Microsoft Office & Sql Server prices eek!

[Durbs]

Have I missed something as this seems to good to be true I need XP x64 (maybe vista x64), Server 2005 (bigger than 4gig DBs's), Outlook, Office, Excel so i there are all provided its a great deal.

Action pack is great, cant recommend it enough, you get a bumper pack of goodies you normally wouldn't get to use. You wont get XP & 2K5 though if you join now. Just Vista (you get multiple Ultimate & Business licenses of 32 & 64 bit) and SQL 2K8. Hopefully Win 7 will be dropping through the door soon as well.

The exam is a no brainer so dont worry about that!

[HairyArsedBloke]

Apart from the "Yo Ho" option; isn't Visual Studio/SQL Express versions free?

[AtW]

The catch with Action Pack is that you have to pay for it every year, however if you have got plenty of PCs (like I do), then it works out as a very good deal - it's so good that no wonder Microsoft doesn't really want to promote it...

MAP includes XP 64-bit - I use it a lot and it's brilliant, effectively you get Server 2003 SP2 for the price of a client OS - up to 10 licenses for it with MAP, so it is good stuff.

[AtW]

I've just looked into the MAP a bit more and it looks like you have to pass some microsoft test.

It's some retarded online test they added - I did not have to pass it yet since I was renewing my subscription, however it is not a big deal apparently, it's not like you have to pay them lots of money to pass test etc.

[AtW]

I keep hearing that PostgreSQL isn't bad at all.

It's a complete piece of tulip - stay away from it: I used it for 2 years with very moderate use and it was progressively getting slower requiring "vacuum" stuff, upgraded to MS SQL and it's fast and no this vacuuming bulltulip ever!

[Grinder]

Action pack is great, cant recommend it enough, you get a bumper pack of goodies you normally wouldn't get to use. You wont get XP & 2K5 though if you join now. Just Vista (you get multiple Ultimate & Business licenses of 32 & 64 bit) and SQL 2K8. Hopefully Win 7 will be dropping through the door soon as well.

The exam is a no brainer so dont worry about that!

Isn't easier to say/type 2005 and 2008 rather than 2K5, 2K8?

[Durbs]

Isn't easier to say/type 2005 and 2008 rather than 2K5, 2K8?

No. Try it now. Say out loud "2K5" and the say out loud "2005". Get with the "terms" grandad!

[expat]

I got my MS Office Pro for around £44 for 3pc license.

Benefits of having kids at school

... and being prepared to commit fraud

[blacjac]

The 'catch' with the action pack is that once your small business starts to grow beyond 10 employees you have to start paying ful price for licences, and seeing as you have already been using Microsoft for x years you are very unlikely to chuck it all in the bin and look for something else....


Quite clever marketing, I think.

[Grinder]

No. Try it now. Say out loud "2K5" and the say out loud "2005". Get with the "terms" grandad!

i hear what you say, but to me its like using txt-spk, or jargonising something that is simple.