Contents....  - New Visual Studio 2005 with    MSDN Subscriptions  - MSDN Professional v MSDN    Premium  - MSDN Universal to Visual    Studio Team Edition  - Visual Studio Team Suite  - VBUG’s recommendations  - Check your upgrades

With the launch of Visual Studio 2005 in November, there will be changes to the way MSDN Subscriptions work. MSDN as we know it today is evolving, to be replaced by new subscription levels AND a new name – all based around Visual Studio 2005.

The aim of this newsletter is to bring you up to speed with these changes – what they are and how they will effect you.

MSDN as we know it today is vanishing, to be replaced by new levels AND a new name – all based around Visual Studio 2005.

New Visual Studio 2005 with MSDN Subscriptions
5 current levels are to become 8;

• MSDN Library will remain
• MSDN Operating Systems will remain
• Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional
• Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Premium
• Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers with MSDN Premium (formerly MSDN Enterprise)
• Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers with MSDN Premium
• Visual Studio Team Edition for Testers with MSDN Premium
• Visual Studio Team Edition for Architects with MSDN Premium
• Visual Studio Team Suite with MSDN Premium

http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/vs2005/subscriptions/.

Transitioning current MSDN Subscribers to Visual Studio 2005 with MSDN Subscriptions
Although we know WHAT the transition routes are we are not sure HOW these changes will happen. VBUG have planned another MSDN Experience mail to be sent nearer to November, from which we will give further details on this.

When released CURRENT MSDN subscribers will have the benefit of a FREE TRANSITION to the replacement version applicable for their level.

Professional becomes	Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional
Enterprise becomes	Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers with MSDN Premium
Universal becomes	EITHER Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers with MSDN Premium Or Visual Studio Team Edition for Testers with MSDN Premium Or Visual Studio Team Edition for Architects with MSDN Premium

Professional subscribers will ALSO have the choice of a cost upgrade to Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Premium.

What’s the difference between MSDN Professional and MSDN Premium?
MSDN Professional basically gives you the same access as MSDN Professional does currently, MSDN Premium will offer the same access to products, servers, etc as you get on MSDN Universal (except of course the full VS.NET suite)

You can check out a comparison guide at:

http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/vs2005/editions/pro/

MSDN Universal to Visual Studio Team Edition
MSDN Universal subscribers will have a choice between the 3 versions of Visual Studio Team Editions, although at this time Microsoft have not released exact details of what in included within each of these.

Check out an excellent article on Visual Studio Team Editions, published by Matt Nicholson of DNJ Online http://dnjonline.com/article.aspx?ID=vsts_intro.

There will be a period of time in which a current Universal subscriber can trial for free each of the 3 new versions before a decision has to be made.

If no decision is received Microsoft will default to the Developer version.

The idea that a Universal subscription covers all no longer seems to hold, as the transition version will be specific to the needs of the Developer, Tester or Architect. It is therefore vital that you make the right choice about which of the 3 versions is right for you at the outset. This may not be as easy when you consider subscriptions run for either 2 or 3 years. Although Microsoft will give a 180 day evaluation copy to current Universal subscribers, once your choice has been made you are locked in for the duration of the subscription. Should your role change during the life of the subscription you will need to pay to transition to either of the 2 levels. I am not sure at this stage if this evaluation copy will be made available to help new subscribers (or those upgrading from lower levels) decide on the right level.

Please be advised that once this transition has been made it is NOT possible for a subscriber to change the version (e.g you cannot change from Tester to Developer), unless you pay for a new subscription.

Visual Studio Team Suite
There is a NEW top level offering all 3 of these versions – known as Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite.

Don’t however fall into the trap of thinking this covers a Team of developers, it is still a SINGLE developer license!!

Here’s what VBUG recommend:
If your subscription is due for renewal BEFORE November (or you are considering buying a NEW subscription) then consider the following:

• Professional – purchase as a 2 year Open License version OR a 3 year staggered payment version and protect yourself against future price reviews for the next few years
• Enterprise – Purchase as a 2 year Open License version and have the free upgrade to Visual Studio Team Edition for Developers with MSDN Premium
• Universal – Consider buying Enterprise (if the new Visual Studio Team edition for Developers suits you) as you will have a FREE upgrade this in November - if not then purchase as a 2 year Open License OR a 3 year staggered payment version

It seems confusing but it need not be, if you have ANY questions or comments please contact VBUG.

We know licensing so you don’t need to!!!

Christian Mitchell
Membership Services
VBUG
0870 199 3666
www.vbug.net

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