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Visual Micro | Microsoft Offer – Visual Studio Professional Free For 3 Years?.
It was already possible for students and teachers to obtain a free version of Visual Studio 2010 Professional but now this Microsoft offer has been extended to a number of other groups. One group being any individual who is thinking about becoming a web developer.
The extended Microsoft offer provides immediate download and 3 year license for a huge range of products such as Visual Studio 2010 Professional. This appears to open the door to Visual Studio to just about everyone in the arduino community.
To take advantage of the offer you will need to sign up for the free Microsoft WebSiteSpark program. Once you have signed up you will see a big button allowing you sign up for downloads. The big button actually signs you up to the microsoft developer network (msdn).
Previously:
Visual Micro – Arduino for Visual Studio
FEED
And what about open source alternatives, free… for ever!
Comment by Reynald — October 30, 2011 @ 9:34 am
I could be daft but I cant seem to find a “big button” to sign up for downloads which results in a MSDN account….
What am I missing here?
Comment by Vernon — October 30, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
@Reynald You are not the first person to ask that. We all like free software but if there isn’t a worthy free alternative then someone needs to be paid to do the job properly.
In 3 years, if you have also used the software to develop a trade then you might well be able to sign up for the bizSpark program and get another 3 years
Comment by Visual Micro — October 30, 2011 @ 1:45 pm
@Vernon A lot of people have missed the big button. I don’t know which browser you are using but it might be a browser issue. The latest version of ie works okay.
A picture of the download "button" has been added to the blog (click the link in the blog above)
This url also shows the picture
Http://www.visualmicro.com/pics/WebSiteSparkMsdn.png
A user has also reported that after signing up to WebSiteSpark you can logon directly to msdn using the following link http://msdn.microsoft.com. Once you logon to msdn you will find the downloads under your "Account"
Comment by Visual Micro — October 30, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
I have been a WebSiteSpark member for a couple years, now. It is a great program, and highly recommend it. Not only is VS available, but Server 2008 R2, and (meh the Expression design suite. Anyway you do agree to pay them cash money at the end of your 3 year membership.
Comment by Adam Garrett — October 30, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
@Adam You mean that if we want to continue using the software after the 3 years has expired we have to pay for it?
Comment by Visual Micro — October 30, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
@Adam I can’t find an agreement to pay cash at the end of the 3 years. This is from the websitespark faq remembering that there are both company and individual memberships. It seems quite reasonable with no firm commitment?
What will happen after three years of participation in WebsiteSpark?
Microsoft intends for WebsiteSpark to inspire success in the Web business. WebsiteSpark provides software for three years of use.
At the end of the three year program, there are two graduation offers available to continue usage of the software (see below). For Web Pros who self host, the WebsiteSpark software use rights expire at the end of Program, but can be renewed through one of the graduation offers. For Web Pros using hosted servers at a Hosting Partner, the WebsiteSpark offer available through the Hosting Partner will expire, but can be renewed through a graduation offer available at that time (the terms and pricing of continuing hosting services are between the Hosting Partner and the Web Pro).
Web Pros who have deployed a site using program software and servers can retain one license of the version of Expression Web available at the end of the 3 year Term.
Microsoft will have two special offers available for WebsiteSpark graduates.
•WebsiteSpark Graduation Package: this will include products equivalent to the WebsiteSpark Program Offering for $999 per year and continued presence in the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN).
•Entry Server Package: this will include products equivalent to Program Hosting Servers for $199 per year per processor and continued presence in the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN).
http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/support.aspx#que16
Comment by Visual Micro — October 30, 2011 @ 8:51 pm
“Anyway you do agree to pay them cash money at the end of your 3 year membership.”
Oh Oh! What did I just agree to? I just signed up. Can someone link to where they say about paying cash at the end of three years?
Comment by John — October 30, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
"Anyway you do agree to pay them cash money at the end of your 3 year membership."
Oh Oh! What did I just agree to? I just signed up. Can someone link to where they say about paying cash at the end of three years?
Comment by John — October 30, 2011 @ 10:15 pm
You’re good, John. Looks like there are no obligations after the 3 years are up. They’ll offer you some paid options to cominue with WebSiteSpark, but as a prior commenter noted, you can join BizSpark instead.
Comment by K3 — October 30, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
I tried signing up with my company information, but it says I don’t qualify because there are more than 10 employees at my company. Does it only work for individuals or just people at small companies?
Comment by Andy — October 30, 2011 @ 11:53 pm
excellent !
does it work for foreign student ? i mean i’m french. Is that something who can work ?
Comment by karimus — October 31, 2011 @ 5:25 am
The last time I used MSVC it sucked hard and only worked on windows.
A much better solution would be to learn how to use Eclipse with the AVR eclipse plugin, which I’ve found to be both easy to use and really high quality.
Why are people so quick to invest time in a proprietary IDE?
Comment by Flemming Frandsen — October 31, 2011 @ 6:25 am
Eclipse is a terrible IDE, Visual Studio is amazing (I use both in my day job) It is proprietary but even the free versions (Express versions) are really very good. I’d recomend taking another look
Comment by David Hayes — October 31, 2011 @ 10:16 am
@k3
Thanks for clearing the obligation $$ question up!
Comment by John — October 31, 2011 @ 11:43 am
@John yep @k3 is right but it also seems that, after 3 years, if you don’t want to graduate to a new offer or pay for the software then you get to keep and use some of it on a permanent basis free of charge
Comment by Visual Micro — October 31, 2011 @ 7:00 pm