Technet/MSDN members, post your excitement for RTM in 3 days here!

By egeek84
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

Obi-Wan Kenobi

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Wish I still had my technet. It would be fun to play around with. Oh well. Looks like I'm going to have to skip 8. Darn it.

Proficient

streetw0lf

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I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

And I know I know I know I know I know I want W8.

My apology to the Pointer Sisters

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Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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Which Technet Subscription should I buy to be able to download them?

Just wanted to give you a heads up. I'm not sure about what your long term usage of the products you download from technet is, but they have changed how long you can uses the keys. Once your subscription expires so does your keys.

Apprentice

egeek84

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Just wanted to give you a heads up. I'm not sure about what your long term usage of the products you download from technet is, but they have changed how long you can uses the keys. Once your subscription expires so does your keys.

Question about that, in the event that the keys do expire, would I be able to just buy a key online and activate my software?

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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Question about that, in the event that the keys do expire, would I be able to just buy a key online and activate my software?

I don't see why you should not be able to do. I don't think they give you special technet versions.

Apprentice

egeek84

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I don't see why you should not be able to do. I don't think they give you special technet versions.

Thanks. I'm hoping Microsoft doesn't deactivate the keys but it's nice to know that I am not SOL in case they do. In any event though, income permitting, I plan on renewing my Technet sub anyways.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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Thanks. I'm hoping Microsoft doesn't deactivate the keys but it's nice to know that I am not SOL in case they do. In any event though, income permitting, I plan on renewing my Technet sub anyways.

They use to give you 10 keys per product... now what is it 2?

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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oh is it really? wow. Yeah I remember you could get like 10 keys or something like that before

Yes if you read about all the changes they have made, it makes a technet subscription now look really unattractive.

Apprentice

egeek84

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Yes if you read about all the changes they have made, it makes a technet subscription now look really unattractive.

Yeah, this ZDnet article talks more in depth about the changes: http://www.zdnet.com/to-fight-piracy-microsoft-tightens-msdn-and-technet-terms-again-7000000131/

Here?s what the new subscription terms will entail when they take effect later this month:

Fewer license keys. For current versions of Windows client software and Microsoft Office, the number of product keys that MSDN subscribers will be allowed is reduced from 10 to 5. For older versions, only three keys are allowed. TechNet subscribers will continue to be allowed three product keys per version.

Fewer keys available per day.If you?re an MSDN or TechNet subscriber, the number of keys you can claim per day will be reduced from approximately 55 to 10. The intent, of course, is to prevent would-be pirates from paying for a new subscription and then quickly claiming hundreds of product keys and reselling them to unsuspecting customers.

Fewer products.In current editions of these subscription-based offerings, you can download any version of Microsoft Office as well as the standalone products that make up the Office collection. When the new terms kick in, all of those standalone programs will be removed, along with older, unsupported software versions. You?ll no longer be able to download Office 97 or Windows 98, for example.

For TechNet customers, the biggest change of all is the elimination of perpetual license rights. Currently, you?re allowed to continue using any software and product keys you download as part of your TechNet membership, even after your subscription expires. Under the revised terms, new and renewing subscribers will get time-based rights that apply during the subscription term only. The new, simplified subscription agreement makes it clear:

The subscription provides you with access to software and associated benefits. When your subscription concludes, you will no longer have access to the software or any associated benefits and must discontinue your use of the software.

That doesn?t mean that the software itself will stop working, of course. Instead, the license expires along with the subscription, and you?re expected to stop using the evaluation copies.

Although the changes sound drastic, the actual impact should be minor for most subscribers. Each product key can be activated multiple times, which means that an allotment of 3-5 keys can used for dozens of installations. A legitimate subscriber can also request additional keys, and Microsoft says that each such request should be honored within three days. The company says it has also beefed up its support escalation process to deal with potential issues caused by the change in terms.

The new TechNet subscription agreement (four pages of plain language, compared to the current 15 pages of legalese) also makes it clear that the program is for evaluation and isn?t intended as a way to acquire cheap licenses. These bullet points are in section 4 of the new terms:

  • You may not use the software if you do not have an active subscription.
  • You may install and use the software on your devices only to evaluate the software.
  • You may not use the software in a live operating environment, in a staging environment, or with data that has not been backed up.

If you?re a current subscriber to any of the affected programs, you have a couple weeks before the new terms take effect. Product keys you claim now will remain available later, as will software you download.

Given the scope of piracy, these changes are understandable, but for longtime subscribers they?ll be a bit of a shock. Cue the howls of protest in 3, 2, 1 ?

Honestly, I am only planning on using the subscription to test Windows 8 on two computers in my IT environment so all I would only be utilizing two product keys lol

Grand Master

devHead

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Yeah, I have to say that now I am excited. I've kind of been on the fence about whether to install it or not, but I think I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge. The thing is, I'm probably not going to renew my Technet subscription at the end of September, so I probably won't be getting Office 2013 before it comes out, but that's not a big deal. I'm running the Preview now, and I like it.

Actually, I think seeing someone's screenshot of their Start screen made me realize that I can remove pretty much most of the Metro apps and keep shortcuts for the programs I use most (which are Desktop applications) on it. So, it will be a good thing in the end. Having gone back to Windows 7 since using the RP, I have to say that I understand a little better getting rid of the Start menu paradigm with the single column and opening subfolders for apps. It's just not the best way. I'm not saying the Start screen is a perfect solution, but it's definitely not as annoying as I originally felt. Plus, making the icons for regular programs larger and putting the text on the bottom like Metro apps makes it look a lot more cohesive.

Question about that, in the event that the keys do expire, would I be able to just buy a key online and activate my software?

Technically speaking, your keys don't 'expire'. Microsoft is saying that those who allow their subscriptions to run out and don't renew cannot legally use the software anymore. But nothing physically will happen to your keys or installation of the software.

I'm pretty thrilled. Can't decide if I should upgrade from RP or clean install.

It's unlikely you'll be able to do an upgrade that will retain all your settings and programs. After all, the RP is basically a beta version of the OS. But I could be wrong.

Apprentice

egeek84

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Technically speaking, your keys don't 'expire'. Microsoft is saying that those who allow their subscriptions to run out and don't renew cannot legally use the software anymore. But nothing physically will happen to your keys or installation of the software.

Oh, phew. Thanks :)

Grand Master

Roger H. Veteran

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Definitely looking forward to Wednesday. Will be getting a few things to play with as I wanna test out Server for work also :) Gonna set it up and run a server for a few weeks and see how that goes :)

Definitely getting Windows 8 for my laptop though. There were some nagging things in the CP and even the RP but it's better now. I've been "testing" with the leaked RTM versions and it's been ok, can't wait to really get down to testing apps, clients and servers together though :)

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