Microsoft Dreamspark

PhysicsMan94 · 29 May 2013 at 21:10

Has anybody used this service here?

It seems too good to be true to me as I am a student wanting to download Visual Studio 2012 Professional edition for C++, it is priced at £500 normally - but by subscribing to Dreamspark I can apparently get it for free (for 12 months I believe).

https://www.dreamspark.com/student/default.aspx

Nymins · 29 May 2013 at 21:16

I get free Dreamspark access as well through Uni. I needed Visual Studio for one of my modules and it works just fine. No catch or anything.

PhysicsMan94 · 29 May 2013 at 21:19

Nymins said:
I get free Dreamspark access as well through Uni. I needed Visual Studio for one of my modules and it works just fine. No catch or anything.

Sounds great then, I'll have to subscribe to it! Thanks.

FredFlint · 30 May 2013 at 22:45

I joined websparks about six months ago and got 5*win 2012 server, visual studio 2012 pro and some other stuff.

Orcvader · 30 May 2013 at 23:08

By default, I was already part of the DreamSpark scheme on my first year of university. All I had to do was email the uni's IT department for my login details. This was a good 3 years ago though... looking at it now it seems the whole process of getting an account is a lot easier.

And I just finished my course as well, does that mean no more free software for me?

.

PhysicsMan94 · 31 May 2013 at 00:51

Sounds great, it will come in very useful! I don't know why so many people have it in for Microsoft - I think they're a great company.

TwoSaints · 31 May 2013 at 13:32

There wasn't a 12 month limit on it when I got my copy of VS 2010, it's still working now.

I also got 4 copies of Windows 7 (i.e. 32 & 64 bit versions, with and without SP1) and numerous other versions of windows and windows server as well as Visio.

Still have my account, although I'm not longer permitted to get new software through it, just my old licence codes.

cokecan · 31 May 2013 at 14:34

Dreamspark has been around for years, I had access to it when I was at uni too.

MS do like to encourage computing students to develop and what better incentive than to offer their software for free!

Just be aware than while it is free, there are a few T&C's applied, specifically that you aren't allowed to sell or make money off anything you've created using one of these free software packages.

lsg1r · 31 May 2013 at 16:48

FredFlint said:
I joined websparks about six months ago and got 5*win 2012 server, visual studio 2012 pro and some other stuff.

same here, I just got 2012 server, although that is no longer accepting new members and says something about no access to msdn etc after march 2014...

It seemed to work fine and I'm going to say dreamspark won't be much different

kitch9 · 31 May 2013 at 21:28

PhysicsMan94 said:
Sounds great, it will come in very useful! I don't know why so many people have it in for Microsoft - I think they're a great company.

You do realise they benefit greatly by people being trained and therefore tied to their products?

uniQ · 31 May 2013 at 21:47

If you think Dreamspark seems to good to be true. Don't research MSDNAA lol. As above it's not for 12 months but as long as you're a student.

You may be required to reverify after 12 months by logging in via athens or one of the alternative verification methods etc.

Orcvader · 31 May 2013 at 21:58

uniQ said:
If you think Dreamspark seems to good to be true. Don't research MSDNAA lol. As above it's not for 12 months but as long as you're a student.

Didn't MSDNAA turn into DreamSpark? At least it did for my uni's case...

Nymins · 31 May 2013 at 22:00

Orcvader said:
Didn't MSDNAA turn into DreamSpark? At least it did for my uni's case...

Same. I assume he means the standard MSDN.

uniQ · 31 May 2013 at 22:07

'Dreamspark Premium'