Microsoft TechNet Love

[AlgaeEater]

I don't see why anyone would renew. If you sign up and create an new account, you get all new keys for all products. What is the advantage of simply renewing?

This gets me too. I always see a lot of deals for new subscribers, but renewals get the shaft on discounts. Granted they are already suppose to be discounted, but nowhere near the savings of new members. Also - you DO get new keys with a fresh account, even though most of us probably won't even get to near that amount of usage on our old ones anyway.

I only have to rant on this because I remember the $99 new subscription was only for new members and couldn't be used for extensions.

 

[Gillbot]

Is this item for $159 at Provantage.com the same thing?

https://www.provantage.com/microsoft...1350217481.htm

Credit to the fatwallet thread, if it is good anyway.

looks similar, anyone know for sure?

 

[country2]

Here is what I found out about it

"TechNet Plus Direct is the definitive resource IT professionals rely on to resolve technical issues, plan and implement Microsoft technologies and build IT skills. A TechNet Plus subscription is the most convenient and reliable source for managing and supporting Microsoft products and is available anytime, anywhere. TechNet Plus Direct offers the following benefits: access to full-version Microsoft software for evaluation and beta releases; two complimentary Professional Support incidents; access to more than 100 managed newsgroups with next business day response; a selection of free Microsoft e-Learning courses; management tools like System Center Capacity Planner; service packs and security updates; and access to the TechNet Library and Knowledge Base."

So I would have to say same thing.. there is a comparison of the direct and the single user subscription here
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/bb892756.aspx

 

[Jimbo]

Jimbo the thing is they do expire per se. They are not supposed to be used past that one year. If you continue to do so you're in direct conflict of the EULA. Sure if you continue to use it you will be able to but in reality, if you can afford it, you should renew your TechNet sub. That's what I did. On top of that, you continue to get access to newly released software.

Can you please post the relivant section of the TechNet EULA that states that?

There are other benefits in belonging to TechNet, such as support and education resources, but I have seen nothing in their EULA that prohibits me from using their software after the first year.

 

[Gillbot]

From what i've been reading, they may NOT expire which is contrary to what i've always been told. I've contacted my rep for further clarification.

 

[country2]

I read to EULA as I was also under the impression that when your subscription expires that your right to " evaluate the software " also expires with it. But saw nothing in the EULA confirming that, and it also says the software "never expires" and nothing about what happens to the software after the subscription expires...

 

[Gillbot]

I read to EULA as I was also under the impression that when your subscription expires that your right to " evaluate the software " also expires with it. But saw nothing in the EULA confirming that, and it also says the software "never expires" and nothing about what happens to the software after the subscription expires...

same here, I read through technet till I was blue in the face but couldn't find anything concrete.

 

[Spike]

While a specific statement or omission of said statment from the EULA is definite I point out a section in the Technet Product Keys FAQ. Notice the bolded part... seems kinda odd they would allow you to acess and see your old keys if your no longer subscribed unless the keys don't expire.

"Expired Subscriber Access
Q: After my Subscription expires can I still download products and claim product keys?
A: Only Subscribers with active subscriptions can download products and claim product keys, so you will not be able to download products after your Subscription has expired.
You will be able to view Product Keys you had claimed while your Subscription was active, but you will not be able to claim new keys. In order to access your prior claimed keys, you will have to Sign in to Live ID using the account and Subscription information that you had used to access your subscription benefits and claim those keys.
NOTE: Based on program and agreement restrictions, some expired Volume License subscribers are not currently entitled to view their previously claimed keys."

 

[Jimbo]

I just went on TechNet and all of my keys are still visible and my TechNet status expired in May.
Retail, static activation and multiple activation keys are all still there, until Microsoft decides otherwise.

 

[JBT]

I've let my technet sub expire before. You can still see and use your keys but you can't download anything anymore. So just make you save that .iso. you also cannot request new keys.

If my sub is expired I just renew once something is out that I want.

EG I was in on the $99 subscription and got Vista and Server 08. My sub expire and I didn't renew. Win 7 launches I resub and get win 7 and all the other new stuff. You don't need to resub until there is a new product you want.

 

[Gillbot]

Is this item for $159 at Provantage.com the same thing?

https://www.provantage.com/microsoft...1350217481.htm

Credit to the fatwallet thread, if it is good anyway.

so have we verified that the provantage is the same thing?

 

[Blain]

Jimbo the thing is they do expire per se. They are not supposed to be used past that one year. If you continue to do so you're in direct conflict of the EULA. Sure if you continue to use it you will be able to but in reality, if you can afford it, you should renew your TechNet sub. That's what I did. On top of that, you continue to get access to newly released software.

Can you please post the relivant section of the TechNet EULA that states that?

That would be interesting to read.

 

[country2]

so have we verified that the provantage is the same thing?

Per the part number given and the description I found on the net I would say it is...but there is only one way to tell so who is gonna try it first?

 

[ahenkel]

I emailed Provantage to see if I could get clarification. If this is the same I'm gonna be on it like a Junkie on rock.

 

[country2]

I emailed Provantage to see if I could get clarification. If this is the same I'm gonna be on it like a Junkie on rock.

Please keep us informed

 

[country2]

Found this from a post on fatwallet

"To the person asking about Provantage... the Price Level D package you linked to is an "add-on user" pack to allows you to upgrade a 1-user TechNet OpenValue license to a 2-user OpenValue license. So now, Provantage is not cheaper. Plus you have to qualify for each package with Provantage, where direct purchase from Microsoft doesn't have requirements to verify."

So it's not the same...oh well

 

[Gillbot]

crap

 

[regpfj]

I got technet through microsoft for ~270 after tax. Between the five computers in the house, not to mention the ebay and craigslist subsidies it should work out okay.

That is sarcasm. I will not sell keys on craigslist or ebay or anywhere else for that matter. In fact, after the one year is up, I'll have a bonfire and put all my hard drives in there along with the last copy of the username and password with which I signed in to technet. And I'll eat some strychnine and do a Hemingway to make sure I take the secret of the Windows licenses to my grave.

 

[Blain]

Why hasn't the pertinent EULA information been posted yet?

 

[country2]

oops wrong one...anyway I found it the other day on the technet website ...its there somewhere

 

[Blain]

Not sure why this thread hasn't been locked yet. It has nothing to do with hot deals at this point.

Sure it does.
It's a big discount on the MS TechNet subscription.
One thing we're waiting on is the part of EULA that some claim limit the software keys to be only valid under an active subscription.

 

[country2]

Sure it does.
It's a big discount on the MS TechNet subscription.
One thing we're waiting on is the part of EULA that some claim limit the software keys to be only valid under an active subscription.

Already been mention there is nothing in the EULA that says that.

Any way here is the link..

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/cc294422.aspx

 

[Engineer]

Not sure if helpful, but FloridaBill just posted coupon TNWIN7L on SlickDeals for 28% off. Didn't read through this thread enough to see if it's a good deal!

 

[esquared]

I have just spent a lot of time cleaning up this mess.

Now from this point on. No more discussion on ways around this Tech Net subscription and what each one of you may or may not be using it for.

No more finger pointing, no more thread crapping, no more opinions of what each of you think the EULA might compromise. I have read several by some of you and they all are different so we will keep that out of this thread or I will lock it up.


esquared
Anandtech Administrator

 

[Engineer]

I have read several by all of you
esquared
Anandtech Administrator

I didn't post one so how could you have read it by me?

(j/k)