[2005] Am i allowed purchase vs2005 academic version?

Hi guys,

Ive been using vb express for a while but would like to get VS2005 so i can start making mobile apps. The resellers in ireland will only sell to me if i have a vat number, which i don't because im not a business.

I was looking on ebay and noticed that there are reseller who provide acedemic versions. I checked this out on the MSDN website but can't make heads or tales of it.

I know obviously im not allowed use it for bussiness purposes but can i even purchase it seeing as i an "learning" and don't intend on selling my wares for a long time.

Also if i am allowed to purchase the academic version am i allowed to distribute freeware or is this not allowed. Also one more thing, can i upgrade from an academic version to a full version at a later date?

Thanks

The first part of the question I would say is a no. Academic versions are for schools and are either given to them or purchased with a heavy discount. Students usually get the version from their school for free and is good while they are in school. I dont believe the licensing would allow for any other use.

As for upgrading, I dont believe its possible since the academic version costs so little or free.

Thanks RobDogg888,

I think il shell out for the pro version so, the standard is too much like VBexpress to pay for. Although im stumped how come these guys on ebay are allowed sell acedemic versions? they are even verified microsft sellers.

Usually it takes someone reporting them or such. Plus, if they are resellers then they just cant sell to any non-student or school. Sometimes that software is pirated or counterfitted too. Its usually best to stay away from thoise vendors.

I would wait to make any purchases as 2008 should be released in about 2 months or so. Not sure if they will give any kind of discounts other then an upgrade purchase which is still expensive.

I was thinking about that but have two reasons why i don't want to buy 2008 yet.

A: It will be priced alot higher than 2005, and since im not exactly a pro reading up on the differences and playing with the beta has led me to belive that i couldn't condone the extra cost.

B: Im afraid i will shell out all that money on 2008 and find their are dramatic changes in syntax..... syntax i have only just got to grips with.

If you have Any previous version of VB, down to 4, IIRC, then you can just purchase the upgrade version, which is almost 1/2 off.

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Originally Posted by CodedFire

I was thinking about that but have two reasons why i don't want to buy 2008 yet.

A: It will be priced alot higher than 2005, and since im not exactly a pro reading up on the differences and playing with the beta has led me to belive that i couldn't condone the extra cost.

B: Im afraid i will shell out all that money on 2008 and find their are dramatic changes in syntax..... syntax i have only just got to grips with.

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A: There's no reason to believe that VS 2008 will be relatively any more expensive than VS 2005. VS 2005 was essentially the same price as VS.NET 2003.

B: There won't be any dramatic changes in syntax between VB 2005 and VB 2008, just like there haven't been any dramatic changes in VB.NET since the first version in 2002. If you can code in VB.NET 2002 then you can code in VB 2005. There are a few nifty extras but nothing has been removed. There are many new classes in .NET 2.0 and 3.0 and there will be more in .NET 3.5, but new classes don't mean that the old ones don't work.

Interesting.... maybe i will hang one. It should be out before or just after xmas right?

Official release date is Feb 2008, although I'm really hoping it's released to MSDN subscribers in 2007 so I can get my hands on it for nada. ;)

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Originally Posted by jmcilhinney

Official release date is Feb 2008, although I'm really hoping it's released to MSDN subscribers in 2007 so I can get my hands on it for nada. ;)

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Amen! :thumb:

Can i ask what an msdn subscription is? It says they are the cheapest way to get visual studio but i can't seemed to find info on what they actually are.

MSDN Subscriptions are useful and have several levels/pricing. If you purchase a subscription at a level that includes VS then you get all the updates, pre-release versions, betas and other great stuff. Only drawback is that it is a subscrption so you nbeed to renew each year to renew your license.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/sub...s/default.aspx

Oh and it will be released prior to the Global Launch Wave in Feb 2008. That Feb date is just the promotional marketing launch for it. MSDN subscribers should get it some time in Nov/Dec. Another benefit of subscriptions. :D

Man they are very expensive. Jeess, i didn't realise programming could be so expensive. Although i suppose as i get into it more i am coming up with sellable idea's

I guess its a kind of speculate before you can acumalate sort of senario....

They have some lower subscriptions that are reasonable. You have to remember that you are getting more then just VS. You get all OS', Servers, Databases, Exchange Server, all of Office, etc.

I know, but you are also looking as US prices. I took a look at the local resellers in ireland. VS2005pro is €1105.00 and with an MSDN sub its €2550.00.
Im in a fairly well paid job but these prices are quite extravagant. All i wanted to do is move away from the express editions as i would like to try my hand at WM apps, I know i could go for the standard edition but even thats €550. Which although is have the price is still pretty expesive considering the differences.

Im really unsure of what to do do here, i don't think ive enough experience to develop applications that would cover the cost of the pro edition but at the same time i do have quite a few idea's for mobile apps which i think would sell well enough.

I get the subscription through work, and wouldn't get it otherwise. You get loads of things other than just VS, as RD mentions, but I found that I would only use something every other year or so. I think we get a pretty significant discount on the subscription, too, but I haven't looked because....well, because I don't pay for it.

Oh yeah, I'd wait for 2008, too. Consider VB3, 4, 5, and 6. The changes got less and less with each version as the language settled down. There was no huge change to any of the core features between 5 and 6, so if you had 5, you just got a few benefits from the upgrade. The same can be expected with .NET. The changes from 2002 to 2003 were pretty significant, and the changes between 2003 and 2005 are profound, but things are settling down. 2008 looks like it will just be providing benefits without the major differences seen between 2003 and 2005.

I don't thnk vodafone would pay for it unfortunatly. Id have some fun trying to explain to my area manager how an MSDN subscruption would benifet the company....

If you can use them then the extras are more then cost worthy. The copies of XP and Vista can cover the price if you have many workstations :D Dont forget that Office 2007 Ultra is over $600+ here in the US.

Vista Ultimate ~ $300
Office Ultimate 2007 ~ $625
Windows Server 2003 R2 ~ $1,000
SQL Server 2005 ~ $1,500
Exchange Server 2007 ~ $1,000

Almost $3,000 right there for single copies of those softwares. This is just over 50% of the costs of a mid level subscription for single copies of what I wrote. For multiple copies up to the licensed limit you save big time.

Plus you still get so much more and you get up to 25 licenses on the OS' and Office I believe.

I see your point, i think il wait for vs2008 so, that will give me enough time to point a plan together on how to make this cost effective, and also hone my programming skills a bit better.

Just get your job to pay for it as the cost of having a license of Windows and Office for all their workstations (up to the limit) would far outweigh the cost of the subscription. Then next year the renewal price is almost 50% of the initial purchase so even more savings. You can use MSDN software for R&D, Testing, internal use at your business (like having all your business workstations running Windows & Office). I think your company would like that if they like saving $ :D Plus, dont forget that your software department will get the use of VS!

Were talking about Vodafone here, The worlds largest provider of mobile comunications. Our offices in Dublin have about 5000+ computers alone. Im merely a sales jocky. The only reason im so well paid is in Ireland everyone who comes out of the womb insists on having 2+ mobile phones.

I can't get a new coffee machine let alone an MSDN subscription out of them. Besides all our hardware and software is outsourced to IBM contractors.

I did apply for a job with a software company called Retail integration, but it was 35% less money and they had no plans of migrating to VB.Net. They are hppy enough with vb 6.

Hey maybe you could employ me as a consultant RobDog :)

I'd just be happy to use the Express version until I can get the Upgrade to Pro 2008. Sure, it'll cost me a bundle, but so did VB6 when I got it back in 2000. Of course, VB 2008 personal looks appealing to me, too, but it's not as extensable as Pro.

Also, if you don't need the subscription, there's always free access to MSDN online that has tips and tricks to most everything in the framework and language.

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Originally Posted by CodedFire

Hey maybe you could employ me as a consultant RobDog :)

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"They're hiring a consultant! Do you know what this means?"
"No."
"It means that we'll have to interview to keep our jobs! I'm screwed!"