development utilities

Are you a serious professional developer that creates software for multiple windows versions or international languages, like me?

Almost 3 years ago, my company bought this subscription for me, and I have to tell you it has helped me to solve so many, many troubles I encounter as a programmer. Like the day some users reported our application was failing when running on a Windows XP Pro + Office XP both in Simplified Chinese... Try to solve that without MSDNU!!

Need to install the latest SQL Server version, or use .NET Architect, or Windows 2003?? Almost *every* software Microsoft sells is now yours, no kidding... It's absolutely unbelievable they sell MSDN Universal at almost the same price of Visual Studio .NET. Buy MSDNU instead, believe me!

I'm always surprised when they add new software (like Virtual PC, Great Plains, Visio, or 64-bits versions of Windows), but it's sad when they stop sending old software (Office 2000, etc). Some of them are still available on subscriber downloads online (like the old MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 or NT).

Now, I have to tell you: each year you need to pay the renewal fee. It's no joke. But I can't imagine working without this subscription for an entire year.

Also, there are just too many CDs...Buy the DVD version! You'll need to burn a bunch of ISO images for some of the operating systems, but that's just when you need to use them on a PC with no DVD. Some DVDs are bootable, and present a menu for you to select the proper Windows installation.

I *really* like that I can download a special product from the subscriber downloads online website, even before it's released to stores. It's very useful when you bought just the English subscription and now you need to install a Portuguese version of Microsoft Office, for example. Today I'll download the latest Longhorn Community Preview. Yahoo! This makes my programming job so fun.

You can switch to a different language pack during the year, with no problem; or order extra CDs. It's like having Microsoft at your feet..!

I had the same problem as one of the other reviewers, my activation number was already in use, so I had to talk to Microsoft and send it out by a carrier (Top of the box, invoice & subscription card). When they received it, they called me at my office and noticed that I wasnt on the U.S. Even though I was going to receive MSDN in Texas, they told me that if I was to use this product in México I would be violating the license agreement. They didnt even told if there was a similar product for foreign countries... So now, my Subscription belongs to another person in Texas. Bu.

MSDN is probably essential if you develop software for Windows, but I had a problem activating my subscription online. The activation page says my subscription number is currently being used. Be prepared to mail in your activation request (no fax, no web), sending in the activation card, the top of the box, and invoice. After paying over two grand, I still need to wait up to 10 days to start using my subscription. Looks like there is a security problem with the activation numbers. For the cost of the subscription, it should be quicker to activate, notwithstanding the securty issue. After all, Microsoft seems to be letting someone else use my subscription for free--why not me too?