Reply to: Cheapest(legal) way to get MSDN and...

[Durbs]

But they don't seem to be interested in helping a normal non-software company either (i.e. one that builds its own software for its own use but isn't a software company).

Because you should be contacting your friendly local Microsoft Partner for all your software doings.

[thunderlizard]

I think that's the point. Helping a freelancer isn't so much in their interest as helping a 'real' company who are likely to grow and buy lots of full-price stuff later.

But they don't seem to be interested in helping a normal non-software company either (i.e. one that builds its own software for its own use but isn't a software company).

[d000hg]

they are basically targeting independent software houses.

I think that's the point. Helping a freelancer isn't so much in their interest as helping a 'real' company who are likely to grow and buy lots of full-price stuff later.

Just out of interest, how much extra do you get in the Visual Studio Pro version that you don't get in the Express (free) versions?

http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudi...s#compareTable

[thunderlizard]

hmmm. For I do also have a company that is less than 3 years old and doesn't do any of those "services to others" - it's a listings website. And that would be the first beneficiary of my VS2010. I wonder whether a listings website counts as a "Software Startup", like http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/ seems to want.

If not, they are basically targeting independent software houses.

[VectraMan]

Wow, that Bizspark option does seem to contain VS2010 Ultimate + MSDN for literally* no money at all.
Unfortunately my company is a lot older than 3 years! but you young whippersnappers should definitely go for that one if the T's & C's aren't too onerous.

Start a new company?

I noticed this:

Startups cannot be in the business of providing services to others such as hosting, Web agency, system integration, or outsourced development.

[lilelvis2000]

You can also try this Andy Leonard : Project Phoenix

Well I certainly am!

[thunderlizard]

Wow, that Bizspark option does seem to contain VS2010 Ultimate + MSDN for literally* no money at all.
Unfortunately my company is a lot older than 3 years! but you young whippersnappers should definitely go for that one if the T's & C's aren't too onerous.



*not literally

[lilelvis2000]

Well, if you are lucky and attend a meeting where an MVP is offering MSDN free. But those occasions are rare.

BizSpark is probably the best and I think you get a equivalent of MSDN subscription with it. Check out Home and BizSpark Software and Tools

[VectraMan]

or £219 on the QBS special offer.

+ VAT = more or less the same as MS (which is £270, not £280).

[thunderlizard]

Not with MSDN, but you can get an upgrade from 2005/8 standard to VS2010 Pro for £280. I bought 2005 standard 5 years ago, so this is what I was going to do.

or £219 on the QBS special offer.

Unfortunately I want my TFS.

[VectraMan]

Just out of interest, how much extra do you get in the Visual Studio Pro version that you don't get in the Express (free) versions?

In the C++ version you don't get MFC and ATL. Pro has things like the profiling tools, and also Express doesn't have the ability to use add ins or macros.

I've been using VS2010 C++ Express on my plan B-2 project (based on an MFC project but I've moved it to use wxWidgets instead), and had to rewrite a small bit of ATL based COM code to get it going. But other than that it seems to do everything I need. I would think the case for C# Pro is even weaker, but a lot of legacy C++ apps use MFC so Pro is the only option.

[PRC1964]

Just out of interest, how much extra do you get in the Visual Studio Pro version that you don't get in the Express (free) versions?

[VectraMan]

After much prevaricating I've decided I want VS 2010 Professional with MSDN subscription. Any happy shoppers know how to get it reputably for less than £905.20 + VAT before I hit the QBS checkout?

Not with MSDN, but you can get an upgrade from 2005/8 standard to VS2010 Pro for £280. I bought 2005 standard 5 years ago, so this is what I was going to do.

[d000hg]

They've 'refactored' MAPS and moved the dev part into a new thing. Look at:
Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design

Three MSDN for Microsoft Action Pack Development and Design subscriptions that provide access to the latest versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional development system, Microsoft Expression Web design software, the Windows and Windows Server operating systems, and Microsoft SQL Server database software for development and testing.

and
BizSpark

# Less than three years old?
# Making less than US $1M annually?

But it might be a little confusing and their site is shockingly, genuinely shockingly bad. Whenever I talk to them on the phone they seem to say different stories too but the truth's in there somewhere.

[thunderlizard]

Same question, v1.1

After much prevaricating I've decided I want VS 2010 Professional with MSDN subscription. Any happy shoppers know how to get it reputably for less than £905.20 + VAT before I hit the QBS checkout?