - technically and graphically excellent, but they just seem to blend in with the rest, there's nothing personal about them.

One unfortunate side effect is the number of 'website developers' (I use this term very loosely) who are doing nothing more than installing a template, changing a few colours in a menu and passing the finished site off as their own. If your client is fully aware that this is what they're getting, and they're happy with that, then fine - if they think they're getting a bespoke website when they're not, that's a big problem.

Mick.

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http://www.insquaremedia.com - Web Design | SEO | Web Marketing | Joomla! Enthusiasts

http://www.inresponse.insquaremedia.com - our free bootstrap template for 2.5 - download it, play with it, learn with it.

I haven't joined any clubs, But I think it is good idea.