MSDN Professional

[cj001]

I'm going to upgrade to VFP 9.0.

I was looking at MSDN Professional. Microsoft's website doesn't explain clearly about this product/service.

So I have a few questions and I hope someone here can answer them.


Does it truly include VFP 9.0? What are the limitations? Is it really a full version of VFP so I will be able to distribute my applications?

I noticed that it comes with Windows 2003 server. What are the limitations? (Example number of users).

Is it a good deal?



Thanks!
CJ

 

[rgbean]

CJ,

Yes, All the current VFP's are included (at least 7.0->9.0!) in the subscription downloads area. Yup, it's full, and yours forever. (Along with all the other developer products!)

Servers aren't meant for production use, but for you to develop and test on, so there really isn't a question of how many users.

It's a great deal if you need to use 2 or more developer products, and you like to test using a server and the applications that can run on it (like SQL Server, Index Server, IIS, etc.)

I'm not sure where you looked, but

http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/subscribers/

seems pretty clear about what you get for how much. After that, go to

http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/index/packinglist.aspx

and after supply the level, it'll list all the CDs/DVDs and the types of files on them. (Some CDs have hundreds of individual files!).

But remember that the current CD/DVD set only has current products, if you want to test on the old ones, then you'll need to download them. (I've been having fun recently using a copy of Virtual PC, running Win98SE and DOS sessions under XP!)

Rick

 

[wgcs]

One of the valuable tools that is easily overlooked which is available in the MSDN Professional subscription is Microsoft's recently acquired VirtualPC. It makes testing installations on a Clean Machine possible! (just keep an "undo" file for the virtual hard drive, and "revert" after a test install... and you're back to a just-installed Windows computer)

- Bill

Get the best answers to your questions -- See FAQ481-4875.

 

[cj001]

Thank you for your response.



The reason I asked about the number of user is because for testing purposes I will have to have at least 2 users to be able to access the created application at the sametime.

I did look at the subscription information and the attached EULA. It didn't mention FoxPro and it metioned 'User Rights' but doesn't explain the number of users (Except Terminal Services under Windows 2000 Server). I do realize I could have over looked it in the 12 pages of tiny print.

It wouldn't do me any good if I created a network application and only one end user could run it at a time.


Have you had any problem with Virtual PC? I'm extremely interested in that also.




Thanks again.
CJ

 

[wgcs]

I've had practically no problems with it at all... it hardly took any reading to get it going.

I have a separate VPC for DOS 6.22, Win95, Win98, Win98se, WinXP and Red Hat Linux, and they all work just as though they were independant computers.

The biggest issue is with Red Hat Linux, the virtual hard drive had to be full size: if I want a 2GB hard drive, the HD file is 2GB itself.

With MS OS's, VirtualPC "compacts" the hard drive, making it look like 30GB or more, but only making the file as big as the contents of it.

The MS Doc's say they don't support Linux, but it works fine for me.

- Bill

Get the best answers to your questions -- See FAQ481-4875.

 

[dbMark]

Is MSDN Professional for me?

We're waiting for the VFP 9 retail boxes to become available next month. Rather than buying 3-4 copies for the office workstations, the same number for working from home and a couple for development and last-minute adjustments on our web servers, MSDN Pro sounds like it will cover all those areas for USD $1200? (On other pages I get the impression it's per user which sinks my dream of having copies both at home and work - is that right?)

If all of the above is correct, why haven't I used this before? Sounds like if we need anything more than 2 VFP licenses then MSDN Pro is the way to go. And it has Visual Studio .NET and for testing/development purposes various recent OS versions.

How much do renewals cost, presumably each year? I'm tempted to start by planning to get it for just one year, then drop off for a couple years until I need it again. Their FAQ said that even if the subscription lapsed I could still use the programs. So whether I continue the subscription or not, I'm still saving money over 3 or more VFP boxes and getting way more developer programs. Again, did I misunderstand it?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/subscribers/compare/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/subscribers/msdnprofessional/default.aspx

dbMark

 

[cj001]

It's per user. I believe it is only 1 copy of VFP per MSDN subscription. So if you have 4 PCs (which need VFP) then it's 4 MSDN subscriptions.



If anyone is interested I think I found that server allows for 4 concurrent users.

 

[cj001]

The renewal fee is the same as the upgrade fee.