How can I get hold of Windows Vista Beta software? How much is TechNet Plus?
Following my post about recent builds of Windows Vista I received a comment from hir8er pertaining to frustration about the cost or difficulty of getting hold of the Beta software.
This is the only blog post I've written over the last couple of years where I mention the price of anything or "push a product" BUT in this case a TechNet Plus subscription may be of interest - it entitles the subscriber to full access to full versions of Microsoft's infrastructure software INCLUDING Betas.
The TechNet price list specifies that you could use a TechNet Plus Single User subscription which will cost $499 per user per year. Standard TechNet costs $355.
What do you get for your money? What is the difference between TechNet Standard and TechNet Plus? Why pay for a TechNet subscription? Details of what you get for your money are located here. I've cut 'n' pasted the following summary from the site:
The TechNet Standard Subscription delivers:
• How-to information including the Microsoft Knowledge Base, Service Packs, Security Updates, and Resource Kits.• Access to Online Concierge for live help from a Microsoft Online Assistant, who will help you pinpoint technical content on your subscription media, the Microsoft Knowledge Base, and other Microsoft online resources.2
Subscribe to TechNet Plus and you will also receive:
• New! Full-version software licensed for evaluation purposes. Includes Microsoft Office System and Windows Server System software.1• New! Enhanced support options including two complimentary technical support incidents to help you resolve mission-critical system issues.2
• New! A 20% discount on additional phone support for supported Microsoft software.3
• Unlimited Managed Newsgroup support. Post your technical questions in over 100 public newsgroups.2
• Beta software. Get pre-release versions of Microsoft software to keep up to date on the latest technologies.
Comments
- Anonymous
January 01, 2003
It's been a long time coming but finally TechNet Plus subscriber downloads provides online access to... - Anonymous
May 12, 2006
I am a Technet Plus subscriber, and do find it extremely valuable. However, subscribing in order to get access to the latest beta code would in my view be a mistake, as Technet Plus subscibers get sent the Beta versions of Vista between one month and three months after their release to official beta testers. It is VERY frustrating. I have heard that steps are in progress to resolve this - I hope so :-) - Anonymous
May 12, 2006
The comment has been removed - Anonymous
May 13, 2006
The comment has been removed - Anonymous
May 15, 2006
Just one thing Steve -
Even as an MSDN Universal customer, we only get the "landmark" CTP releases and betas, all of the more frequent interim builds only go to the official testers... nor do we get any kind of access to the beta newsgroup to feed back bugs or participate in the test proper.
Rather peculiar that paying MSDN members aren't as trusted/eligible for testing as people who have just filled in the webform on the connect/msbeta site! - Anonymous
May 15, 2006
The comment has been removed - Anonymous
May 15, 2006
Stephen> I understand your frustration. The theory goes that interrim builds (such as 5342) have specific fixes to be tested by those who reported them hence they're not published to MSDN. Such builds haven't been through the same level of internal testing as regular CTP builds.
It's not an issue of lack of trust / eligibility. I've been sticking to the CTP builds so that I can share my findings with you all - there seems little point having a build that I can't blog about. Build 5353 is the most recent one that's been shown in public & I have agreement from the product group that I can show it.
I'll ask the MSDN team to read the comments to this blog post as I'm sure they'll be interested.
Thanks for taking the time to add your comments. - Anonymous
May 15, 2006
I don't think the "quality" of a beta is a great argument, it's all preview code and as long as it's denoted correctly (milestone, interim, etc) then those with access to the likes of MSDN should be able to interpret accordingly.
Look at it from another angle, since the last CTP there have been some pretty big documented changes, none of which will be available to my guys to start looking at until B2 drops later this month. Beta2 is also apparently the first "general consumption" beta, so MSDN provides us very narrow inside-track if any.
For us, the CTP builds have been a bit of a token gesture and the strong contrast between Vista and the previous XP beta program will create a degree of hesitation when it comes to renewing our MSDN subs... - Anonymous
May 15, 2006
Steve,
Thanks mucho for being a goto guy and ferriting out this difficult to find information, I really do appreciate it.
If I could prevail on you once more, though. I'm getting ready to start a little business, basically supporting/implementing MS products. Someone suggested I look at the MS Partner program, and the <a href="http://members.microsoft.com/partner/indonesia/actionpack/content.aspx">Action Pack</a>b. It's a sweet deal, and actually has more of the stuff I need ... except for one thing ... the Vista betas!
My question is this - do you know if there are any plans to allow beta downloads by Partner/Action Pack folks? it seems like a wise move for MS, as they'll need to get the sales/support ecosphere ramped up on Vista sooner or later. - Anonymous
May 16, 2006
Stephen> Interesting feedback. If you get a mo. please could you expand upon the "strong contrast". - Anonymous
May 16, 2006
Bryan> No worries. The Action Pack is certainly a good way to get access to MSFT software for use in production environments (limited to 5 servers I believe).
I haven't heard of plans to extend to Betas but that makes sense as (to the best of my knowledge & I'm not an expert in this field) the remit of the Action Pack is for production use. - Anonymous
May 16, 2006
Just that at my previous firm, as both participants in the XP Beta and MSDN subscribers we seemed to get the same material either side of the fence. - Anonymous
May 16, 2006
Stephen> And you will in the near future when we change the way the TechNet downloads site works - it's due soon - sadly I can't share the date with you as it may change but I can tell you that it's being worked upon as I type and we're committed to improving the TechNet Plus experience ASAP. - Anonymous
May 16, 2006
Great to hear it, thanks Steve. I take it anything which is done for TechNet will also go for MSDN members? - Anonymous
May 17, 2006
Stephen> That's the plan - Anonymous
June 27, 2006
For what it's worth, the TechNet Online Concierge told me that my Technet Plus subscription did NOT entitle me to downloads. When they announced Vista beta 2 availability to MSDN and TechNet subscribers back in May, it was really only to MSDN subscribers -- us TechNet people were told it would be in the July mailing. Kind of ironic that the general public gets these releases before people that pay for the opportunity to evaluate them. - Anonymous
June 28, 2006
Stian> I'm sorry you've had a bad experience. You WILL be able to download the software images for Microsoft infrastructure software very soon as a TechNet Plus member. - Anonymous
July 07, 2006
I am in total agreement with Stian. I finally convinced my boss to allow me to order tnp, only to find a week later I could apply as a regular civilian and download beta 2. what gives, now I look like a total fool, when I am suppose to be the guy in the know!!! Telling people that subscribing to tnp will allow you to get beta software (VISTA) and then saying you can have it after everyone else downloads it is like false advertising. You know if this happened at a Wal-Mart people wording be screaming for the manager!!!!:) - Anonymous
July 07, 2006
Larry> I share your frustration. I'm direct in both my posts and comments and certainly haven't tried to mislead anyone. I've been working with the team to push for the same download experience as MSDN - I was reliably informed that it would be the case by the end of June - clearly that's not been the case - it is close - I'll push some more.