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Microsoft gets drunk, gives away Technet subscriptions
Ok, so I can't actually back that title up with any actual evidence, but when Microsoft pulls a Jack Napier and starts throwing money on the people of Gotham, you assume something is up.
Regardless, they're handing out free subscriptions to TechNet Plus - which normally run $349. Sign up via the appropriate link for the US, Canada, or the UK (readers in other countries may be out of luck), complete the registration forms, and you'll get access to all the glorious goodies in the TechNet vault. Despite my misgivings about the certificate warnings and badly-rendered page layouts, this is the real deal.
There are, of course, a couple catches. First, it appears as though the program will expire on September 30 - not a terrible thing, since you'll still get three full months of downloads and access. Second - and a much bigger issue - is that product key troubles abound.
It's all fine and dandy to have access to download things like Windows Home Server and Office 2007 straight from Microsoft, but access to legitimate keys is equally (or perhaps more) important.
That said, with a little patience and several re-clicks, I've managed to secure keys for Home Server and Office 2007 - so it does work.
Update: with IE8 and compatibility mode enabled, I'm having very good results getting product keys (9:36AM Central)
Update: Even better results when using Opera 10. WTH?
Update: Original links may no longer be working...Try this product link, as suggested in the comments:
Quick, go sign up before they come to their senses!
[via Ars Technica]
Regardless, they're handing out free subscriptions to TechNet Plus - which normally run $349. Sign up via the appropriate link for the US, Canada, or the UK (readers in other countries may be out of luck), complete the registration forms, and you'll get access to all the glorious goodies in the TechNet vault. Despite my misgivings about the certificate warnings and badly-rendered page layouts, this is the real deal.
There are, of course, a couple catches. First, it appears as though the program will expire on September 30 - not a terrible thing, since you'll still get three full months of downloads and access. Second - and a much bigger issue - is that product key troubles abound.
It's all fine and dandy to have access to download things like Windows Home Server and Office 2007 straight from Microsoft, but access to legitimate keys is equally (or perhaps more) important.
That said, with a little patience and several re-clicks, I've managed to secure keys for Home Server and Office 2007 - so it does work.
Update: with IE8 and compatibility mode enabled, I'm having very good results getting product keys (9:36AM Central)
Update: Even better results when using Opera 10. WTH?
Update: Original links may no longer be working...Try this product link, as suggested in the comments:
Quick, go sign up before they come to their senses!
[via Ars Technica]
Comments
120
Subscribe to commentsJason ShelbrockJun 3rd 2009 4:55PM
did not realize comments get renumbered.
https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/Product.aspx?StoreID=9a242dbc-73e9-484d-8bc9-cd4a45e8b174&LocaleCode=en-us&JavaScriptOn=yes
MattJun 3rd 2009 4:50PM
@DJ
Read the email carefully...
It says:
"If you entered a Tax ID claiming Tax Exempt status, you are required to send in a copy of your tax exempt certificate to complete your order."
Note the "IF".
This is not just a tax exempt program.
Dracula JonesJun 3rd 2009 4:53PM
I managed to get the order through and got some keys earlier, but now when I log in, there's no associated subscription. They may be cleaning up this mess.
wilburxJun 3rd 2009 5:22PM
same here. i managed to save some keys, but had some more I didn't get before my subscription vanished.
Bryan PriceJun 3rd 2009 5:11PM
Interesting, but I've already got my own subscription. :-p
StevenJun 3rd 2009 5:16PM
I just went back through my IE8 history and found the page, my order has just went through! Got the confirmation email, I just hope they do not try to charge me for this.
StevenJun 3rd 2009 5:24PM
Scratch what I just said. I have my Benefit Number, but when I try to add it to my subscriptions, it just isn't working.
marcusgeekJun 3rd 2009 5:42PM
I think they caught on because my account seems to be gone now. It was good while it lasted :)
MarcusJun 3rd 2009 5:43PM
Mine went through but MS seems to have caught on. My account seems to have been deactivated. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
JohnJun 3rd 2009 5:46PM
Downloads and keys seem to be disabled...
I knew it was too good to be true
JBJun 3rd 2009 5:50PM
One of those lovely people who happened to get 10 product keys happen to have a single genuine XP pro key they would like to send my way? :-P
Drew GreenJun 3rd 2009 6:18PM
It appears that they have deactivated my account, to the extent of not being able to view any product keys. Oh well, at least I got 22 keys today!
Kevin HarterJun 3rd 2009 6:33PM
Just got off phone with rep at Microsoft (after holding for over 30 minutes). She said that it was supposed to be an invite-only offer to a limited number of people and someone apparently "leaked the codes" and "posted them all over the internet". They are not issuing any more subscriptions but, when I asked if they were going to honor those that already got through, she said "I'm not sure but I think we will."
Not sure if I needed this anyway -- already an Action Pack subscriber. Good luck to those that got through!
PeterJun 3rd 2009 9:14PM
My subscription has already been canceled. I can log in, but nothing shows up and no downloads or keys are available.
I guess it was too good to be true.
ArinJun 4th 2009 9:14AM
Is there any legal issues here with Microsoft not honoring a purchase? If they had given away a product in a "brick and mortar" store, they would not be able to take it back. We all (at least those who were able to sign up) have receipts showing that we purchased something, aren't we entitled to it?
DaveJun 4th 2009 10:19AM
Just to confirm...they are 100% not honoring these subscriptions, even for people like myself who got in early with no problems and received the confirmation email and receipt and everything. I just spent a total of an hour on the phone with level 1 support and then a supervisor and they both said the same thing...that the codes were intended for a small group of people and had been leaked on the internet and so they're not honoring them, period. It's kind of ridiculous that they set up ZERO security on this and now they're just not going to honor anything, but hey it's Microsoft.
ChiJun 4th 2009 11:11AM
So I suppose the bigger question is for those that got in and got keys... do those keys work or are they revoked as well?
SkapigJun 4th 2009 11:26AM
This was a very public address with absolutely zero indication of any kind of offer restriction. There was no deception on the part of the customer and MS completed the transactions and sent out confirmations, therefore entering into a binding agreement. Revoking on the day of purchase is technicallly deception on the part of MS.
Again, no indication of the offer being closed and a public address. Conceptually, this is a much weaker defense than someone distributing a promo code (which probably should have been used since it would facillitate restriction). Real measures could have been taken to restrict and even announce the limitations of the offer. If they are unhappy about having the offer widely distributed, they have to take it up with the likely candidates who did the deed as its possible that they may have been under some kind of agreement not to do so. However, that does not change the fact MS has knowingly broken these agreements themself. Legally, they should be stuck biting the bullet on this one.
BrainfishJun 4th 2009 3:06PM
Not only have they disabled the sub but they've also disabled my existing sub!
Nice one MS
dwaynehaleJul 14th 2009 9:21AM
Someone from Microsoft Software and Licensing called me today. Don't really know what he wants, he asked about some software I had recently purchased and where I purchased it (but didn't name the software explicitly). I did sign up for the free technet subscription but hadn't gotten a chance to download anything before they pulled the Benefits Number. Too afraid to call him back, left me a extension though.