Comments on: Open source networking software to rival Network Magic?

Question: Open source networking software to rival Network Magic?

cameron.case — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:15:39 -0800

Are there any free, open source alternatives to Network Magic from Pure Networks?

Network Magic has made networking my home pc's and sharing files easy, but my subscription is almost finished and I'm not in great financial shape to be throwing good money around willy-nilly.

By: rhizome

rhizome — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:56:31 -0800

So use the free version.

By: cameron.case

cameron.case — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:01:46 -0800

The free version doesn't have all the features I need rhizome.

By: dammitjim

dammitjim — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:10:29 -0800

Which features do you most need? Quickly looking at the feature list of Network Magic Essentials, I don't see anything - other than the Network Map - that Windows doesn't already do, though maybe not as simply as Network Magic does. I assume you're using this on Windows.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:10:48 -0800

Wait, I just paid $25 for what I thought was a license. That was a subscription? You sure?

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:12:52 -0800

What I meant to say was: Verify that your "subscription" is "expiring." If you're a basic home user, the current license is $30 straight up and their website trumpets "no annual or monthly fees" -- so you might be OK after all.

By: cameron.case

cameron.case — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:28:04 -0800

@stupidsexyFlanders: Oh heck, I think you're right. I thought it was a year subscription, and they even sent me an email a few days ago to purchase NM again (a few days before my year was up).

By: ewagoner

ewagoner — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:41:44 -0800

Network Magic used to be subscription only, paid by the year or month to month. I dropped them a year or so ago, and it sounds like they have changed pricing in the meantime.

You may need to call them to see if you license is expiring, and if they changed pricing since you bought, maybe they have a license conversion plan.

By: cameron.case

cameron.case — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:04:35 -0800

Ok, from the Network Magic website:

Question
Does Network Magic require a subscription?

Answer
Network Magic no longer requires a subscription.

Network Magic is a one-time purchase and all Network Magic product keys have been converted to permanent.

Thanks ewagoner.

By: wordwhiz

wordwhiz — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:35:21 -0800

I've been considering buying NM. Does it really let me share a (non-network) laser printer across a wireless network? Or does it have to be a network printer after all? TIA.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:36:25 -0800

Yes, it does that, as long as the printer is hooked up to one of the computers on the network. That's why I bought it. Sharing the printer just didn't work for me but NM made it happen right away.