Technet Subscription - 25% off all Microsoft Store products!

[Freamon]

How extensive a range of software can you download via Technet? Is it everything incl. SQL Server enterprise edition?

[craig1]

How extensive a range of software can you download via Technet? Is it everything incl. SQL Server enterprise edition?

Link to Excel spreadsheet with all the products in each level is contained near the bottom of this page

[Joeman]

How extensive a range of software can you download via Technet? Is it everything incl. SQL Server enterprise edition?

pretty much, but not as good as an MSDN subscription as you dont get the dev tools...

[d000hg]

pretty much, but not as good as an MSDN subscription as you dont get the dev tools...

Don't you get Visual Studio? Or did you mean specific SQLServer dev-tools?

[Joeman]

Don't you get Visual Studio? Or did you mean specific SQLServer dev-tools?

nope, you need MSDN subscription to get VS.
Used to be able to get the "Empower for ISV" subscription for 200quid that had a full MSDN pro subscription, but thats ended now.

I think there is an "action pack" for developers that has a VS licence.

Technet is cheap (dodgy) way to get the OS and Office software on your new PC's - cheaper than buying Office Pro alone

[d000hg]

Yep, Action Pack has a variant with the dev tools. I just guessed from the name "TechNet" it was somewhat technically targeted. Clearly not!

[PAH]

TechNet is officially for testing and evaluating the software. So ideal for using in VMs.

The software is the full monty and only the licence terms restrict the usage. I take the pragmatic view that for my own use whatever I do with it is acceptable use.

Obviously if you start using it in a production environment or selling the keys you'll probably come unstuck at some point.

The action pack does offer VS but last time I checked you had to jump through hoops by doing one or more online tests, with the VS qualification requiring an extra test.


Stuff that, I'll just get Technet where you pay your money and they email you the activation key straight away.

You may need to get a Subscriber ID if you've not used Technet before (to get access to the downloads), which is supposed to take up to 36 hours after activating your subscription for the first time, but I'm still waiting for them to email me mine.

Fortunately I've got VS 2010 via my work as the client requires me to have it on my PC while I'm working from home, so Technet has everything else I need.

[PAH]

Technet is cheap (dodgy) way to get the OS and Office software on your new PC's - cheaper than buying Office Pro alone

It's not dodgy if for your own use, which includes your own use in a corporate environment. i.e. not on production servers. Each person needs their own subscription to be legit.

They've reduced the number of keys from 10 down to 2 due to plebs selling the keys on illegally.

Personally I'll be making use of the following in my own little VM test/dev environment at home:

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows Home Server 2011

Windows Server 2008 R2

SQL Server 2008 R2 (SQL Server 2012 due out soon and will be included in my current subscription )

Office 2010 (will only be using to test stuff for the client as I use Open Office personally)

So for £100 (after discount and vat reclaimed) for me it's a no brainer.

[TheFaQQer]

Office 2010 (will only be using to test stuff for the client as I use Open Office personally)

So for £100 (after discount and vat reclaimed) for me it's a no brainer.

WHS - plus Visio 2010, which the client keeps sending pictures in.

[d000hg]

TechNet is officially for testing and evaluating the software. So ideal for using in VMs.

It's not dodgy if for your own use, which includes your own use in a corporate environment. i.e. not on production servers. Each person needs their own subscription to be legit.

Definitely not for production servers or client-facing in any way, I think that's the same for TN and AP. But AP is definitely allowed for regular use in a small business for running your employee's PCs... that's kind of the point, to get your company hooked on MS practically for free.

So for £100 (after discount and vat reclaimed) for me it's a no brainer.

Is it £100 as a one-off, or £100 as the annual membership fee with TN? With AP, it's annual so ends up not being so cheap if you take observing the rules seriously.