Amongst the main things you need are a company name, a thought for a product you will produce for commercial release within 1 year (extendable to 2 years), a web site IDing you as a software vendor/developer using M$ products with an eMail address and phone @ along with your company name, and $375USD. Someone will eMail or call you to confim some things, and at the end of the year you will be encouraged to become a Gold Channel (?) M$ Partner, or extend the ISV program for another year to complete your product (plus another $375 for a 2nd year of MSDN).
I did release my products/enhancements, using VFP mostly. But I did not become a Gold Partner ($10k per year?). A few months after my 2nd ISV/MSDN expired M$ offered me a 3rd year (for another $375) to re-extend my enrollment, so I accepted. If they do not offer a 4th year I will enroll as another company and go for it again. Best deal going. There is no contractual demand for a person to become a Gold Partner. The entire ISV program is designed to give developers access to M$ tools for cheap, and to help dissuade developers from migrating to Open Source or other alternative development tools and platforms (Dabo, Mac, Linux, Python, Java, Open Office, etc.). Since my target market will likely always be stuck in the World Of Windows for their client PCs, I must remain there as well. But for back end Servers for my apps I have already begun my move into Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server, after a nasty surprise with 2003 Server's Terminal Service CAL pricing (doubles pricing, whereas before TS was at no additional charge). Their new pricing policy bit me hard, and I have decided to never let that happen to me or a client again. So I am using Linux as a Server platform, and PostgreSQL for my back end, despite still using VFP for my frint end apps (new apps are being done with browser scripting and Java, although I plan to begin using Dabo and Python at some point). So for me the ISV subscription is becoming more of a way to help bridge/enable my transition from M$ to Open Source solutions on the back end and front end, while still using M$ tools for workstations. Gil > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Man-wai Chang > Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:19 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [NF] about OEM WinXP > > > > ... sniped... But under their > > ISV Empower program it is under $400.00! Just one use of XP > Pro and full > > blown Office alone makes it worth while - IF you "qualify" for the ISV > > program. I have used the ISV/MSDN program for 3 years, after a > few years of > > full price MSDN, and have found it entirely worth while. > > I am currently unemployed. Am I qualified? Do I need a company name to > get it? :) > > -- > @~@ http://changmw.homeip.net > / v \ May the Force and Farce be with you! Linux 2.6.23.1 > /( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) 20:16:01 up 7 days 22:42 > ^ ^ 2 users load average: 0.00 0.02 0.00 > news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
