Anyone here have a Microsoft Technet Subscription?

[Chopper]

Just recently came across this when they changed the amount of licences you get. What type of account do you have and is it pretty useful?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx

My question would be why buy an OEM Windows 7, when you could just buy this and get Windows, Office, Visio etc? Or am I missing something?

Because from what I understand it's all full version software... thoughts?

 

[dave-lew99]

Because it specifically says it's for evaluation use only...

Just like MSDN says it's for development use only.

 

[Broken Hope]

My question would be why buy an OEM Windows 7, when you could just buy this and get Windows, Office, Visio etc? Or am I missing something?

Because from what I understand it's all full version software... thoughts?

You're technically breaking the licence if you're using it full time on a home PC.

 

[stoofa]

Either buy OEM or Retail or don't bother paying for your licenses.
Using Technet licenses on your production PC - you're no more legal than somebody who has downloaded their software illegally.
So you might just as well save your money.

 

[Chopper]

I'm not sure I understand, is that not what it's intended for? What else would you do with a full version of Office or Visio?

 

[Ev0]

I'm not sure I understand, is that not what it's intended for? What else would you do with a full version of Office or Visio?

It's intended for IT professionals to give them quick access to current software for testing and evaluation purposes.

It is not intended for home usage, no matter how much you argue you're evaluating it

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/subscriptions/ms772427.aspx

What is Microsoft® TechNet Subscriptions?

TechNet Subscriptions is a subscription program designed to help IT Professionals prepare for critical issues and plan for future deployments by providing them with fast and convenient access to the latest software for evaluation without time or feature limits1; beta releases; Professional Support Calls; and other technical information and tools to get their jobs done faster. Read the TechNet Overview for a list of the features included with a TechNet Subscription.

 

[SiriusB]

I'm not sure I understand, is that not what it's intended for? What else would you do with a full version of Office or Visio?

Imagine even a small business. There are 50 people and a new version of Windows comes out. You want to upgrade. It would cost a lot of money to buy different versions of the new Windows to test it before deployment. It would be irresponsible to lay out several grand on new software before testing.

TechNet allows Administrators access to fully working copies of Windows and other software so they can test with minimum cost.

MSDN is similar but for developers. Imagine laying out the kind of money for all versions of Vista and 7 to test your software. Multiply that by the number of developers who need access to them. Again - lots of money!

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

I believe technically OEM versions are also not for consumers either (I think most people think they just need to be bought with hardware to make them legal). Again i'm sure people come up with justifications for using OEM for the home PCs.

 

[theheyes]

You can use it at home, but it's not a cheap way to kit out your house with all the latest stuff. I have a subscription but I buy retail copies for my computers.

 

[SiriusB]

I believe technically OEM versions are also not for consumers either (I think most people think they just need to be bought with hardware to make them legal). Again i'm sure people come up with justifications for using OEM for the home PCs.

This is correct. Technically OEM is for system builders only. So if you aren't selling the PC you have installed it on, you shouldn't have it.

Though MS doesn't appear to give a monkey's about it, since they don't stop the probably thousands of retailers who sell it to anyone.

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

This is correct. Technically OEM is for system builders only. So if you aren't selling the PC you have installed it on, you shouldn't have it.

Though MS doesn't appear to give a monkey's about it, since they don't stop the probably thousands of retailers who sell it to anyone.

What are Microsoft doing about the Technet licenses?

 

[Ev0]

You can use it at home.

You can also drive at 120 down the motorway, but doesn't make it 'right'

As said, having a technet sub for just home usage is not what it's for and goes against the terms, whether you can do it or not.

 

[SiriusB]

There was a discussion about this a while ago, and - unless anything has changed - there is nothing in the terms that explicitly forbids its use at home.

It is/was a bit of a grey area. And when you get grey areas you get "interpretations"!

 

[theheyes]

It says somewhere in the T&Cs it's fine to use it at home on the subscribers own hardware for evaluation purposes. Like I said it's not to be used as a site license for the family.

It wasn't advocating using it in this way.

 

[Pygmyshrew]

You can also drive at 120 down the motorway, but doesn't make it 'right'

Wow. Best. Comparison. Ever. Endangering lives by driving recklessly above the speed limit is comparable to running MSDN/TechNet software on your home PC

I'd like to think of this more as parking in parent and child with your child while your other half does the shopping, pretty harmless. MS aren't going to audit anyone who isn't abusing the licensing by activating it on 10+ machines I think some people are getting a little bit over excited and over dramatic on this thread!

 

[SiriusB]

There was nothing wrong with his comparison. He merely stated although you can go over the speed limit in your car, it doesn't mean you should. You're the one who infered lives being at risk were any part of this discussion! Perhaps you should be the one to be less dramatic!

 

[Pygmyshrew]

There was nothing wrong with his comparison. He merely stated although you can go over the speed limit in your car, it doesn't mean you should. You're the one who infered lives being at risk were any part of this discussion! Perhaps you should be the one to be less dramatic!

Right yes because 120mph down a motorway (as specified in his post) is such a minor thing it couldn't possibly be considered as over the top and dangerous and is a rational comparison to make here?

Suggesting the inappropriate use of a technet/MSDN licence (despite the fact everyone does it and MS knows everyone does it) for personal use at home is a comparable to speeding at 120 is way OTT. MS have all the safeguards in place that they want and they are monitoring windows activations. Anyone whos taking the pee will get flagged and you've already paid MS tons of money for these services they don't care where it's installed because they're not be able to prove you weren't using it for development or evaluation - it'd be impossible and they know that.

 

[SiriusB]

You're missing the point again...

He wasn't talking about consequences or risk. Just a simple statement that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. He chose the speeding analogy is all. You're the one blowing it out of proportion!

 

[Chopper]

I see what you guys are saying, but do you really need a full version of MS Office to evaluate? They way I understood it, it was for IT professionals to install at home and providing they were using it to learn the application, say for me to learn how to use Visio or Excel and maybe complete the Excel certification it would be ok? Will I use it for creating the odd list or reading an export of my bank account - yes. Does that mean I would be breaching the licience agreement, not so sure it's clear?

I mean do network admins really need it to play about with at home any more than tech support or power users?

 

[Ev0]

Jesus guys was only a statement to prove the point "just because you can doesn't mean you should"

I really don't see what people's problems are with this kind of thing and why they defend the misuse of software, but fair enough if that's what you think.

I see what you guys are saying, but do you really need a full version of MS Office to evaluate? They way I understood it, it was for IT professionals to install at home and providing they were using it to learn the application, say for me to learn how to use Visio or Excel and maybe complete the Excel certification it would be ok? Will I use it for creating the odd list or reading an export of my bank account - yes. Does that mean I would be breaching the licience agreement, not so sure it's clear?

I think part of the issue is with the evaluation wording. To you it sounds like you see evaluating as once the software is installed how do you use it, am I right?

Technet subs aren't meant for that, they are meant for all the bits leading up to that

For instance say a company wants to upgrade from office 2003 to 2010. What the subscription would allow would be for the professional to test the upgrade in a development environment without the need to purchase extra licenses.

They can test how the software installs, how it should be configured etc. Actually learning to use the software, to me anyway, isn't what this is for.

Technically yes you would be breaching the agreement, albeit in such a minor way, as you are using it in a 'live' manner.

What technet allows is for a professional to use the software in a development environment, which more than likely will be at a non home location.

I mean do network admins really need it to play about with at home any more than tech support or power users?

No, a 'network admin' as you put it would normally be concerned with the application, how it is installed and configured, in an office network environment, not at home. (in the context of a technet sub anyway )

Again to quote MS:

TechNet Subscriptions is a subscription program designed to help IT Professionals prepare for critical issues and plan for future deployments

Sadly it's not black and white as people have a lot of problems with this kind of thing, but using some logic from the basic statement above you can generally get the gist of what it's for.

Then it's up to you to justify it to yourself or not