All the Microsoft Software You Can Eat for $199

I have three computers I currently use and I want to put Office Professional 2010 on all three…Price is $499 each so that is $1,500. I also want to put Windows 7 on my one laptop still running XP.  Price for Windows 7 Ultimate: $219. So that comes to over $1,700 for my purchases.

Except, I can now get all of these and more for $199 by joining Microsoft’s TechNet.  TechNet has been around for a while and it is for computer professionals and other folks who are into computers.  The Professional version of TechNet is $349 for the first year.  But just last week, Microsoft introduced the Standard Subscription for just $199 for the first year and $149 for every year after that if you wish to retain your membership.

But understand this…if you choose not to renew, your software does not expire, even if your membership does. Almost all Microsoft products are available to you with your membership at no additional cost.  Want Windows Home Server? It is there for you.

You are allowed 10 downloads of each product (only 2 for Home Server)…but since there are 3 versions of Office 2010, that means you can download 30 copies.  There are 10 versions of Windows 7 which means you can have up to 100 copies!  All for one low price of $199.  That is quite a bargain.

There are some restrictions, the main one being they can only be installed on your own computers at work or home, and you can’t run a business on them…they are for your evaluation of Microsoft software.

For more information, I recommend you read Paul Thurrott’s excellent article on the subject from his WinSuperSite blog…or just go direct to the Microsoft TechNet Website.  I am joining… are you?

PS: If you are not sure if you you want Office 2010, you can download a 60 day trial copy of it direct from Microsoft and see if it is worth it for you. I did and I really like it.  There are also some excellent tutorials of each of the Office products that are worth doing if you are considering a purchase.