Microsoft shutting down TechNet subscription service

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See Microsoft to shut down TechNet subscription service[/url] for details.

Joe

--Joe

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I guess bad news from Redmond will never end.

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Yep, got the email here as well. Fortunately I had just renewed, so I’m good for close to a year.

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I think a lot of subscribers were like me–a non-ITprofessional, but rather a computer enthusiast and Microsoft fan. TechNet gave us a way to access and “play” with all the Microsoft products. Evidently, we’re no longer wanted in the fold. Non-pros will never have the access to the free stuff that Microsoft says they are going to provide IT Pros in lieu of TechNet subscriptions.

Yes, Redmond truly is bad news.

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Gates launched the PC market, Ballmer’s going to decimate it.

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Perhaps this is the punishment for many techies hating the TIFKAM/’Modern’ interface in Windows 8?

Later…
There’s an interesting article on the shutting down of the Technet service in The Register.

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Excellent article. Thanks BATcher.

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I just renewed last month too, so I have best part of a year before my membership ends.

Big concern, though, is that sometime over the last year, M$ changed the rules such that the license keys were only valid while your membership was current. Does that mean all the Technet keys will be invalidated as our memberships run out? Will we need to go through and replace any remaining Technet key with newly purchased retail keys? If so, what about products that M$ no longer markets or supports? I guess I’ll just have to stop testing on older platforms.

Perhaps the Penguin beckons?

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All interesting questions, I fear they are not answers, for now, at least.

One option to consider, as an alternative to Technet, may be the Action Packs. This requires registration as a Microsoft Partner, and then an answer to a rather outdated questionnaire, but it is only slightly more expensive than Technet Pro, but actually includes usage rights.

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One option to consider, as an alternative to Technet, may be the Action Packs.

What are the Action Packs???

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One option to consider, as an alternative to Technet, may be the Action Packs.

What are the Action Packs???

Software available through the Microsoft Partner program.

Joe

--Joe

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Sign the petition. Can’t hurt…

http://www.change.org/petitions/microsoft-corporation-create-an-affordable-msdn-subscription-comparable-to-technet?utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

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Signed.

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An interesting post from Ed Bott: http://www.zdnet.com/five-things-every-technet-subscriber-needs-to-do-before-time-runs-out-7000017687/

I never knew the subscription includes 5 Office365 licenses! These will be good for a full year after activation.

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