I heard about this a day or two ago and I have to say this is a MASSIVE move for Microsoft and something that can only do good. As a student you can now download, at no cost, the professional Microsoft development tools. That is all there is to the programme, however this is a dream come true for many educational institutions. Just think of the opportunity - help them implement all this software, when the software is free to the students!!
Channel8 described it as:
How would you like a free copy of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008? How about the entire Microsoft Expression Studio? Not enough...... how about Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and more?
For once, something that sounds too good to be true really is this good and really is true. Starting today (or soon in some areas), students worldwide will be able to download our professional development and design tools for free! It's called DreamSpark and it is upon us.
For information on the project from PressPass:
PressPass: What is the thinking behind Microsoft DreamSpark? And how did you come up with the name?
Wilson: Microsoft DreamSpark is a community-based program to provide students with free access to Microsoft’s industry-leading software development, gaming and design tools. Working with schools, governments, partners and student organizations worldwide, we will be making this available starting today in Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Other countries will come online over the next year, as well as expanding the program to include high school students. The program is open to all students at education institutions worldwide, though those studying science, technology, engineering and math disciplines (STEM-D) are expected to be the first to jump on it. All eligible students need is access to a computer with an internet connection to download the products, as well as free access keys at http://channel8.msdn.com.
We call it DreamSpark because every great technology breakthrough starts life as someone’s dream or idea. We want to make sure that students have the tools to spark their own dreams plus the power to turn them into reality.
PressPass: Why is Microsoft doing this?
Wilson: We believe students can do amazing things with technology if given access to the right tools. This is a way to make sure that they have what they need to test the boundaries of what today’s technology can do and also prepare for a great career at the same time. The added benefit to industry is that we’re addressing one of the toughest challenges confronting employers today: attracting and developing qualified IT professionals. We’re trying to help close this gap by giving students globally the opportunity to get the tools they’ll need after they graduate and jump-start their careers to land that first job.
Making sure there is a strong pipeline of technically skilled students is key to the future of the global economy. The ability to create new software and services will be an essential part of the skill set of the next generation of workers. Technology is one of the chief drivers pushing worldwide economic development and job creation. As well as giving students important exposure to the tools they can expect to use in the workplace, DreamSpark is about putting professional-level tools in the hands of students to amplify the impact of their studies and fire up their imaginations about the power of technology.
much more at Microsoft DreamSpark Helps Ignite the Imaginations, Careers of Today’s Students: Q&A: Joe Wilson, Microsoft Senior Director of Academic Initiatives for Developer and Platform Evangelism, discusses how making professional software tools available at no charge to high school and university students worldwide can be a catalyst for the next generation of technology innovation.
The press have been picking it up with people like this - http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8302312?source=rss_emailed and places like the UK academia blog - dreamspark-is-here.asp…. The tools even include the XNA game developer toolsets, so the market has really opened up here!
Obviously the Open Source community has decided that this is all about them. Not so many years back dev tools were free to various people and even now we have the Express tools that are amazing and free to everyone.
enjoy the software and the opportunities.
David
Posted
Tue, Feb 19 2008 4:07 PM
by
David Overton