Microsoft MSDN Subscriptions 7.0 Professional Upgrade [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005NGPE
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 22, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,358 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #100 in Software > Programming > Development Utilities
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get priority access to developer resources, including everything needed to build XML Web services and applications with an MSDN Professional subscription. Receive the latest Microsoft technologies and information upon release through subscriber downloads and automatic shipments. Developer-licensed versions of Microsoft operating systems are also included for fully testing a broad range of applications.

Subscribers are given priority access to the latest versions of Visual Studio .NET Professional, allowing them to build next-generation Internet applications for any Internet device, integrated with any platform. MSDN Professional includes a comprehensive set of technologies for testing applications, and developer information through the MSDN Library and technical support. Developers can get uninterrupted access to the latest Microsoft technologies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online and through regular CD or DVD updates. MSDN subscribers will always be on the cutting edge of development with ongoing access to the latest Microsoft tools and platform technologies.

Note: Customers purchasing this subscription will receive a form that must be filled out and returned in order to start the subscription. Actual CD-ROMs will come directly from Microsoft once the subscription is started.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best value in development tools, June 15, 2003

By 

GadgetGuy (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft MSDN Subscriptions 7.0 Professional Upgrade [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Microsoft has offered MSDN subscriptions for some time now, and as most who might read this review already know, they're offered in a number of levels. For my money, MSDN Professional offers the best balance of functionality and cost. And the Upgrade version is a particularly good deal.

I started out with a copy of Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Standard Edition -- mid-2003 cost, around $$$. Owning this inexpensive tool not only provides an excellent introduction to Visual Basic and .NET technology, but it's your ticket to buy into MSDN with an Upgrade version, at substantial savings over the non-Upgrade version.

Whether Upgrade or non-Upgrade, you get the same goods. It starts with a whole pile of (development licensed) software, making it easy to set-up an entire development testing lab. And you also get Microsoft's suite of languages in the form of Visual Studio .NET, opening the door to any type of (Microsoft platform) development you'll ever want to consider... Desktop apps, web apps, Pocket PC apps... You name it.

Also key is MSDN content. You can access it online, and with this (or any other) MSDN Subscription, you have it all right on your desktop at any time, wherever you are. Thousands of useful articles, tips, techniques, and regular ol' documentation.

Of course, you also get the benefit of regular mailings of CDs or DVDs (your choice) with updates on software, SDKs, tools and more.

Note that -- as with all MSDN packages -- you're basically getting an empty box. Once received, you have to register the product, which triggers the fulfillment of the rest which are sent by mail. This requires roughly a couple of weeks. But soon enough you get a nice, big box of goodies. Piles of CDs in handy sleeves, a couple of different options for carting them around with you (a hard plastic master case, and a small nylon carrier for those on the go), among other things.

If you belong to the open source / Linux / Java universe, you wouldn't consider this tool to start with (and it would do you no good). But if you develop for the Microsoft platform -- or want to start -- there's no better value, and no better tools for the purpose.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Amazon is shipping EXPIRED not valid MSDN Professional Subsr, September 17, 2004

By 

D. Yang (San Antonio TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft MSDN Subscriptions 7.0 Professional Upgrade [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Just received MSDN Subscription 7.0 Professional Upgrade that cannot be activated.

According to Microsoft, MSDN retailers were told about the product with older activation code that will not be valid back in 06/2004.

But Amazon is still shipping out this expired product which is NO GOOD.

I have to wait 3 more weeks to get MSDN.

What a hassle.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for professionals, November 11, 2004

By 

David Chappelle (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft MSDN Subscriptions 7.0 Professional Upgrade [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

The box you receive from Amazon contains Visual Studio .NET 2003, but the CD key code that is enclosed is useless. Unfortunately, they do not tell you this until after you spend an hour installing the software. I had to call Microsoft and have them explain why two attempts at installation failed. You have to go to Microsoft's web site and register there, and they mail you the full package. It took 1.5 weeks to get the package of DVDs. You get VS.NET 2003, VS 6.0. MSDN Library, all the operating systems back to Windows 98, SQL Server 2000 Developer's Edition, and various SDK/DDKs, plus the current beta versions of Windows, VS.NET, and SQL Server.

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 have to be activated. You get 10 activations per subscription. Microsoft says if you reinstall on the same CPU, it doesn't count towards your activation count. The older operating systems do not have to be activated. The OS DVD is bootable so you can either build from scratch or upgrade an existing installation.

Even though this is sold as an upgrade, I was not prompted for my old CD keys.

This is a useful, if expensive, package for professional developers. If you have a lot of machines to QA with, it's really nice to be able to have older OS's like Win98 around. VS.NET 2003 is a nice IDE for .NET development.