Get it While It’s Hot!

While I’m an avid user of Ubuntu Linux I must still admit that Microsoft creates some excellent products (and a smathering of not so excellent products). Windows is still the most prevalent OS in use and you must know how to use Microsoft products to be successful in today’s world.

That being said, who wants to pay for their products? What if you could get them free?

Microsoft currently has a FREE 1 year subscription available to their TechNet Plus program. TechNet Plus is a program that allows you to download FULL VERSION, NO TIME LIMIT, NO RESTRICTIONS software for testing/evaluation. The subscription lets you download their software and gives you the keys to enable it. You can use it as long as you want and even re-install it if you need to wipe your computer and start over. If you look through the below list and the offerings they have on their site you will see that the software they give you FREE access to is worth over $20 K. Some of the software included is:

• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003 and 2008
• MS-DOS (Oh, the memories)
• Microsoft Small Business Accounting
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007
• Microsoft Front Page
• Microsoft Groove
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Internet Explorer (J/K… please don’t download or use this)
• Microsoft Visio

This subscription normally costs $350 and up. Microsoft hasn’t come public about whether this is a long term offer and so I’m thinking it might just be a trial (to see if they can get a ton of people to sign up and breath some life into their dying company). You can access the free subscription sign up here:

https://om2.one.microsoft.com/offer/technet_na.aspx

Sign-Up Directions

The sign up process is pretty simple. However, in case you are like my mom (no offense if you’re reading this mom… you’re the greatest mom ever!), here are some simple walk you through the process steps:

1. Click the link above
2. Verify that the price is showing up as $0.00 (if not than Microsoft was getting so many people signing up they thought they might lose their empire so they shut down the FREEness of the deal)
3. Click on “Buy” button
4. If it is running a little slow it is because everyone and their mother is signing up… be patient
5. If you have an MSN or Live.com email account use them to sign in on the box to the right (and skip the next step… go to step 7). Otherwise, use step 6 below to get one.
6. Click on the “Sign Up Now” button in the right box. Then select the “No, sign me up for a free MSN Hotmail e-mail address” option and click on the “continue” button. This will have you set up a hotmail.com email account with them (also free, but relatively worthless) and should then direct you on to the next step.
7. Put in your “shipping information” on this screen. They’re not going to ship anything to you (it is a subscription where you get download access to the software) but you are ultimately going through their standard checkout process so they ask for it anyway. You could make this up if you wanted… Select the “Is Ship To address the same as Bill To address?” option so you don’t have to fill in your info again. Click on the “Continue” button.
8. Review the order and make sure price is still at $0.00 (notice they have never asked for credit card numbers or anything… no worries). Read through the Terms & Conditions EULA if you’re crazy paranoid. Select the “I agree” box and click on “Place Order”.
9. Success! Now you should have access! Follow their instructions on the page to get into your account. Click the TechNet Subscriptions Benefits Portal link on this page and re-enter your name and hotmail email you just set up (or your live.com, msn.com email you used) and the Benefit Access Number listed on the Order Confirmation Page.
10. Download away! Remember, you only have this subscription for 1 year so get all the goodies and put them on discs necessary.

Disclaimer:

Microsoft is obviously trying to be nice here… so lets be nice back. Download all the software and love it! Don’t try to sell it though. I’m sure if you read the enormously long EULA (End User License Agreement) you would see that selling it is illegal. Just use these on your own computers.

If you enjoyed this little exercise in saving thousands of dollars please leave a comment below!