Microsoft to shut down TechNet subscription service

[essenbe]

To appease the masses, Micrisoft may let us keep the keys we already have. But, they will not do it until next year. If they did it now, nobody would renew. Either I renew this week, or go out and buy 6 OS's. It would be a lot cheaper for me to 'kick the can down the road' than to spend that much money all at once. I suspect, even if they did decide to do that, it would only be for the ones who renewed and stuck with them until the end.

I have heard that others didn't renew in yeaars past, but their OS remained activated. But, they have never reinstalled and tried to activate it again. I suspect that's where the problem would come. I test stuff on my computer so often, I probably average a reinstall a month. Once you get it down right, it's rather easy to do.

I wish Linux was an option for me.

 

[alphanumeric]

Being an MVP I had the opportunity to sign up for both TechNet and MSDN, I'm glad I did now. Still for me even if they cancelled my keys it wouldn't be a big deal. I'm retired so I only used a couple keys. I'm happy just to have access to official unmodified Microsoft ISO images. Getting MDOP and MSDart was a bonus to. I think there would be a big backlash if they blacklisted TechNet keys when subscriptions run out. It wouldn't surprise me if they put a time limit on them though. Say 3 years or maybe 5 years after your subscription runs out and then they don't work anymore.

 

[HammerHead]

Gamblin' Man

I am going to gamble. My subscription is not up until Jan 19 2014. I do not see any advantage to me renewing. If my keys aren't any good, I guess there will be a lot of Linux flying around here.

D___! All this Windows software ............ down the tube.

 

[TanyaC]

I am going to gamble. My subscription is not up until Jan 19 2014. I do not see any advantage to me renewing. If my keys aren't any good, I guess there will be a lot of Linux flying around here.

D___! All this Windows software ............ down the tube.

+1. I just downloaded mint. Windows 8.1 is such a major joke it encouraged me to at least seriously try Linux again. Retirement of Technet is the final straw.

Seems Microsoft actually don't want customers

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

My subscription doesn't run out until august -- The only thing I could conceivably want is windows 2012 Server when it's released and possibly windows 8.1 enterprise which won't be available via Normal channels -- so I'll probably renew, grab all the remaining keys and that will be it. I really can't see TechNet being much use for me in future anyway -- New OS'es from Ms aren't likely to interest me a lot in future and newer versions of Office like 365 are likely to be subscription only.

I'll probably go for a small Linux system now and run a dedicated Windows VM on it with Photoshop, Visual studio and Ms Office which will satisfy my Windows requirements in future. I already have a W2K3 virtual server for running other legacy stuff anyway.

Apart from those three applications Linux now supplies everything I need to run -- and please don't mention Libre Office as I still really need Ms Office - for the sort of EXCEL stuff I do nothing else even comes CLOSE.

Running a Small Linux system (remove 90% of the standard Bloat supplied with most distros these days) with VMware you can run your Windows VM at almost native speed - especially on an SSD and it's PORTABLE too. On a USB3 external device you can boot your Linux HOST and start the Windows VM very quickly - plenty of SATA==>USB2 / USB3 adapters out there for running your SSD from a USB slot.

For Linux users --get VMware player (FREE) from here -- also lists Windows versions too.

http://www.vmware.com/download/player/download.html

As the emphasis on Cloud and subscription services increases the use of TechNet isn't an issue any more and given the direction Ms wants to go in I suspect it's actually the correct decision.

It certainly was a valuable resource for me in the past - now I don't really need it any more and am NOT interested in Cloud or subscription services.

I think there might be a new interest in Linux again - It's ironic that it's been started by Ms. !!

So TechNet --R.I.P but it was good in the past.

BTW another good reason for the VM's is that with the new 30/60/180 day trial software that Ms will release in future years makes it very easy for installing these several times if you need extended testing -- my view anyway is that new stuff should ALWAYS be tested on a VM first unless you really need to access the physical hardware - for example you are a development Engineer who needs to write hardware drivers for new devices.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[bobafetthotmail]

run a dedicated Windows VM on it with Photoshop, Visual studio and Ms Office

Did you try Wine? Photoshop and office should work on wine. Visual Studio... much less.

 

[smarteyeball]

Product keys downloaded as part of a TechNet subscription won’t expire,

If I'm interpreting this correctly, all my machines that are Technet activated will remain activated.

My subscription has been lapsed for a few years now and I've still been able to activate.

I wish Linux was an option for me.

Ditto. My rig just isn't Linux friendly and I need directX for games.

Wine's just not good enough in that regard. If linux could emulate DirectX (legally or 'loophole' legal, the take up of Linux would be massive.)

 

[cyrilhubert]

There goes my money!

 

[Vegas]

My sub expires this month, I will renew so I can try the latest releases for the next year.
Up until Win 7 came out I was a big Linux user. 7 brought me back to MS.
Unless there are big changes in the next year, Win 8 and the death of Technet will send me back to Fedora.
Oh well... was good while it lasted.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Mine expires next April so I think I'll just let it go at that.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Windows 8.1 isn't too bad with a third-party Start Menu or some tweaking, it does have some improvements.

The TechNet website isn't being pulled down though; I don't think so anyway.