Brightrev

If you're an IT Professional, aspiring IT pro, student, blogger or are just curious about testing full versions of Microsoft software, you can get access to almost all of Microsoft's operating systems, servers and non-developer applications by buying a $349 yearly TechNet Plus subscription.  TechNet Plus gives you access to install legal copies of Windows Vista, Office, Windows Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server, ISA Server and lots of other apps.  Keep reading for more details.

There are two basic licensing restrictions.  The first is that the licenses are restricted to a single individual.  The second is that the applications are intended for evaluation purposes.  Don't take this as legal advice, but if your company isn't ready to run Windows Vista and you buy a TechNet subscription to run it at home, I think that's a legitimate use.  You can even run Vista, Office 2007 and many other applications on multiple machines.  If you're planning an upgrade to Windows Server 2008, ISA Server, SQL Server or anything else, use a TechNet subscription to evaluate if your apps work properly on the new version. 

The first year of TechNet Direct, where you download ISO files rather than having discs delivered, is only $349.  In the past, yearly renewals have been priced at $299.  This also includes access to an extensive list of training videos and conference presentations in addition to two free Microsoft support incidents, which normally start at $259 each. This is less than the cost of a single copy of Windows Vista and Office 2007.  I use a TechNet Plus subscription so I can legally test, evaluate and learn Microsoft software both for my site and for my professional benefit.  If you've got multiple machines or want to learn Microsoft software, a TechNet Plus subscription is an absolutely great deal.

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comment form