Question about TechNet Plus Subscription?

The Microsoft TechNet Plus subscription allows you access to tons of Windows software as long as you are a member. It says "Evaluate full-version commercial products without time limits or feature limits". If I were to get a one year subscription and not renew the following year(s), am I still able to use that software indefinitely?

 

Yes. Within the limits of the license. Technically, the software is licenses for use in non-production machines. The software does not expire, though, and continues to update.

 

Correct. The keys you acquire during your subscription will also continue to work for new installs even after your subscription expires as well. Up to the limited number of activations that is, which is usually 10. The moral is that once you subscribe you should request keys (and download the disk images) for everything you might possibly ever want before your subscription lapses.

As gerry says, the EULA states that they may only be used for "non-production" machines. Clearly this eliminates using them for any sort of commercial use, but whether your personal PC constitutes a "production" machine is open to interpretation. My guess is that Microsoft is well aware that the bulk of technet subscriptions are purchased by hobbyists who want to run stuff like Server 2008 in their house but would never pony up $700 for a single copy. Or they've got 6 PC's at home and they want to install the latest OS on all of them.

I think technet is the best deal in software. I re-subscribe every year.

 

To confirm, I allowed my subscription to lapse last year and have made several installs since then and the keys still work. I mainly use them for test scenarios as well as virtual machines and multi-boot PCs.

I need to keep maintain OS familiarity with all the MS operating systems and server OSs which would financially kill me if I had to buy them all retail or even OEM.

I'm sure when Windows 7 and Office 12 go live I will re-up, but there didn't seem to be a need at the time I allowed it to lapse.

 

I will most likely wait for Win 7 and Office 12 as well.

I have multiple machines at home used mainly for personal use and hobby that I want to update with either Vista or Windows 7. Most are running XP. I may also want to run Server 2003 or 2008 on my home server to act like a TRUE domain server instead of a workgroup. I'm getting giddy just thinking about it (ok I'm a geek).

Typically, with a new OS, I do a fresh install, update all the drivers and install common apps and then make an image. I rarely do a new install, except when things get really FUBAR or do a significant hardware change (like a motherboard).

What happens after the 10th activation? So if I reinstall on the same machine, does that constitute as an activation, even if no hardware has changed?

At the price of a full product, or even upgrade or OEM, if you have more than a few machines it's worth it. For me, $350 for one year to update a half dozen machines, and get a new subscription every other year if need be, would be more than worth it.

 

My personal experience is that an activation counts as an activation, even if it's a reinstall on the same machine. Ten is ten, whether 10 reinstalls on one laptop or one install on ten diffeent laptops. When you hit 10, it won't activate any more.

Now a couple of things to keep in mind about that. First, you can get a key for each different version. So for say, Office 2007, you can get a different key for Office Professional, Office Professional Plus, Office Enterprise, and so forth. Same with the OS's. So you'll ultimately get (assuming that they do it the same as with Vista) different keys for Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise. That's a lot of activations.

Secondly, you can actually request more than one key per product. They don't just give you keys for everything, rather you log into your account on the web site and go to the product you need and choose "Get Key." It immediately generates a Product Key for you. Once you've done that you see a new option...Get Another Key. Click that and...yeah, you get another key. I have no idea how many times you can do this (and I'm not going to raise any red banners on my account by testing it) but I've requested 2 keys in a row on a single product with no issue.

So really, unless you're just churning out installations right and left you shouldn't have any issues. Like I said, just make sure you request the keys (and get the images) you want while your account is still active. Or better yet, resubscribe. It's only $249 if you renew.

 

do you get windows home server licences there as well? just curious. and htwingnut, that could be something for you. no need for imaging at all then. auto-backups and simple restoring included

 

Yes. Windows Home Server is available.

So is MS-DOS (6.0 or 6.22), Windows 3.1, 3.11, and 3.2 (3.2?) if you're feeling nostalgic.

 

haha sweet

 

Cool, thanks guys. Looks like $349 will be well worth it when Windows 7 comes out and most likely will renew for $249 if all goes well.

Ooooh, Windows 3.1! Can't wait... uh no. Main reason I didn't get into PC's originally (I had a couple Commodore Amigas) was I really really really hated Windows 3.1. Windows 95 was the best thing to ever happen to consumer PC's IMHO.

 

Are you sure about that? Windows Home Server was NOT available late last year when I checked. WIndows Server 2008, 2003 etc. were....

Technet Plus is intended as a learning resources for IT professionals and therefore doesn't have certain products.

For example, Vista Ultimate (32 and 64 bit) as well as Vista Professional were available, Windows Home Premium was not. Certain products intended for home use (Street and Trips, various digital photo software backages) were never available.

 

Yep, it's there now. You're right that it wasn't there last year but it was added in March.



You're also correct about the content being geared towards business and enterprise. Exchange Server and Sharepoint, yes. Consumer level photo apps or Microsoft Money, no.