As a long time Microsoft developer, I find MSDN to be an invaluable resource.
However, when tinkering at home I am not able to play with the best latest technologies and the different offerings coming from Microsoft as I cannot justify paying such a hefty price for what is essentially a pastime.
The Express editions are great, but fall flat when trying to use the more advanced feature I am used to from the versions I use at work. I cannot get the latest betas and play with the new offerings, not legally, anyway.
Apart from getting an MVP, how would one go about getting an MSDN subscription for an acceptable price for a non-professional environment?
I am aware of the Empower program, but I thought it was geared towards getting commercial software to market. If this is not the case, it appears like the way for me to go. Thanks!
There is an Empower program that Microsoft has available. It gives you several Premium subscriptions for cheap, with the catch that you have to be an ISV working towards an actual product.
This (Not available anymore – broken link) gives you all the software you’ll need for development, and even a few ‘real world’ licenses for certain apps (like Office)
After a couple of years, you have to pay full price though. The logic being that you should have a product on the market, and can afford it.