MSDN/TechNet/ActionPack help

A

Ancalagon

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Hi guys,

I need to purchase a license for Visual Studio 2010. I run my own games studio so unfortunately there is no boss to pay for a license, I need my own.

I dont want to pay the R8000 asking price for a license from a store - what are my other cheaper and legal options? I have heard of the above mentioned subscriptions, but dont really know what they entail. Am I right in saying I would need to pay the subscription fee annually? Would any keys that I have used during that period become inactive if I choose not to resubscribe after 1 year?

I switched from using Visual C++ Express mainly because my brother asked me to do a website for him, so I needed Visual Web Developer express, and I had trouble installing MVC3/MVC4 with Web Developer express. Seems I'm not the only one. Which led me to believe, in a lot of cases I would only get proper support for any problems if I had a license for the real deal.
 
TechNet won't help you as there is no Visual Studio included with it. MSDN is the only one that you can take, ActionPack is falling away and is not for sale anymore, as far as I heard.

Why don't you look at BizSpark (http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/)?
 
I may have to just buy a license direct from MS for $799, since the cheapest MSDN license with Visual studio included is $1199.

How long would it take to be approved as part of BizSpark though?

EDIT:

There is also this little footnote about BizSpark:

Are you leveraging Windows 8, Windows Phone, and Windows Azure? If so, this might be a perfect opportunity for you.
Click to expand...

The answers to those questions for me are no, no and no.
 
The keys won't become invalid if the subscription expires. You just won't get access to any further keys or be able to download anything. That means you can subscribe, download all the iso's that you want, generate as many product keys that are needed/allowed and then use the software even when your account has expired. You can then renew the subscription which is cheaper than a new subscription when Microsoft release new versions of Windows, Office, Visual Studio etc.
 
PsyWulf said:
Technically speaking,once your subscription ends you are not allowed to use the software

As for your options,I rate either the Bizspark or Actionpack licensing is your best bet

https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/us/pages/membership/action-pack-dev-design-software-contents.aspx
Click to expand...

Well the Action Pack would have been great except that Microsoft's assessment center, where I am supposed to complete an assessment to become certified, does not work at all. So I cant complete the assessment, so I cant use the Action Pack. Great. I left them feedback letting them know.

Looks like my best option is buying a license from MS for $499. But thats better than the R8000 that Nivo Interactive wants for it.

EDIT: Great, the Microsoft online store does not allow international customers like myself. Thats just great.

EDIT 2: Alright, I've applied for BizSpark. I'm a bit worried because my Visual Studio 2010 Pro trial period expires tomorrow. So... not sure what I am going to do while I wait for BizSpark membership to be approved.
 
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