TechNet Plus Subscriptions

[WobbleWobble]

I'm interested in playing with the whole Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and its related server systems. This is for my own personal development and was originally looking at the Action Pack but realized that the TechNet Plus subscription would fit my needs better. They recently made available a download-only subscription at a very reasonable price at $350 USD for 12 months and $250/year renewals.

The availability of virtual machine software has made this even more attractive to me as you no longer need multiple physical machines to pull of a test domain, Exchange Server, MOSS server etc.

Does this sound like a good subscription to get? As I previously mentioned it will only be used for my own personal development and not in production. Also, while I intend to continue renewing my subscription. Are the keys time-bombed?

 

[Se7eN S1N]

The Technet Subscription is timebomb for 180 days only I think, (I could be wrong since I am not a technet plus subscriber) I am in a similiar situation as you currently, I am still playing with all the beta release till they expire. if you were one of the earlier subscribers for the testing you will probley have more than one license for you to play until offical study material is released

 

[Nocturnal]

I'd like to find out too. If not, you probably could go with an MSDN subscription.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Se7eN S1N
The Technet Subscription is timebomb for 180 days only I think, (I could be wrong since I am not a technet plus subscriber) I am in a similiar situation as you currently, I am still playing with all the beta release till they expire. if you were one of the earlier subscribers for the testing you will probley have more than one license for you to play until offical study material is released

This is incorrect. From the Technet site:

Did You Know? TechNet Plus Now Offers a Download-only Subscription!

With TechNet Plus Direct you get all the software, tools and resources you?ve come to expect from TechNet Plus without monthly media shipments. All subscription resources are available online ? no need to wait for discs.

As a TechNet Plus Direct subscriber you can access all of your subscription benefits from the new TechNet Plus Benefits Portal, including:

Servers, desktop apps, Windows Vista and more in the Subscriber-only Download Center
Product Keys to use for ?time-bomb free? evaluation
Two Professional Support Incidents
Managed Newsgroups
Online Concierge Chat
Microsoft E-learning Courses

pcgeek11

 

[RebateMonger]

Hmmm....when did Microsoft start including full-version software downloads with TechNet subscriptions? I guess I missed that one.

It looks like the "Single User" version of Technet Plus is $350 if you are willing to download the files and burn your own disks. The licenses are intended for evaluation purposes only.

In contrast, the Action Pack is $300, gives licenses for ten users, and business use is allowed.

Another (free) alternative:
For "playing" with Windows Servers, you can also just download free 180-day trials of most everything from Microsoft. I run them in (free) Virtual PC 2004, setting up virtual networks, complete with Servers, Clients, Exchange, etc. You just have to re-install things every six months.

Regarding "time-bombed" software:
While Microsoft hasn't been enforcing their subscribers-only license terms, it's VERY likely that new products (like Vista) WILL enforce the licensing and will disable licenses if you don't keep your subscription up to date.