Pretty cool for students in Vietnam, students can download licensed Microsoft Software for free to help them learn. Of course, it’s not really a charitable thing, it’s good for Microsoft’s business as well. To access the DreamSpark site and find out more regarding your school, go to: https://www.dreamspark.com/wayf/wayf.aspx. I’d love a crack at XNA Game Studio myself, wish I had more free time to retackle programming. I’d copy the list of Vietnamese schools supported here, but I couldn’t figure out how. Information from Labnol.org:
What software programs do I get with DreamSpark?
Once you join the DreamSpark program, you will have to option to download the following Microsoft software tools for free :
- Expression Studio 3
- Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
- SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition
- .. and more – see full list.
Additionally, DreamSpark also offers free ebooks, up to 22 hours of free e-learning courses on Microsoft technologies and 1 free Microsoft certification exam.
Will Microsoft ship the software DVDs?
Unlike MSDN or TechNet, Microsoft won’t ship you DVDs but you can download the software installers from the DreamSpark website itself. If you are located in India, you can also walk into your nearest Aptech or NIIT center and request the software on a DVD.
Ok, but isn’t there a catch?
Microsoft licenses the software to you for educational use. This means that you can use the software without restriction for school assignments or personal projects. If you write or design something that you wish to sell, however, you need to purchase a standard licensed copy of the Microsoft software before you sell your product.
Is the software like a trial that will expire when I graduate?
No! The software from DreamSpark is the full version, and according to Microsoft, “You may continue to use the Software you obtained prior to termination of your student status subject to the terms of this license.â€
This is taken from the license agreement that you accept before you download the software, so you can be sure that any software that you download via DreamSpark will be free for personal and non-commercial use forever.
When you graduate, however, your DreamSpark membership will terminate so you won’t have access to new software release but the software that you may have already downloaded will continue to work.
