Hi, were planning to use manager.io server edition for our business, but the thing is we don’t know the limitation of using server edition on our computers.
currently there is a massage on top of screen " Reminder — For evaluation purposes only. Please enter your product key if you wish to continue using this software." and i don’t know what it says.
our situation is kinda complicated, we can not run an accountant software with internet access because of company policies(or internet access is limited on our side), we need a complete sandbox software to work for us, we do live in a country (or planet) in which we don’t have access to eu or us currency or it is too high for us to pay with that currency ( when i saw the pricing page it was ~500 usd for annual cloud eddition not server idk ), we will to pay money but as much as we can ( kinda a donation type)
so … , the limitation i was asking about is about that server.zip version on manager io website with that massage, can we continue using the software with the massage or not ? or is software gonna stop working at some point and keep our data hostage ?
honestly i hope the best for manager io team but our situation is much more different than what is happening in us or eu …
To put a long story short. The Server edition is suitable for a local network but it is not free like the Desktop versions. Our businesses have similar challenges to yours but we needed Server edition and to also help the Developer stay in business pulled resources together and paid for it. Most of our Africa based businesses are youth owned and run with extreme low revenue in US$ but we did what we did. If too expensive for you there are open source accounting applications that are in existence for many years and suitable as well be it less intuitive than Manager and with more dated looking interfaces. However, they also do the job.
I have been using the server edition on my office computer for the last 3 - 4 years purely because it allows me to use MS Edge for Manager while my default system browser is something different.
It is not set up on an actual server and has the registration reminder at the top but that does not bother me.
When I update my shop computers desktop version I also update my office computer’s server version to keep the two compatable.
From the server download page
How long can I evaluate free trial version?
Free trial on server edition has no time limit. You will see notice at the top informing you of running free trial. When you are satisfied with the software, please purchase product key to register the copy and remove the notice.
So if the reminder notice doesn’t bother you, go for it, but you are on your own as far as maintainance goes.
It is an ethical question. Yes one can, as you seem to do, use a Server version for years and not consider paying because you use it kind of Desktop version. However, the words evaluation trial means that once you have decided that it can be used for your business. You either should revert to the Desktop version or purchase a license. This with the good conscience that you thereby contribute to the efforts of the Developer. When you use Manager to account for your business then it would be logical that you let the Developer increase income from Manager.
Questioning my ethics serves no purpose.
The OP asked
I merely answered his question, honestly. Others were saying it s not free, however the developer has stated it is with no time limit!
Oh, and by the way, I use the desktop version but open it using the managerserver.exe file included with it.
I did not question your ethics, but explained that it is an ethical question or dilemma. Potterbox reasoning will show you that if something is ethical or not is eventually by perceptions of where loyalties, principles, etc lie.
Having said that, from my reasoning I think it questionable that when Manager is being used for actual business accounting and not for evaluation purposes and when a Server edition is installed and being used irrespective of being next to a Desktop version that this should not be paid for.
Having said that, from my reasoning I think it questionable that when Manager is being used for actual business accounting and not for evaluation purposes and when a Server edition is installed and being used irrespective of being next to a Desktop version that this should not be paid for.
thanks for information, lets explain our situation further more.
we live in a country in which there are native developers, manager io rocks among all those native software but the problem is the company doesn’t trust to outside platforms, that means we are willing to pay what ever it takes to access managerio ,also we live in the edge of the world, we don’t know if we can wakeup alive tomorrow or not, and we don’t have access to many things including internet and international payment services ( side effect of our country situation i guess) , our situation is far more different than others, were not individuals tho , honestly if i were in eu i wouldn’t hesitate to pay triple the amount as an individual …(cause our native developers charge far more than yours with less abilities )
also this software introduced itself as a free software we really appreciate that, it is far more valuable for us, maybe one day our governors decide to change and wed be able to pay for international services , i hop so …
Imo if you need a server versions functionality then you should pay for it. When you have decided you are going to use the software your evaluation period is over. That decision occurs well before you are actually using it. Using it for home or business makes no difference. If you need a separate installation for home and business then you need to pay twice.
If you only want a single user version but want to use your choice of browser then run the desktop version, click on a link and choose open in another window.
If you want any other part of the server version functionality then you need to pay for a server license.