*AVAILABLE NOW* Windows 8 Professional, VS 2012 Ultimate + more FREE with $19/$32 student membership to ACM/IEEE

**UPDATE**: Getting it through ACM may be dead, but IEEE is not. YMMV.

I logged in and checked to see what's new and noticed Windows 8 Professional is now available for download!

MSDNAA aka Dreamspark Premium is available free of charge for all student members of IEEE and ACM. ANYONE CAN JOIN! I understand that some schools already provide free access to Dreamspark Premium, but those of us who don't can join these organizations instead!

Student membership fees:
IEEE - $32 Linky
IEEE Software list: Linky
ACM - $19 Linky
ACM Software list: Linky

**NOTE**: ACM signups usually get their MSDNAA login within 2 days. IEEE signups take up to 8 days. See note below.

I've already downloaded and confirmed working installations of two free full versions of both Windows 8 Professional and Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate using memberships from both organizations. There is also tons of other MS software available such as Windows Server 2012.

ACM Typical Sign up Timeline
**NOTE**: ACM is cracking down on Student Status. No problem, If you want to join just fill out the requested information with a legit or seemly legit input
- sign up and ACM will send/give you log-in information for the ACM site.
- When you first sign up, there won't be an option for the advisor and school ID. Check back in your account on the main ACM page, log in if needed, under "myACM", "My Student Profile". There you will find the boxes to fill in the student ID and advisor name. If you don't see those fields, wait an hour or two and then check back.
- Once you fill those two in and click save, go back to "My Services" and click on the "Developer Academic Alliance" link. You should then have the opportunity to "opt in". Once you do, it will tell you to wait a few days.
- once you "opt-in", MSDNAA will send you their log-in info within 24 hours (check your junk mail folder - my email was buried in junk)
- once you got your MSDNAA login info, you will be able to log-in here http://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/ProductsByMajorVersionList.aspx?ws=7bac12f0-9f9b-e011-969d-0030487d8897&vsro=8 and download your software

IEEE Typical Sign up Timeline
Within approximately 8 days of your renewal and payment being processed or your new application being processed and accepted, a separate e-mail with user account and login information to access your free software will be sent to the e-mail address on your IEEE record. Please make sure you provide your e-mail address because that is the only way you will receive information about the offer.
- sign up
- wait <8 days
- get an email from MSDNAA

**UPDATE**: Evidently you cannot sign up for the half-year IEEE option at $16, so changed prices.

Interesting. A Student Member must carry at least 50% of a normal full-time academic program as a registered undergraduate or graduate student in a regular course of study in IEEE-designated fields.

How is this open to anyone?

How many licenses are you able to get?

I had already gotten my Windows 8 key from IEEE before I saw this post. It only let me get 1 English key and 1 foreign language key (I chose French) before it wouldn't let me get anymore

That makes 2 licenses from IEEE, 2 from Auburn's MSDNAA program, and a $15 upgrade for a laptop I bought... that should last me for a while I'm also enjoying VS2012 - they did a good job with it.

Note that Auburn's MSDNAA program is the "premium" one, so you get 1-license for 64-bit, one for 32-bit, then download the language pack if you need them. I suspect this is how most universities will work.

The IEEE site does not allow me to register for the $16 1/2 yr membership... its forcing a $32 full year membership.. Any ideas?

abcgiant said:   The IEEE site does not allow me to register for the $16 1/2 yr membership... its forcing a $32 full year membership.. Any ideas?

Stopped a while ago (Aug 16).

Eryeal said:   Dotbody said:   ...How is this open to anyone?
Good thing they don't check. So I don't mean to TC, but if you're not honoring the terms of service, why even bother paying $16-19 bucks for it? Why not go the "5 finger discount" method? In other words, why lie about being a student when you can just lie about owning it legally? I say this tongue-in-cheek, but I'm looking to understand.

On another note, I believe there are stipulations on what you can do with your licenses. When I had access to the MSDNAA as a student, I don't believe you could resell the computer(s) you install it on.

Ooops said:   Eryeal said:   Dotbody said:   Interesting. A Student Member must carry at least 50% of a normal full-time academic program as a registered undergraduate or graduate student in a regular course of study in IEEE-designated fields.

How is this open to anyone?

Good thing they don't check.

Meaning: if you are not student that would be a fraud, about as legit as pirated software ...

I wish they had something similar for High school students %) like Adobe has now.

Does your HS offer college level tech courses (A+, Network+ etc...)? If so you can check and see if you get Dreamspark with them.

GudSpellur said:   Ooops said:   Eryeal said:   Dotbody said:   Interesting. A Student Member must carry at least 50% of a normal full-time academic program as a registered undergraduate or graduate student in a regular course of study in IEEE-designated fields.

How is this open to anyone?

Good thing they don't check.

Meaning: if you are not student that would be a fraud, about as legit as pirated software ...

I wish they had something similar for High school students %) like Adobe has now.

Does your HS offer college level tech courses (A+, Network+ etc...)? If so you can check and see if you get Dreamspark with them.
I am out of HS for awhile now. My kids still are, and I don't think they have this kind of classes.
I might check though, thanks for the advice.

I'm already a full IEEE member, but never heard about this. Is this for everyone or just students?

For folks considering ACM I'd *guess* that the risk of them pulling Win8 before you can get access to it, is not zero. It looks like, from what I have read on other forums (I am not getting in on this deal because I have mostly gone to Linux) that they still have their disclaimer about not having Win7 from their last debacle. I am guessing their threshold this time around will be lower. Not saying don't do it but just be prepared in case you don't get Win8 for your $16.

Dotbody said:   So I don't mean to TC, but if you're not honoring the terms of service, why even bother paying $16-19 bucks for it? Why not go the "5 finger discount" method? In other words, why lie about being a student when you can just lie about owning it legally? I say this tongue-in-cheek, but I'm looking to understand.

On another note, I believe there are stipulations on what you can do with your licenses. When I had access to the MSDNAA as a student, I don't believe you could resell the computer(s) you install it on.

If you look at it by this analogy, you're obtaining the software from a more reliable source (Microsoft itself) than from pirated sources. They give you a legit key, so you won't have to jump through hoops to circumvent anti-piracy measures. Assuming the keys don't expire (I'm almost certain they don't), you also don't have to worry about the crack/key used to "activate" the software breaking in the future as often happens with pirated MS software. And it's much lower risk (aside from if IEEE/ACM realized you weren't a student), so you don't have to worry about getting a nastygram or the possibility of malware being embedded in it.

Nonetheless, should I jump on this now if I'm a student (CS, so i'd probably sign up with ACM)? Or is the deal disappearing just a concern for those who aren't actual students?

Thanks for the heads up! Checked out my MSDNAA account and it's very much there.

Portions of the IEEE Web site are currently unavailable

^^ Uh oh

I have been a member of IEEE for over 20 years and I have no idea how to get on to this deal. MSDNAA account? I never heard of such thing and when I login to my IEEE account, I see no way of getting the account. Searching for "MSDNAA" or "dreamspark" on IEEE website seem to tell me that this is only for student member.

Same here. Can't find where to access Windows 8 software for full/regular members. Anyone has direct link for non-student members?

ambrisht said:   Same here. Can't find where to access Windows 8 software for full/regular members. Anyone has direct link for non-student members?

There is no direct link. You are given the MSDNAA account access by email when you sign up for a IEEE/ACM student membership. Regular member does not get access.

I had inadvertently subscribed to a magazine for $5. I just called IEEE to get a refund. While she was processing it I asked her about the MSDNAA. She confirmed that I would get an email in about a week with the login info. Sweet.

Shouldn't this be under free things worth less than $5 forum? :-P

Thanks OP....

bob12751 said:   ACM does NOT allow you to get Windows 8 from what I see. They specifically say that $19 level does not get you "Microsoft Dreamspark Premium package." Premium package is required to get a client version of Windows 8. see: dreamspark website

I signed up through IEEE, and I did manage to get one license key through Dreamspark Premium. I went back to get a second key, just in case, and that's when I saw that Win8 was no longer there. This deal appears to be dead *unless* you really can use all the developer tools that are included. Without Win7, Win8, Word and Excel, there isn't a widespread appeal to most everyday users.