3 ms·

Well $539/yr is not quite the same as $500 for life. Plus, MSDN software should only be used for development, using it e.g. as a workstation would technically b

by 4ad 9y ago

Well $539/yr is not quite the same as $500 for life. Plus, MSDN software should only be used for development, using it e.g. as a workstation would technically be a violation, albeit one that is unenforceable. And yes, I am aware that if you install it in the first year, it will continue to work long after your MSDN license has expired. My interest is not in "getting it", or "keeping it working", but rather doing everything 100% legally, not through loopholes. Otherwise I might just as well get a Windows 10 LTSB MSDN license key for $25 from people who illegally sell MSDN keys on reddit. However, I am pleasantly surprised that there is a MSDN tier that only costs $539/yr instead of the $10000/yr (!) it used to cost. Also, apparently now MSDN is available for anyone, previously you had to enter into some kind of business contract with Microsoft, it wasn't available to individuals.

cm2187 9y ago
Nah you don't need to renew it. You pay $1200 upfront and it comes with a bunch of license keys, each allowing multiple activations, that you get to keep even if you do not renew the subscription. Renewal is only if you want a key for future versions of windows (Windows 11?), which there won't be according to Microsoft. The catch is that the license prevents you from using it as a main/production machine, it's for dev, testing and demo only.
- 4ad 9y ago
  Yes, see my rather extensive edit. It's only $539, though. The cheaper MSDN tier seems to include LTSB according to the product matrix.
  - cm2187 9y ago
    Which tier are you refering to? I thought VS Pro was the cheapest option.
    - 4ad 9y ago
      Ah, it's cloud subscription vs standard subscription. This is the proper link: https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ So it's $539/yr for cloud vs. $1,199/1st yr + $799/2nd yr for standard. Also on the same page we can see the differences: > After the subscription expires, can use the software that was available during the active subscription term (“perpetual” use rights) For standard it's YES, for cloud it's NO. It seems to be enforced, because lower on the page: > Must connect to the Internet to check license status at least once every 30 days For standard we have NO, and for cloud we have YES. So unfortunately, you are right. It's $1,199 (more or less), not $539.
      - cm2187 9y ago
        In your link the "Software for dev/test" is blank for cloud subscriptions. It comes with TFS licenses but I do not believe it comes with Windows licenses, even for the period of the subscription.

by 4ad 9y ago

cm2187 9y ago

Nah you don't need to renew it. You pay $1200 upfront and it comes with a bunch of license keys, each allowing multiple activations, that you get to keep even if you do not renew the subscription. Renewal is only if you want a key for future versions of windows (Windows 11?), which there won't be according to Microsoft. The catch is that the license prevents you from using it as a main/production machine, it's for dev, testing and demo only.

4ad 9y ago
Yes, see my rather extensive edit. It's only $539, though. The cheaper MSDN tier seems to include LTSB according to the product matrix.
- cm2187 9y ago
  Which tier are you refering to? I thought VS Pro was the cheapest option.
  - 4ad 9y ago
    Ah, it's cloud subscription vs standard subscription. This is the proper link: https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ So it's $539/yr for cloud vs. $1,199/1st yr + $799/2nd yr for standard. Also on the same page we can see the differences: > After the subscription expires, can use the software that was available during the active subscription term (“perpetual” use rights) For standard it's YES, for cloud it's NO. It seems to be enforced, because lower on the page: > Must connect to the Internet to check license status at least once every 30 days For standard we have NO, and for cloud we have YES. So unfortunately, you are right. It's $1,199 (more or less), not $539.
    - cm2187 9y ago
      In your link the "Software for dev/test" is blank for cloud subscriptions. It comes with TFS licenses but I do not believe it comes with Windows licenses, even for the period of the subscription.