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Filed under: Design, Developer, Microsoft

Microsoft launches Website Spark, hopes web devs will take candy from strangers


Last year Microsoft debuted Dreamspark, which gives university students access to truckloads of development software at no charge. In April of this year, the program was extended to include high school students.

Now, they're spinning off WebsiteSpark, a variant aimed at small businesses that want to make a splash in the web design and development world. If you employ fewer than 10 people and want in, here's what you can get - without paying a penny up front:
  • 3 Visual Studio 2008 licenses
  • 1 Expression Studio 2 or 3 license
  • 2 Expression Web 2 or 3 licenses
  • 3 users licenses for Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008
  • 4 processor licenses for Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 for self-hosting
There are, of course, conditions that have to be satisfied and it's not totally free. There is a paltry $100 fee that you must pay when your company exits the program. Membership can also last no more than three years, after which time Microsoft, of course, hopes you sign on as a Network Partner.

You've also got to roll out a new app or web site within six months of joining. If you hit it big and get bought out or go public, the WebSpark free ride is over. Though you likely wouldn't care, since you'd be swimming around in a Scrooge McDuck-sized pile of loot.

Filed under: Microsoft

Microsoft extends DreamSpark freebies to high school students


So you're a high school student and you want to get your hands on several thousand dollars worth of developer software for free, but you're not a big fan of piracy? Today's your lucky day!

Microsoft's DreamSpark program, which has been providing a veritable truckload of awesome (and extremely expensive) software to college students for some time, has been expanded so that students in grade 9 through 12 can now take advantage of it as well.

Unlike the university program, student's aren't required to register personally. A school administrator registers and is given product keys which are provided to the students - who can then download the programs by signing in to DreamSpark with their Windows Live IDs.

It's an excellent opportunity for aspiring young developers to get their hands on some quality software at a price that can't be beat.

[ via LiveSide ]

Filed under: Developer, Microsoft, Commercial, Freeware

Microsoft gives away free developer software to students

DreamSpark
While we're not particularly used to hearing the words "free" and "Microsoft" in the same sentence, the software behemoth does offer a number of free utilities for download on its website. For example, there's SyncToy, Power Toys for XP, and Photo Story. Now Microsoft is also offering free downloads of its commercial developer tools. The only catch? You need to be a student in college or graduate school.

The programs available include:
Students can download full versions of these applications. They aren't limited versions of the full software like Microsoft Accounting Express. The promotion, which Microsoft is calling DreamSpark is available to any student no matter what their area of study. But right now the deal is only good in 11 countries: the US, UK, Canada, China, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Belgium.

You'll need a Windows Live ID to participate. And Microsoft will take steps to verify that you're really a student, so you need to enter the name of the school or institution that can confirm your status before you can download your program.

[via TechCrunch]

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