Technet Plus changed and Reduced number of Keys to 5

pparks1 · 25 Sep 2010

cluberti said:

If you're doing heavy-duty testing, MSDN is probably a better license deal in the long run anyway, honestly. It's always been a far broader and more flexible subscription, but I suppose that goes with the 10x price increase for it as well.

Actually MSDN subscriptions, while allowable for testing, are only allowable for testing applications that you or others are building. It's for showing off your applications and becoming familiar with the Microsoft tools available for you to develop your application.

The following page specifically says that MSDN is NOT allowable for

Use Microsoft software to understand features to make usage, deployment or purchase recommendations or decisions.

Use Microsoft software with 3rd party applications to make usage, deployment or purchase recommendations or decisions on the Microsoft software.

Become familiar and keep up to date with the latest Microsoft software to support internal or external clients using or deploying the software.

MSDN Subscriptions | Compare MSDN and TechNet Plus Subscriptions

So, as you can see, MSDN is not the catch-all application that many people think it is.

mickey megabyte · 25 Sep 2010

Dave76 said:

... MS seems to be willing to refund the sub if requested.
...

cluberti said:

...then you'll have to rely on whether or not Microsoft would refund you if requested. From what I understand, they are doing this, so at least that's going for you if you really do feel wronged by the change...

they only give refunds if your subscription is less than a month old.

it's a pity that m$ have taken down their FAQ page (they've even removed the link to it now), then we won't need to debate all the niceties of the subscription. why won't they publish the FAQs?

myhken · 25 Sep 2010

The FAQ is in place on Technet:

TechNet Subscriptions FAQ

And the number of keys have never been mention on their FAQ, home page, comparison page, comparison sheet or Microsoft Software License Terms so nobody can say that Microsoft ever have advertised for 10 keys per product.

If you read their FAQ, can you then tell me that you not are getting what you paid for:

What is Microsoft® TechNet Subscriptions?
TechNet Subscriptions is a subscription program designed to help IT Professionals prepare for critical issues and plan for future deployments by providing them with fast and convenient access to the latest software for evaluation without time or feature limits1; beta releases; Professional Support Calls; and other technical information and tools to get their jobs done faster. Read the TechNet Overview for a list of the features included with a TechNet Subscription.

WindowsStar · 25 Sep 2010

jimbo45 said:

BCXtreme said:

Next thing you know, they'll be taking Technet away completely and just selling $99 "developer" copies of Windows, where a dev "only" has to pay $99 for each key. And who's going to get burned by it? I'll give you a hint: it won't be the pirates.

"Shhhhh -- You aren't supposed to RELEASE that yet -- this is due for implementation on Jan 1 2011 as we have to sucker all our EXISTING suscribers first".

Actually I think their way of "Anti Piracy" is going the WRONG way -- reducing to just TWO keys for the STANDARD subscription should see some of the more well known places significantly increase their activity.

It's been proved OVER and OVER again -- in fact Ad Nauseam that the more expensive and difficult to obtain you make a product the more the Pirates work at it -- Music industry a great case in point until some people saw sense at selling tracks at 50 - 99 cents a track.

I really wonder who works at these giant corporations -- even your local friendly Gorilla in the Zoo could work this one will just cause a MASSIVE increase in Piracy -- and with W7 really stable these days you could use it for YEARS without needing updates -- so no detection of "This softwre is Not genuine" type problems.

Incidentally one of the MOST Pirated pieces of Software is PHOTOSHOP due mainly to its HUGE price.

I paid for mine via legal upgrade but when a brand new copy can cost more than your ENTIRE PC
you can see how a whole industry gets spawned.

There has to be a SENSIBLE compromise between REWARD for intellectual property (W7, Photoshop or whatever) and the price charged to customers.

However we are veering away from the central issue of MS sneaking in a change without informing their customers.

This WILL spawn Piracy big time -- just wait and see.

Cheers
jimbo

+1 as history has shown you are most likely right!

myhken · 25 Sep 2010

MS has now update on of the two Technet FAQ with this info:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../dd464803.aspx

Anti-Piracy Policy Changes
Q. NEW Question: Why weren’t TechNet subscribers notified in advance?
A. Unfortunately, Microsoft was not able to communicate this policy change in advance because it would increase the programs exposure to piracy if it became widely known that key availability would become limited. Having said this, as soon as the change was made we updated the TechNet Subscription user portal messaging, FAQ, and notified the Call Centers to ensure customer issues and concerns would be addressed appropriately. We regret this may have caused any inconvenience or confusion to legitimate subscribers.
Q. What is the anti-piracy policy change?
A. Microsoft is committed to helping prevent software piracy, which often results in end users being the victims of software counterfeiters. Counterfeiters abuse product keys to create fake software packages and distribute these to the public. These packages are not licensed, do not have support, and can also include malware and spyware. Therefore, Microsoft has decided to limit the number of product keys available through TechNet Subscriptions, for all products, to five for TechNet Professional and two for TechNet Standard. TechNet Subscriptions is intended to support software trial and evaluation, versus a production environment. We offer other programs for volume purchasing and installation. We believe this change maintains a sufficient number of product keys for the majority of our customers based on usage data, while greatly reducing the overall risk of piracy and counterfeiting. We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion that this action may have caused our subscribers.
Q. How many keys do I get with the products I download or receive on disk as part of my TechNet Subscription?
A. If you purchased a TechNet subscription through a Volume License agreement you get Volume Licensing keys for the products that need them. For purchase directly from Microsoft or through a reseller the following applies:

TechNet Professional (RETAIL): Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of five keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process.
TechNet Standard (RETAIL):Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of two keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process.

Q. I used to be able to receive additional keys with my TechNet Subscription, how come I no longer can?
A. Microsoft regularly reviews its product offerings relative to customer usage and other market conditions. As a result we have decided to make this change to the TechNet Subscriptions program. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Q. I don't have enough keys and/or activations to evaluate the software on all of my machines. What do I do?
A. In additional to purchasing another TechNet Subscription, there are trial versions of Microsoft software available from the TechNet Software Evaluation Center located at Technet Evaluation Center

hackerman1 · 25 Sep 2010

myhken said:

MS has now update on of the two Technet FAQ with this info:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../dd464803.aspx

Microsoft has decided to limit the number of product keys available through TechNet Subscriptions, for all products, to five for TechNet Professional and two for TechNet Standard.

2 / 5 keys for ALL products !?

myhken · 25 Sep 2010

hackerman1 said:

2 / 5 keys for ALL products !?

The change is only for Desktop products, at least for now. The only programs thats has got their keys count cut is:
Access 2007/2010
Office 2007
Office 2010
Windows 7
Windows XP

BCXtreme · 25 Sep 2010

I was actually thinking of getting Technet in 2011. Not anymore. This is ridiculous, and they're horribly mistaken if they think it's going to stop or even slow down the pirates.

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." -- Princess Leia

24c · 25 Sep 2010

TechNet Professional (RETAIL): Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of five keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process.

Does this sound like the keys expire with the Subscription?

pparks1 · 25 Sep 2010

BCXtreme said:

I was actually thinking of getting Technet in 2011. Not anymore. This is ridiculous, and they're horribly mistaken if they think it's going to stop or even slow down the pirates.

How can you complain about the price? You get 2 keys and 10 activations each for Windows7 and for Vista, and for XP and for Office and the list goes on and on. And it's only $199. Technet costs less than 1 retail copy of Windows 7.

As far as slowing people down...sure it will have some impact. People were selling their keys. Now they are not. THat will reduce some of the users who obviously weren't crafty enough to get it via any other method.