Microsoft & .NET

[zildjohn01]

hi all, i can't figure out why Microsoft is letting people download VS.NET for free if it was being sold for many hundreds of dollars before. Does anyone know or can guess why they are doing this? (Obviously I have no problem with it )

[RobDog888]

Well depends on which download your talking about. VS 2005 or VS 2005 Express.

If you mean VS 2005 then its because its only a Beta 2 release and not a RTM release.

If you mean VS 2005 Express then it because its only Beta 1 release.

Both could be downloaded for free but are not for professional use since they are not RTM releases. M$ could be trying
to get more users to get into .NET and make the transition from VB6. If M$ can gain the market majority (I think they already do)
with .NET then they dont have to worry about any competition.

[DWRoelands]

Rob's right. Only the betas are free, and they won't work forever. Most Microsoft betas have an expiration data hard-coded into them, after which the software will not function.

Giving away betas is a smart marketing move. For a while, they were giving away VS2003 Standard Edition if you watched a few short promotional films on the web.

[RobDog888]

Rob's right. Only the betas are free, and they won't work forever. Most Microsoft betas have an expiration data hard-coded into them, after which the software will not function.

Giving away betas is a smart marketing move. For a while, they were giving away VS2003 Standard Edition if you watched a few short promotional films on the web.

Thats how I got my copy for my home system
At work we have a Universal MSDN Subscription, so I get to run 2003 Enterprise Architect.

When 2005 RTM version is released I hope M$ does another free give-away promotion.

[mendhak]

And Longhorn while they're at it, right?