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TechNet Plus Subscription - to be or not to be. That is the question!

  • Article

You may or may not be aware that TechNet Plus has been in circulation for over ten years and in that time we’ve distributed in excess of 100,000 DVD and online subscriptions , however, you guys are telling us that even though it’s now available online, its just not hitting the mark so my question to you is - should we keep it as part of the TechNet programme or discontinue it?

I want to know if it is important to you or just a waste of DVD and web space! Let me know you thoughts.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    For those of you who read Georgina M’s blog you may have seen the lively discussion about TechNet Plus

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Excuse my typos in the previous comment... :)   To M@: I'll check into the 64 bit versions - thanks for the feedback.

  • Kathy Dixon

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Also if its just not hitting the mark... What needs to change? I'm working on future plans & would love to incorporate your feedback! Cheers! Kathy Dixon TechNet Plus Product Planner

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    To Lee who posted: "....Or are you just warning us early, that Technet Plus is earmarked for cancellation?...." Please be assured that TechNet Plus is not earmarked for cancellation - in fact my job is to develop the product plan for continue eveoling it to meet the needs of IT Pro's.  So please share what you'd like too see TechNet Plus become. Kathy Dixon TechNet Plus Product Planner

  • Anonymous
    August 09, 2007
    Well i think the DVD is just a waste, but the software download is very valuable. and come in handy to me several times in the past months.

  • Anonymous
    August 09, 2007
    I'd keep it! I'm an online subscriber and i'm very pleased with it If i had the choice i'd get sent the library DVDs in the post but everything else for download only

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2007
    I have been a subscriber for the last 7 years and finds the DVD's a waste. At least the last 3 years. I live in Europa and that means we are getting all the different language versions. Usually I throw out 90% of the discs, because they are on a lanuage, I don't understand. Please keep the online version and send a feed when it is updated. We, the company I work for, are downloading software every week.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    In times of crisis such as Disaster Recovery the DVD's are a good resource and backup when you don't have access to the Internet, maybe thats the way to go with them, make them more informative for Disaster Recovery with patches, fixes, quick start and gotchas etc

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I value both. The DVDs are useful for both DR and when you don't have access to decent bandwidth to the internet. Cheers, Chris.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I find my Technet Plus subscription incredibly useful. I am a download only subscriber and value the access to evaluation and beta software highly. It enables me to stay abreast with new developments in the areas I find interesting. If the DVD/CD option were discontinued I would not mind, but please keep the online/download option.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    Forgot to mention if the Security patches were in Operating System order, it would be easier to run a script to install them on newly built PCs, instead of spending time waiting for them to download from Windowsupdate.com

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I'm a recent subscriber and receive the DVD's and i find them invaluable as I don't always have access to the net with a decent speed to download. and some of our remote sites have no connection at all.  So, whilst I could agree the option for DVD's could be phased out, I would sorely miss the  download option!

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I would suggest that Technet plus is one of the most useful things we have access to; like a lot of things, we would miss it if it were gone. I don't use on a daily basis, but certainly 2-3 times a week minimum. The disks can sometimes be an issue; finding certain items can be a chore, even with the index. (Occasionally they fail to turn up in the post!) The search function on the web site can be a pain; it often returns items that are only very barely related to the query. This is probably my biggest single gripe. Definitely want to see Technet Plus stay and grow.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    Keep both.  Sometimes you don't have good connection to Internet: need disk.  Other times you don't have disk: need download. Thanks

  • John

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    Please don't take this away. I am always in need of key software on DVD when I have no access to the Internet or its too slow for my liking. Generally when I need something, I need it immediately. Hence I didnt go for the download only subscription. I also like the fact that it is no longer time bombed. This is a very useful offer from MS and I would be very annoyed if it were removed. For those that believe its not hitting the mark or whatever, let them go pound sand. Regards M@

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    Keep both please. When bandwidth is unavailable or small, the DVDs are indispensable. I don't use the download unless I can't find the DVD. It's my first choice. After all, if I have to download I will generally then have to burn a CD anyway - where's the gain? Nick

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I'd say it's good value, but I would drop the DVD option if you had to save time and effort. I download and make my own DVDs for the stuff I need that way. What would propose to replace it with?

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    Please keep it. I find them of great use! There has been many time when I do not have access to the internet and need information which I know technet will have. Plus, already 4 times this year I've come close to my download limit and have found having DVD's to hand is great. We need both!

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    TechNet Plus is absolutely essential to anyone who wants to keep their skills up to date.  Most employers do not provide the crash&burn environment people can set up at home with TechNet Plus.  Without TechNet Plus, I would not have got my job as a Database Architect. I do agree with some of the comments about the DVDs.  Having the library on DVD is useful, but just about everything else I download, either because it has not hit the DVD yet or I want the 64-bit version that often never makes the DVD.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I recently swapped from the DVD to download subscription.  In some respects the DVDs are easier especially for the information library.  The download version is better for access to software.  The ideal would be a subscription where the information, utilities and security patches came through on DVD while the evaluationbeta software could be downloaded

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    I cannot imagine functioning without the equivalent of TechNet Plus. DVD preferred, Online if I must, but TechNet Plus provides an essential service for evaluating and testing with current and beta software. As faras I am concerned, TechNet Plus is spot on the target.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    For freelance consultants, Technet Plus is the only affordable way to get access to the entire range of MS software for evaluation purposes. I personally use the direct option in order to avoid the wasteful collection of DVDs that mostly just end up get binned.

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    I find the evaluation DVD's usefull but rarely use the others.  Perhaps a DVD quota would be possible? Technet discs could be primarily download with a quota of discs shipped using credits.  When credits have ran out additional disks could then be purchased.

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    Technet plus is critcal, whilst the phisical media is not, the download is, going for plus is a no brainer, and we as a business would be lost with out it. Not sure who suggested you do not need plus, but maybe you should just roll all of plus in to one product, charge more for phisical media if required (with the additional cost going to environmental issues, such as tree planting or co2 offset) and take it from there ?

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    Note to Kathy Dixon: Please ensure 64-bit versions are included in the DVD release for both OS, service pack and any other backoffice products. It must fit now that its a DVD only option? ;-)

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    Make the disks an opt in. That way MSFT saves from unnecessary production and distibution, and the people who really want the discs can get them (preferably by language?). Perhaps you could make discs on demand as use to be the case on the partner training site? I'd say the download is essential. P.

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2007
    You already offer technet plus as a download only (direct) as well as the dvd option. Don't get rid of the disk option !!! I live too far from my exchange to get a decent broadband connection and take the technet direct route. I had this exact same discussion with Phil Cross some months back and always thought it was a cost saving exercise by Microsoft to get rid of the dvd option. Don't try and make it out to be an environmental or other decision to save costs ! I've had technet since 95 and would stop if it's download only...

  • Anonymous
    August 15, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    Please keep both BUT  only send the laguange I sign up for ie English! Cheers!

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    Hi, There is no way that technet plus doesn't hit the mark! I've been a subscriber for a little over a year now and would be lost without it. I use the evaluation software in order to establish a test lab at home enabling me (a freelance consultant) to build environments similar to those of my customers for testing purposes. I've used the support calls too and have relied on the 'guaranteed response' newgroups on a number of occasions. It's a completely essential resource. With the addition of subscriber only events the value is only getting better. The one thing I could do without are the security update cds.... I've usually downloaded them by the time the disk arrives. Cheers, Gareth

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    I subscribe to the Partner programme to get the not-for-resale licenses and software for Windows, SQL and Office, etc. I get all my technical help from online sources such as technet, MSDN and newsgroups. I need more technical focus and MAPS seems focussed on sales support, so I may switch.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    Noooooo Don't stop the plus, it's worth every penny to me. Until you have suffered a customer with only dialup trying to download a SP, then you realise how much you need the DVD's. Also the demo's and own use software have been a godsend. Paul.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    When I renewed this year I opted for the download only subscription, in hindsight I think that was an error.  Just when you need to get hold of the disk the download speed is rubbish!! Please keep both versions. Richie.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    Keep it. I'm a download only subscriber as it's cheaper. My usage ebbs and flows but when I need it I tend to be a heavy user. Without a doubt it's a keeper.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    To Kathy :- Kathy, many thanks for the reply and re-assurance that 'Technet Plus is not earmarked for cancellation', (and that you will have a job to keep you sustained)! Unfortunately when people start floating ideas and words like 'discontinue' around in relation to a product, in a public forum, then you have to ask the question; its natural, and good business practice. Words still have value, even on the Internet! And to the question 'what would I like to see Technet Plus become?'. I would like to see it become an even better technical resource than it already is. Why not include troubleshooting decision trees. One of the big problems with some technet articles is that you have to wade through 2000 words or so to get to the meat of the solution. If an issue can be solved quickly, then show us.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    I think both serve their purpose - I moved from technet plus to technet direct and am delighted by the new setup but like all things it does cause a problem trying to rebuild your machine if you can't get online or don't have access to your files for the purposes of rebuilding. Who knows, maybe Vista will be stable enough to negate the requirement for build cd's ;0)

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    Please keep it!! If I didn't have the software to use for personal 'training' and all sorts of test lab set-ups I'd be lost. I'm personally not interested in the DVD version but I make good use of the download version.

  • Anonymous
    August 16, 2007
    it's too expensive to be an MS beta tester.

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2007
    Please keep the DVDs. We have many locations that do NOT have large bandwidth for internet downloads. Even where there is adequate bandwidth, hogging it for a large server download when our users are trying to do business research or transactions would not please them very much. It's just not customer friendly.

  • Anonymous
    August 31, 2007
    As an ABSOLUTE amateur I just look at it, if one day I might really use it.

  • Anonymous
    August 31, 2007
    As an ABSOLUTE amateur I just look at it, if one day I might really use it.