TechNet Plus
Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:00PM I recently read an open letter form Sean Kearney, writer of the energizedtech.com blog, MVP and all round awesome PowerShell developer, to Steve Ballmer. You can read it here, http://www.energizedtech.com/2013/07/dear-mr-ballmer-please-provide.html.
I just wanted add my own two cents to the discussion around the decision to terminate the TechNet Plus subscriptions.
I can comfortably say, that if it wasn’t for MSDNAA and TechNet subscriptions, I would not be the IT Professional that I am today, if it wasn’t that I have been fortunate enough to have either access to MSDNAA, a TechNet subscription or, lately an MSDN subscription, I really wouldn’t be working on any of the projects or working for any of the companies I have had the pleasure to work on and with.
Almost 10 years ago, I was in Uni, I was lucky enough to be there during the creation of the MSDNAA subscription program. This program gave me access to learn Windows Server 2000 and 2003, Exchange 2003, SQL 2000, Active Directory, Clustering, IIS and so much more. Whilst I had experience in these prior to the MSDNAA program, my experience was limited due to the fact I had to PIRATE the software. Learning something like Active Directory takes time, something a 30 day trial wouldn’t have allowed for. If it wasn’t for the MSDNAA program, I wouldn’t have gotten my first industry job.
Once I got my first job, I got a TechNet subscription, and this is where my own drive and passion allowed me to further develop my skills. Over the years I have had employers, and various others pay for my subscription, I have even payed for it myself, and I know I wouldn’t be here without access to these subscriptions.
Right now because of my access to these subscriptions I have a healthy development and training environment, I have learn and tested so much. If it was not for my lab environment, DirectAccess on Windows Server 2012 would not have been deployed within my Clients environment, I am certain the Microsoft has made a significant amount of money based on the testing performed in my lab environment, far more than the costs of the subscriptions!
MSDN subscriptions can be costly, hence we need to have a cost effective alternative!
Readers, please sign the petition, https://www.change.org/petitions/continue-technet-or-create-an-affordable-alternative-to-msdn,
Mr Ballmer, please reconsider the termination of Technet Plus.
