Comments on: How Do You Feel About Microsoft Ending the TechNet Subscription?

By: Robin Poulose

Robin Poulose — Fri, 03 May 2024 01:54:32 +0000

Now I know why technet was deprecated they were bring copilot?
Someone was thinking long run back then

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:10:49 +0000

Simply put, this gave me the drive to move everything I have to Linux. I cannot afford a multi-thousand dollar subscription just so I can fiddle around with products to see what is best for my customers. For $150 a year, the access I got was unparralleled, and now, it’s not. My clients are no longer getting recommendations to invest in Microsoft at all. Domain servers ? Linux. File servers? Linux. Email servers? You guessed it, Linux. It does the job better, and without me having access to a reliable lab of software, I’ll just stick with the free(er) alternative.

By: O. D. Williams

O. D. Williams — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:40:12 +0000

If piracy is really the problem, just restrict sales to those with a business license and a DUNS number. No license and DUNS number, no TechNet subscription – Problem Solved!

This is going to kill our consulting and configuration testing business. It is also going to hurt MS’s bottom line. Suicide is not the path to business success, Microsoft. Why didn’t you focus test this on a group of 12 year olds before killing TechNet? I’m sure that a 12 year old could have told you why this is a very bad idea – apparently your best managers are not up to the task. Too bad!

By: Clint Boessen [MVP]

Clint Boessen [MVP] — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 02:40:17 +0000

Not happy Paul. Thanks for your post!

Regards,
Clint

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:47:57 +0000

I am a one man IT consulting business. I have subscribed to Technet for well over a decade. I remember paying for Technet Plus when that allowed me to download the software I needed to setup up my test environments. When it became part of the standard subscription I was thrilled. I rely on the ability to download not only the latest, but previous Microsoft products. I leave several of the environments running long term to facilitate testing service packs, patches and applications in an environment that looks like a real world customer site.

Between killing SBS and now TechNet, t’s pretty apparent what they think about those of us that have evangelized their products for years to small businesses. No, we are not massive consulting firms working with huge clients, but there are a number of us that will now be looking for different solutions to sell our customers. You want us to sell your cloud services? Good luck with that. I have created a cloud services bundle to sell my clients that does not include a single MS product.

By: Willy Eidsaunet

Willy Eidsaunet — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 09:10:48 +0000

I share most of the views expressed in previous comments. I have from time to time considered switching both my main server and operating environment as well as my test systems to a Linux base, but have been reluctant due to the required investment in set up and training as well as the lack of totally congruent solutions in the linux world. However, when MS decides unilaterally to screw their customers and supporters in this manner, they are pushing me to look for alternatives and in this way forcing me to finally make the leap. One can still hope that MS management will realize the tremendous negative impact this is going to have on top of the Windows 8 screw up, but I am getting increasingly sceptical that there remains any sensible management in the company.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:58:10 +0000

In reply to Andy. IE10 GPO gone, must use GPP to manage IE10 now

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:31:05 +0000

In reply to Andrew Laxton.

Well said,

I work for a small company that has little to no budget for training. I learn the new technologies and software on my own. I don’t see how I will stay up-to-date now. Especially at the rate MS is releasing new products. This was a valuable resource.

I did like the comment above. At least if they would keep the TechNet operating for certified individuals.

They have really made it difficult if not impossible for a small company and the working IT Pros that need to learn outside of work. After commuting and work I only have several hours a week to put into deploying and testing new systems. I fear without access to the new systems it will be easy to become obsolete in this ever-changing environment.

Microsoft has a tendency to shoot itself in the foot and they have done so again.

By: Cody Skidmore

Cody Skidmore — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:55:09 +0000

I wanted to send a head’s up to everyone. A petition does exist. It received more than 3,700 signatures as of this morning. It will likely reach 4,000 within the next four hours. So you understand the momentum, it received 700 signatures in roughly 24 hours. The petition can be found here.

http://chn.ge/16uLiRA

We’re receiving press coverage in the U.S. and abroad. Microsoft acknowledged on the 11th they’re aware of the uproar they caused and are listening to our community while considering a decision.

We’re asking for your help convincing Microsoft of the folly in closing TechNet. Please join us.

Respectfully,

Cody Skidmore

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 06:44:28 +0000

Seriously not impressed with this. I’m an IT pro and have been doing it since the very early MS days of Windows for Workgroups etc. Technet back then was our bible, and it was the only way to get our hands on early releases to test and deploy. And those were much simpler times.

Now, we have the nightmare of cumulative updates to contend with, which isn’t counting the usual patching (which Microsoft are getting sloppy with) as well as the “oh crap” bugfix support patches. There aren’t many companies out there with the resources (or willingness) to pay in full for a close-to-good-enough replica of production for testing and deployment.

As for learning, demonstrating and just “what happens if I do this” – that’s now the realm of those who get their software illegally or MSDN subscribers. Sure we can download and install for 90-120 days, but us professionals need lab setups that don’t have to be setup every 3 months. Which applies even more to those studying/training on our own time, because, well, every company has huge training budgets and really enjoys it when their IT pros are offsite for a week or more.

#flipdesk
#rage
#bitter