Do MSDN Subscripion OS's need Activation?

[CompSci]

Anybody out there with a Current MSDN Subscription?
Do the OS's need actication?


My MSDN Universal subscription ran out, and need to know a little about the new subscriptions... M$, as usual, isn't very descriptive in the new subscriptions...
M$ has changed the subscription lineup...

Do the MSDN OS's require WPA? Per the Win 2000 subscription runs, the OS didn't even require a CD key! Most products from your subscription didn't either. A Universal Subscription($2400) was actually every product M$ made! An Professional wasn't a bad deal either!(just didn't get as much)

Actually, I always associated then "Coprorate Version" with the MSDN version cause the MSDN versions didn't need a CDkey( every MSDN OS version I'v installed never even asks - just goes right by that part of the install)

Is the "Corp" version and the MSDN version the same???

I might go MSDN again if I hear more about current releases...
(a local shop I know has one hasn't even recieved it's last quartly update yet - is M$ changing so ya go out and download for yoursely now? The new MSDN product discriptions do NOW say 'You have assess to..." instead of the old quarterly mailed out updates!!!

So what's goin on with the new, current MSDN Subscriptions???

 

[ttaylor]

I'm a current MSDN Universal subscriber, so I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

AFAIK, only the Whistler Beta, Windows XP, Office XP and Visio 2002 products require Windows Product Activation (WPA) within 60 days of installation. Activation is anonymous, quick and simple using an Internet connection. The rest of the OS's still use a key that is printed on the CD or on the sleeve. I've never made a fresh install myself that didn't prompt for the key, although subsequent reinstalls and updates don't prompt. MSDN is now changing to a per-subscriber, per-product key. I haven't done this yet, but I understand that you will have to logon to your subscriber account and follow a product-specific link at MSDN to get it.

I've received all of my monthly updates except for one month--I believe it was September. Everything will continue to be shipped on CD and/or DVD. The reason for the subscriber download feature is to allow you to get a new release immediately instead of waiting for the next monthly update CDs.

The MSDN Library DVD version is really nice and includes audio and video from PDC presentations, TechNet conferences, etc., plus all docs on one DVD. Licensing for XP is quite liberal, allowing you to activate it on up to 10 workstations at your site. The MSDN Library can now be freely installed at all seats and on the server at a subscriber's site. You only need one subscription to keep all copies updated. Having formerly been a SCO Unix developer that had to lay out $5000 for a development license plus the cost of additional OSs and components, I believe it is the best deal in the industry (excluding Linux). The cost of Visual Studio, a server OS, and Office 2000 alone covers the $2299 my renewal will cost this year. The Universal subscription still supplies everything that MS makes, and will include the new Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect. There are also a number of new server products being shipped such as the Mobile Information Server.

The MSDN site also allows non-subscribers to download anything from the MSDN library, DDKs, and the Platform SDK. This is a good deal if you're cash-strapped and already have an OS and Visual C++ 6.0. Also check out some of the free source code downloads available at Microsoft Research, such as a complete IPv6 implementation.

If you have any more questions I'll be glad to answer them.

 

[CompSci]

For sure, MSDN Subscriptions are great bang for the buck... And ya can even get a better deal thru CDW for em than thru M$...

But even MSDN OS's requiring activation - that's unfortunate!!! My last universal subscription was from May 2000 thru MAy 2001, and none of the OS's(W2k Pro, Server or Adv Server) even ask for the CD key... And None of the products that ususlly required the 25digit key(Office 2000 Developer version) ever ask for one either... and the old 9digit key products(like V Studio 6) always used all "1"s - 111111111. But it seams things do change and so does M$...

Humm... I gotta wonder if there are different versions or levels of even an named subscription type(Universal, Pro, Enterprise. ...) I've worked with a couple a shops that also have Universal subscriptions, and there is always a little difference...(plus multiples of everything(Office platform, Dev plaftorm, Single products,...) But for sure, my MSDN, Office & Dev platform, Full Win 2k OS's, Feb 2000, build 2195, doesn't need(even ask) for CD key! This is what I always thought everyone meant by the "Corporate" version... Wow, ya mean your's isn't like that?

Timing is also important, I think! I'm definitely going to wait till V Studio .Net is ready for full Gold and GA(General Availability) release. It's still RC(release canadate) now, Full GA scheduled Feb 2002(maybe? - I've been burnt on Beta's and RC's for Dev products before - Mission Critical, Production says definitely wait till FULLY released and supported!!!) Timing of my personal renewal subscription will follow full releases, Maybe???

Anyway, XP isn't progressing much past "Talk' in my local area... While M$ has assured "Big" shops that a Corp version not requiring WPA will be available for tech support/configruration management personal and network installation, I have yet to see or heard of it... In fact, just the opposite! One shop I know recently went Office XP. Got 1 set of CD MEDIA, 50 licences. Sure enough, on third install NO Actication - had to call M$!!! Solution - None! We know ya have 50 liciences, just keep callin!!! Sure! Now that's a real non-solution!!!
(sure hope there's better M$ reps out there than they have)

Anybody heard or seen anything different?