Microsoft Technet Standard (multiple Windows 8 early!) $175 Amazon.com (dev. licences)

My Technet Pro is up for renewal. I never even thought about looking at Amazon. Usually $249 for me at Microsoft, $223 at Amazon. Better than nothing...

too bad Amazon is charging taxes now ....

Not really a bad deal. Last subscription I had was $99, which was a steal. And I've been waiting for that to return, but it's now been probably 3-4 years. According the reviews, it's now limited to 2 licenses, each for 5 PCs. But I don't see anyone claiming you need to renew the sub to retain those licenses. Obviously that a deal killer, in the extreme. And frankly, it's hard to imagine even MS being that draconian. Seems to me they'd be much more likely to limit the total licenses, at least if they don't want major backlash and lost revenue. But still, I’m hesitant until its confirmed to be non-expiring.

@landenpc

This is what is in the Subscription Agreement:

6.Activation
The subscription requires activation. You are only permitted to activate the subscription in the geographic region in which you purchased the subscription. Some of the software may also require activation. You must activate the software within the geographic region in which you activated the subscription because program benefits and services are tied to the geographic region where the subscription is activated. You may use the software in any geographic region. For further information on geographic restrictions, visit: go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=141397.

7.Product keys
The software may require a key to install or access it. Not all software is provided with the same number of keys. You are responsible for the use of any keys assigned to you. You may not resell, share, assign, or otherwise transfer keys. Key activity is monitored. Microsoft reserves the right to suspend or terminate your subscription, without any notice or obligation to you, if Microsoft detects suspicious activity related to keys or activations. Microsoft reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether an activity constitutes suspicious activity. Suspicious activity could include, but is not limited to, keys being activated in geographic regions that are different from the geographic location of the subscription activation or purchase, downloading of a large number of keys, and other similar activities. Microsoft may deactivate or otherwise limit your keys when your subscription ends. Deactivated keys will not be able to activate software.

"You are only permitted to activate the subscription in the geographic region in which you purchased the subscription."

Are they joking?! So I move my family from Michigan to Texas, it's all over?! I'm on the road and need to install, I can't? LOL

Looks like another reason to get a VPN client, one that can let you select specific regions.

Apparently it is getting more and more draconian.

So you get 2 licenses for each product that can be used on 5 PCs and will expire if you don't renew? Is that a proper summary?

Also on a related note regarding Windows 8... if you've been "abusing" the Windows 7's OA2.1 method of OEM_SLP offline activation via SLIC 2.1 table modification, bad news. Windows 8's OA3.0 is a much, MUCH tougher way to abuse. It's not simply a table in the BIOS anymore, they've ramped it up so much that even legit users of the OEM_SLP machines will face reactivation if certain amount of hardware are changed.

Bottom line, you can get a retail copy of the Windows 8 for $40 (if I am right), or get the rest (such as new Office and Server 12) EARLY if you wish to pay more.

Just curious because this would apply to me so I'm wondering if it in my best interests not to renew

Why renew? just buy a new one. You can keep on using your old keys.

MS is trying to squeeze as much as they can. People are no longer upgrading like before. Look at the number of XP installs still out there.

IrishBrewer said:   What happens if you got your Technet subscription prior to July 16th when the licence keys were "perpetual"? Does that mean that if you do not renew (which would trigger a new agreement), you can keep these licenses going forever but you would just loose out on not being able to get any new keys after your licence did expire?

Just curious because this would apply to me so I'm wondering if it in my best interests not to renew so I am "granfathered" in to the terms that were in effect when I purchased.

MS product license keys issued through TechNet / TechNet Pro have never been legal, perpetual licenses so there is nothing for MS to grandfather in for existing subscribers. Legally, according to the TechNet subscriber agreement, you could never use those MS products licenses after your TechNet sub expired. Nothing has changed. What has changed is that MS is now enforcing electronic compliance to their TechNet subscriber agreement. The same electronic compliance now also applies to MSDN and Action Pack subscribers as well.

Renewals cost less.

How much to renew? I thought the price is already very low for new sub.

Will Windows 8 roll into this? I see the beta release, but does the technet subscription apply to software released after the subscription is purchased?

Guys, just wait until Windows 9 comes out. Then I bet you can get a retail Windows 8 license for much cheaper!! Pure genius move.

tcool93 said:   Technet has been getting worse and worse every year. Probably to the point its no longer worth the money.

They have changed the terms AGAIN. Now for anyone who signs up or renewed July 16th or after. Now apparently your software licenses will only be active as long as your subscription is active (apparently this doesn't apply to people who renewed before July 16th... or at least not until they renew next time). They also removed some software available to download.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms772427#qanda
http://www.zdnet.com/to-fight-piracy-microsoft-tightens-msdn-and...

This has nothing to do with piracy either, that is just an excuse they are using to screw their *paying* customers. Microsoft makes big bucks/free money off this.

edit: I think they state you are supposed to stop using the software after the subscription expires (they don't mention the removing of keys, but they probably could, I don't know). Which is opposite of what the perpetual license they had before. They're NOT going to turn off your licenses. It says what it always said: That after your sub expires you will no longer have access to the software which means you CANNOT DOWNLOAD ANY MORE SOFTWARE which is how it has always been and that you are SUPPOSED TO stop using it which makes perfect sense after your sub expires and has always been that way. Their words are being twisted. Read it carefully.

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.

MisterEd said:   tcool93 said:   Technet has been getting worse and worse every year. Probably to the point its no longer worth the money.

They have changed the terms AGAIN. Now for anyone who signs up or renewed July 16th or after. Now apparently your software licenses will only be active as long as your subscription is active (apparently this doesn't apply to people who renewed before July 16th... or at least not until they renew next time). They also removed some software available to download.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms772427#qanda
http://www.zdnet.com/to-fight-piracy-microsoft-tightens-msdn-and...

This has nothing to do with piracy either, that is just an excuse they are using to screw their *paying* customers. Microsoft makes big bucks/free money off this.

edit: I think they state you are supposed to stop using the software after the subscription expires (they don't mention the removing of keys, but they probably could, I don't know). Which is opposite of what the perpetual license they had before. They're NOT going to turn off your licenses. It says what it always said: That after your sub expires you will no longer have access to the software which means you CANNOT DOWNLOAD ANY MORE SOFTWARE which is how it has always been and that you are SUPPOSED TO stop using it which makes perfect sense after your sub expires and has always been that way. Their words are being twisted. Read it carefully.

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.

Their words in the licensing agreement are subject to personal intrepretation but MS's current actions speak louder than words. MS has already started electonic licensing enforcement with recent MSDN and Action pack subs through MS products that support MS Genuine Advantage updates so there is no reason to believe that they have not extended that practice to TechNet as well. In the past MS simply relied on ethical enforcement of their subscription licensing agreement but that has failed miserably.

MisterEd said:    They're NOT going to turn off your licenses. It says what it always said: That after your sub expires you will no longer have access to the software which means you CANNOT DOWNLOAD ANY MORE SOFTWARE which is how it has always been and that you are SUPPOSED TO stop using it which makes perfect sense after your sub expires and has always been that way. Their words are being twisted. Read it carefully.

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.

You are wrong. New Subscriber agreement states:

2. Access to software

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.

The old agreement doesn't have any language that talks about discontinuing use of the software after the subscription concludes, it's all new as of July. The only thing remotely related is this:
Subscription Services. In order to access or use subscription services that may be available to you, such as software downloads, technical support and product keys, your subscription must be active.
Which is describing the behavior of MSDN and Technet to cut you off from the downloads and being issued new keys once your subscription ends. I have expired subscriptions on my account and can access all the keys I requested before it ended, I just can't download the ISOs anymore. That's why I have them stored.

Up until around 7 years ago just about every technet and msdn license came with the DVD subscription which now costs extra. The ISO download was an added bonus, so the fact that they cut you off from downloading them wasnt a big deal since you had all the official microsoft pressed media in a binder anyway.

Needless to say, it IS a big change that does devalue the subscription if you don't plan on keeping it active.

Wait, so if I have three laptops (which I do) and change machines a few times during my Win8 use (over, say, two years) that means I can use two licence keys on 5 total installs (so 10 total at any given time)for $175? I frequently have multiple machines running and wipe/re-install a few times a year.

If so, this sounds like a good deal vs. buying individual licenses and dealing with activation issues.

Paul Thurrott has endorsed Technet as a way to save money for the tech geek type user. He's said if you know what it is and how to get it you can use it to save money. Most regular people have one PC and need one license. Geeks have many and need many.

More info from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms772427.aspx

What changes did Microsoft implement to TechNet Subscriptions in July 2012?
On July 16, Microsoft made changes to TechNet Subscriptions to better reflect the intent of the program – aiding IT professionals in evaluating current Microsoft software—and to help protect the integrity of the subscription from unsupported use. As part of this change, we:

Reduced the length and complexity of the User Agreement.
Made Microsoft software use and other subscription benefits available only during the 12 month subscription period.
Updated the list of products available for evaluation by:
Removing redundant or multiple instances of products. For instance: The full Office suite will be available for download, but not standalone Office products such as Outlook, Publisher, etc.
Removing products that are not intended for use in an IT professional managed business environment. For instance: Windows XP Home Edition.
Removing products that are no longer covered by extended support through the Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Standardized the 24hr product key claim limit across all programs and benefit levels at ten (10).
To review the terms of use, please refer to the Microsoft TechNet Subscription agreement that applies based on your acceptance date:

Prior to July 16 2012: TechNet Subscriber Agreement - Prior to July 16, 2012
On/After July 16 2012: Current TechNet Subscriber Agreement
Please provide feedback and share other comments via TechNet Site Feedback. If you require assistance with software evaluations as a result of these changes, please contact customer service.