Comments on: Mpower Open Podcast

By: MPower Open Now on the Leaderboard! | Non-Profit Tech Blog

MPower Open Now on the Leaderboard! | Non-Profit Tech Blog — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:37:23 +0000

[...] you. Just place your requests in the comments below. For more information on MPower Open, check out my earlier podcast. Josiah Ritchie also has blogged about MPower Open. Tagged: donation management system How [...]

By: Allan Benamer

Allan Benamer — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:11:34 +0000

I don’t really have any insight into the announcement as it seemed to double up on an already existing arrangement between MPower and Convio… I’ve got some interesting news about eTapestry today though…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:37:08 +0000

Any insight into the MPower Convio announcement today? Seems like a nice database alternative with the benefits you speak of above.

By: Allan Benamer

Allan Benamer — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:47:15 +0000

Yes, they will be setting up a terminal server for reviewers and interested folks to look at. MPower hasn’t given me a strict date yet but I will definitely update this post if there’s anything to report.

By: Josiah

Josiah — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:35:47 +0000

Allan, I’m looking at setting up a system to test for our purposes and, like you, would rather not go through the acquisition and setup of all this just to test it. Has MPower been interested in your terminal server idea?

By: Allan Benamer

Allan Benamer — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:42:58 +0000

Good question. I have a request into MPower asking them to set up something via Terminal Services. I really, REALLY don’t want to set up SQL Server on my home computer. I really don’t want that piece of bloatware on this box.

As it is, I’m slowly transitioning to my Ubuntu Linux partition here and moving away from Win XP.

By: Skepta Cal

Skepta Cal — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:06:47 +0000

Have you had a chance to do your technical review of the software yet? After your jaw dropping hype I am very interested in how the product holds up to scrutiny.

By: Allan Benamer

Allan Benamer — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:05:45 +0000

@Jordan Dossett: Yes, “I do not do product reviews of for-profit technology.” This means that I don’t cover Oracle or SQL Server as they mostly have for-profit uses. However, MPower Open is well within the scope of the blog. I would hope so, since that would render my coverage of Blackbaud, Convio and Kintera nonsensical! I may also cover techs that I think ought to be useful to nonprofit IT people but are not currently used for nonprofit purposes.

I would say that MPower Open is in a similar space as a lot of the open-source vendors out there such as RedHat. If I recall correctly, RedHat Linux is “free” but support and service is not. That is basically the way that open-source is being sold these days. The old Heinleinian quote comes to mind: TANSTAAFL — There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. One thing you’ve said is incorrect though, you said:

“So while you can download it you do need to install it or pay them. ”

That’s clearly not the case here. You don’t have to PAY to install the software. The only time money changes hands is if you need a support and service contract.

With that in mind, I don’t see how this post was lacking in vendor independence. It’s admittedly thrilling seeing people willing to write an open-source CRM despite the fact that they could easily turn their back on it since they’ve already got paying customers. Unless you can prove that I’m somehow on the take from MPower (which is a very amusing idea to me, I admit), I don’t quite understand the comment you made.

By: Jordan Dossett

Jordan Dossett — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:21:44 +0000

I thought “I do not do product reviews of for-profit technology.” just because it is open source does not mean is free, they charge for their support and service. So while you can download it you do need to install it or pay them. I just get irritated when folks say they are “vendor independent” and clearly are not.

By: Allan Benamer

Allan Benamer — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:11:07 +0000

LOL Kate, I promise the blog won’t be an infomercial anytime soon. In fact, the other day I turned down an offer to be directly endorsed by a CRM company. I realize that it’s not good to look like a fanboy of anyone. That said, MPower IS open-source and it IS free to use. I’m seeing some issues concerning installation but those are no different from installation issues regarding SQL Server. That is, it helps to dedicate a server solely for operation of the software and to have someone around who knows how to handle that server.

As for the business model — exactly what part of open-source implies a razor blade model? Theoretically, you could operate the system without any need for third-party vendors should you also have a programmer willing to work with the code. For all intents and purposes, it’s free to operate. Generally speaking, you probably won’t want to stay in this mode because you might find some particular need that isn’t represented within MPower. At that point, that’s where the razor blades are being purchased. However, this wouldn’t be some made-up need — it’s legitimate in the sense that your business process requires software that reflects it. In fact, this is a common model with open-source business solutions. You build something only when you feel enough of a business need. I think that’s a pretty fair model. At the very least, you wouldn’t be paying for licensing fees — ugh.