TechNet Plus subscription - is it worth the investment?

[Deja Q]

I am studying SQL Server certification; the benefits seem nice, but $349 per year is hefty. Still, perpetual use software for training purposes wouldn't come amiss...

I don't think server or database administration will be offshored by cheapaholics any time soon, surely?

Would you pursue this subscription?

[Gore1FL]

1. It depends

I figure the free software that is involved is immediate payback. The question is, would you use, or have a need for the software?

If you itemize your income tax this might be a business write-off.

it comes to 96 cents a day, you get a possibly useful magazine, free expert answers, resources to self train on top of the software...

Could you get your employer to pay for it?

[Deja Q]

3. Employer won't.

Or is highly unlikely to as co-workers have tried getting reimbursement for doing so...

:(

I WOULD like to run a virtual server on my PC, to house a SQL database and for personal use only -- the subscription would be to get software I can learn on my own pace; 180 days is limiting and it can't be re-activated, and to reformat every 14 days is aggravating as hell.

Plus, access to beta software, updates, like you said the training, and more...

[Gore1FL]

2. If you do join

could you ask the sysprep and SP3 question that I posted but no on responded to? :)

[MyNameGoesHere]

5. I saw that and had an answer but was distracted

by some other pointless political argument. Can you f5 my memory?

[Gore1FL]

6. It is somewhere in this forum

It has to do with HD audio, SP3 and the new sysprep--- also wondered if the new sysprep was backwards compatible to SP2.

[MyNameGoesHere]

4. As a daily user of technet i can say

that it is invaluable in my job. I would be in google groups hell without it.

[Deja Q]

7. Pity they don't include Visual Studio...

The $349 version didn't, and the higher level version didn't indicate it either. :(

A shame; I only want it for data warehouse project testing for certification...

[MyNameGoesHere]

8. Well you can get as much info

here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx

[many a good man]

9. I think you'd be disappointed

I think they only give you the crappy cheap CBTs. You're probably better off dishing out the dough for self-test software and get a copy of the software from somebody for free. Books Online comes with the software and contains all the info you need (in addition to searching KB).

[Deja Q]

10. So far:

1. No Windows 98 despite the download option clearly available on their site.

2. Was able to download all their current OS and server software. Server 2003 R2 was first. Even Office apps. Nice.

3. No Visual Studio apps -- seperate and far more expensive purchase. Not nice.

4. No DataCenter editions, but otherwise have every other edition available. Since certifications test Enterprise editions, fair enough.

5. 64-bit versions available too. Sweet.

6. Training features a bit lax... so far.

7. Don't have to reinstall - very very nice.

I still have time to cancel, if I'd like, but even a testing book w/ demo software is under $100 and the subscription is $350. Much less than buying the sever for $700... never mind having to get the other apps separately too. I'm not terribly disappointed, but it's 70/30 that I won't cancel.

[many a good man]

11. Nice != important

If you work around IT it shouldn't be hard to come by the software. At this stage the certs will help you the most. The best investment you can make in your career is to shell out $129 for each one of the Transcender practice exams. I can't emphasize this point enough. If you don't have the experience then you better have a cert. You can study up on answers you get wrong in BOL or online. If you want to get into SQL Server you need to get good at SQL. MS Access is an easy way to learn all the basics on design and development. Learn the MSSQL architecture and play around with replication. Then get accustomed to SSIS. Right now SharePoint (MOSS) and MS CRM are very hot in the market and they should be around for a long time.