Jeff Key

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I see references to the Microsoft Action Pack every so often and when I want to tell someone about it I forget what it's called.  With this post I'm putting it in stone, never to be forgotten again.  Hallelujah!

This thing is one of the best deals on the planet for people that make a living in the Microsoft world.  What does it include?  Generally ten licenses for desktop applications/OSes and one for each server plus ten CALS per server.  The best part is that it's only US$299. 

  • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 with Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft SQL ServerTM 2000 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server
  • Microsoft Mobile Information Server 2002
  • Microsoft Office XP Professional with Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server
  • Microsoft SharePointTM Portal Server 2001
  • Microsoft Publisher 2002
  • Microsoft MapPoint® 2002
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Service Pack 3
  • Microsoft Outlook® 2002
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 3
  • Microsoft Visio® 2002 Professional Service Release 1
  • Microsoft FrontPage® 2002
  • Microsoft ISA Server Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Project 2002 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
...and much more!

Of course there are restrictions, but they're very liberal considering what you're getting: 

“The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription is restricted to resellers, consultants, value-added resellers, value-added providers, system integrators, developers, system builders, hosts, service providers, and IT professionals who sell Microsoft products or provide solutions based on Microsoft products and technologies to third-party customers.”

..and the license:

“The software included with the subscription can be used for internal business use, testing, evaluation, demonstration, training, and educational purposes only. For example, you can use the Action Pack software to host your company's intranet but it CANNOT be used to host a commercial Web site. This is considered a production environment that is outside the scope of the software's intended purpose.”

This is a great deal for independents and people that do research at home since you're not dipping into your company's licenses, which are a heck of a lot more expensive than this.

Posted: Jan 05 2004, 10:30 PM by jeffreykey | with 8 comment(s)
Filed under: ,

Comments

Duncan said:

Thanks for the link - I have signed up.
Unfortunately the European price is EUR320 (approx $400) but it is still a significant saving.
# January 6, 2004 6:16 AM

Michael Earls said:

Thanks for posting this. The Microsoft Action Pack is exactly what I've been looking for.
# January 6, 2004 9:15 AM

Shannon J Hager said:

Be sure to read the part where is says that the license is for 1 year only. At the end of the year you must either uninstall the software or renew your subscription if available. That part scared me away from signing up because they make it clear that you may not be able to renew the subscription which would mean you have to uninstall the software or buy retail licenses.
# January 6, 2004 11:47 AM

Jeff Key said:

Thanks for the info, Shannon, I didn't notice that. Considering the risk, I still think it's a great deal if you're like me and take advantage of more than a product or two. At home I have my home machine on XP, an old box w/Win2k3 EE + SQL Server 2000, Office 2k3, etc., etc. Even if it's only for a year, $300 for all that stuff is amazing. I don't have time while at the office to do research and keep up to speed on all the latest and greatest stuff, so it's a win-win for everyone: I can learn and test just about anything my heart desires when I have time and MSFT gets another soldier in the field designing solutions using more of their products, resulting in more license revenue. Unless people abuse the program, I think it's in MSFT's best interest to keep this thing alive.
# January 6, 2004 1:24 PM

Chip said:

Check out this program for ISVs:

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/isv/empower/default.aspx

This includes 1 MSDN Subscription (5 Licenses). This is certainly a great deal for small companies.

I find it strange that neither of these programs have been promoted very well. Especially after a recent coversation on Scoble's blog (he's since deleted his comments).
# January 6, 2004 5:34 PM

Jeff Key said:

Wow, that is nice. What's the deal w/Scoble deleting comments?
# January 7, 2004 1:10 AM

Shannon J Hager said:

He moved his comment system away from haloscan and lost all his comments.
# January 7, 2004 1:46 AM

Jeff Key said:

Gotcha, thanks. I was looking for a controversy. ;)
# January 7, 2004 1:48 AM