Bizspark only costs $100 for startups, and you only pay after 3 years of usage. It's a similar package to Tech Net. You essentially get free licenses to almost everything MSFT owns for 3 years if you're a startup. http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/BizSpark/Pages/At_a_Glan...
I've been using the service for 6 months. It's dreamy, and I haven't seen a single string attached. It's worth it just to get copies of Office Unlimited.
FTA: "WARNING: Using the trick above to subscribe to TechNet Plus without participating in the research activities is in fact illegal, and the subscription may be revoked and made inactive anytime (proof from 1/1/1900 expiration date)."
I don't know about illegal, but it might very well violate their terms of service, etc.
just received an email letting me know they've deactivated my account:
"Microsoft contracted with us, Intrepid Consultants, Inc, to conduct the TechNet Plus Pilot Study program research and manage the activities of the pilot study. Our records show that you have recently signed up for a free TechNet Plus subscription through a registration link that was made available without authorization on a public blog.
The registration link is part of a proprietary study and the party that shared the information was in violation of the terms and conditions to which they agreed to participate in the study. Membership to the Pilot study is limited and all members of the program are required to first meet survey requirements and then complete tasks and assignments over a two month period in order to qualify for and have access to the free TechNet Plus subscription. Since this was a privately conducted pilot study, at no time was it ever intended that a free TechNet Plus registration link would appear on a public internet site, which was done in violation of the terms to which participants agreed upon registering to participate in the pilot study.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but for this reason, we have deactivated your subscription, as well as all other subscriptions resulting from the unauthorized publication of the TechNet Plus Pilot Study program registration link on a public blog. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.
I can confirm that all the webpages in the sign up process are broken! No wonder MS can't create a browser that works they don't appear to have heard of the W3C validation tools - 49 errors and a few warnings on TechNet receipt page!
I had to hack the page to hide elements just so I could enter my details ... incredible.
[+] [-] iamelgringo|17 years ago|reply
I've been using the service for 6 months. It's dreamy, and I haven't seen a single string attached. It's worth it just to get copies of Office Unlimited.
MSFT is the low cost option for startups.
[+] [-] warrenmiller|17 years ago|reply
it's sort of like a crack dealers sales approach - get them fixed on it then make them pay.
warren
[+] [-] kierank|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mellampudi|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] miles|17 years ago|reply
I don't know about illegal, but it might very well violate their terms of service, etc.
[+] [-] sp332|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nailer|17 years ago|reply
"Server Error in '/offer' Application."
[+] [-] int2e|17 years ago|reply
"Microsoft contracted with us, Intrepid Consultants, Inc, to conduct the TechNet Plus Pilot Study program research and manage the activities of the pilot study. Our records show that you have recently signed up for a free TechNet Plus subscription through a registration link that was made available without authorization on a public blog.
The registration link is part of a proprietary study and the party that shared the information was in violation of the terms and conditions to which they agreed to participate in the study. Membership to the Pilot study is limited and all members of the program are required to first meet survey requirements and then complete tasks and assignments over a two month period in order to qualify for and have access to the free TechNet Plus subscription. Since this was a privately conducted pilot study, at no time was it ever intended that a free TechNet Plus registration link would appear on a public internet site, which was done in violation of the terms to which participants agreed upon registering to participate in the pilot study.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but for this reason, we have deactivated your subscription, as well as all other subscriptions resulting from the unauthorized publication of the TechNet Plus Pilot Study program registration link on a public blog. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.
Kind regards,
The Intrepid Consultants Team "
[+] [-] pierrefar|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Torn|17 years ago|reply
edit: keys generate for me just fine (I'm using Opera as it doesnt seem to work in IE7), and the downloads also work.
Make sure you have registered your Subscriber Benefit Access Number (BAN) number on your receipt to activate your account!
[+] [-] unknown|17 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] rman666|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] weegee|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|17 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] pbhj|17 years ago|reply
I had to hack the page to hide elements just so I could enter my details ... incredible.
[+] [-] pbhj|16 years ago|reply