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Microsoft quietly cuts number of product keys available to TechNet subscribers | |
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| Time: 11:42 EST/16:42 GMT | News Source: ZDNet | Posted By: Andi Stabryla | ||
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Less than a week ago, Microsoft blogger Paul Thurrott mention a supposed TechNet bug, via which subscribers to Microsoft’s TechNet service were missing some of their product-license keys. It turns out this wasn’t a bug; it’s a “feature,” according to Microsoft. Thurrott updated his September 19 blog post, noting the change in terms of service were intentional, not an accident. The Register followed up yesterday, noting the quiet change, and claiming the move was done without notice. | ||
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| #1 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 9/24/2010 1:33:49 PM |
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Ok, this was timing...
Knowing that I would not be able to renew right away when mine expires (money is too tight next month) I went ahead and generated all 10 keys I would need for each product, and printed it out. Whew :) All that said, this change is Bullshit. I can understand if they wanted to do it for new subscriptions, or maybe even at renewal time, but to do it on EXISTING subscriptions that are bought and paid for is simply unacceptable. It's like Sony removing features from the PS3 after people have paid for them. Or signing up for a bundle contract with your cable company for a price for a year, then half-way through they raise the price on you. You call, and they say basically "While you cannot cancel without penalty, we do reserve the right to raise the rate when we need to". Corporate America has become a bunch of thieves and jackels. This post was edited by TechLarry on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 13:41. |
| #2 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 9/24/2010 1:38:39 PM |
| BTW... I am renewing, I just know it can't happen until December... |
| #3 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 9/24/2010 1:58:45 PM |
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#1: All that said, this change is Bullshit.
Don't worry; this is Microsoft. They announced their well thought out, iron-clad decision today. By tomorrow, after they've been yelled at for the past 12 hours, they'll flip-flop. It's like Sony removing features from the PS3 after people have paid for them. I refuse to own a PS3 because Sony is absolutely horrible in this regard. I don't own an XBox either, obviously. "While you cannot cancel without penalty, we do reserve the right to raise the rate when we need to" You must be new at this. They never, ever used the word 'raise'. They use 'adjust'. 'Raise' has such a negative connotation to it. Of course, the 'adjustment' is always upward. |
| #4 By 8556 (173.27.244.6) at 9/24/2010 2:49:36 PM |
| #3: They won't do a flip flop. All higher prices for Action Pack, Tech Net have and will stick. Also, MS has been applying pressure to buy more from them, or send customers directly to the MS store cutting resellers out of the picture. They changed the standard for Gold Partner which affects smaller firms that had one person with multiple certifications. Since the Windows 7 House Party, a very nice touch, we all are paying more, one way or another, to Microsoft. |
| #5 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 9/24/2010 3:14:23 PM |
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#4: They changed the standard for Gold Partner which affects smaller firms that had one person with multiple certifications.
Like my company. We used to be a Gold partner. Not any more. |
| #6 By 23275 (172.16.10.136) at 9/24/2010 3:33:51 PM |
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The key count is misleading - each key, be it two or five, is good for up to ten (10) different activations.
Further, if one needs more keys, all they need do is ask and MS will give them to the subscriber. If you're doing that much testing, that 20 or 50 activations is not enough, there are plenty of means within the OEM Systems Builders' and other partner channels you can work. If you're doing the volume, they'll give you as many as you need to test your products. |
| #7 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 9/27/2010 8:55:09 AM |
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Lloyd,
I don't think so. Not any more. That was the old way of them doing it (one key, 10 activations). My understanding is it's one per key now. If you have reference to something different, I'd love to see it. |
| #8 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 9/27/2010 8:56:39 AM |
| Also, don't forget, a lot of the key usage is from rotating equipment. Mine is constantly changing. |
| #9 By 23275 (68.117.163.128) at 9/27/2010 11:06:07 AM |
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#7, It's still 10 activations per key and depending upon what subscription level one has (2 or 5), they have 20 - 50 activations.
At either level, if more keys are required, all one need do is email and they will give you more - up to 10 in this program. Please check out the TechNet 7 forums - they are moderated, http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistaannouncements/thread/3e4134dd-d1f4-409a-b767-0b246bdc221b/ Also, "When a Microsoft product requires activation (such as Windows Vista), the product keys provided with your subscription allow a limited number of activations. The product keys available through your subscription can have one or more activations per product key. Multiple Activation Keys for older products typically are 10 activation keys. As subscribers often have legitimate needs to install and reinstall software more often, we are working to increase activations available for keys, or to enable issuance of additional keys. Going forward we plan to continue to support this business need and increase the number of activations for subscribers, or enable multiple keys to be claimed." As at, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/dd464803.aspx TL, you should be able to activate as often as you need and as often as your equipment mix requires. All products have at least 10 activations, but some have even more and if ever you need more keys, or more activations, just email, or call and describe what the deal is. They are happy to give you more if you need them. For us it is vital, as we are low volume and cmponents improve all the time. So testing and proofing configurations with many different images and software mixes is really important to us to be able to ensure our systems exceed customer expectations. So I feel you about constantly changing hardware mixes. |
| #10 By 8556 (173.27.244.6) at 9/27/2010 3:54:54 PM |
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#9: I may have read the second link's page too fast. But, this stands out:
"TechNet Professional (RETAIL): Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of five keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process. TechNet Standard (RETAIL):Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of two keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process." So, you are saying that each key, be it two of five, still has ten activations tied to it. |
| #11 By 23275 (68.117.163.128) at 9/27/2010 6:50:50 PM |
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#10, Yes, minimally. Some activate more that 10 times each.
If you need more of either, just ask - they will give them to you. It is common for us to deal with 30 - 50 different hardware configurations within the same line of systems. There are that many options among board, GPU's, coolers, media readers, tuners, etc... - all of them have to be tested and run in. This includes the OPK - out of box experience and activation. How is that process and now that WEI is automated, how is that process and when after first log in is it begun. Software stacks are equally complex. So what I am saying is that it's no big deal - MS is used to providing hundreds of keys and thousands of activations to legit operators doing real testing. They see volume and they support your work. |
| #12 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 9/28/2010 10:11:40 AM |
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The wording of this scares me:
"TechNet Professional (RETAIL): Current policy is that subscribers may access a maximum allocation of five keys from the download portal for use during the Subscription year to be used during the software evaluation process. For use during the subscription year? Is this a change? In the past, one of the selling points of the program was that once you were assigned a key, it was good forever whether you renewed or not. |
| #13 By 16797 (99.236.143.109) at 9/28/2010 1:11:32 PM |
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#12 Was it not always like that? I mean is that not why it's called "subscription"? This post was edited by gonzo on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 13:11. |
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