I am not quite as sanguine about it. Using their Windows monopoly power to thwart competing software was exactly what got them in trouble with the DOJ.

Have you managed to sign up for the ISV Empower subscription yet? No luck here. I went through the application processes for Windows Live and the Empower signup. I am out there as an ISV now but the status still shows as Pending in the Empower signup process, so I can't sign up for MSDN yet. Aggravating. I agree with you about the kludginess of the site.

Maybe they somehow figured out I told a pack of lies on the application <g>.


>>Re IE, this is obnoxious. I just went to the site using Firefox and was blocked when I tried to sign up for the program. A message says I am using an unsupported internet browser and need to use IE. They sure don't act like a company that had the Justice Dept. after them for 10 years, do they?
>
>Actually, this is one I don't really blame them for. Kind of like the Ford plant that has a separate parking lot for foreign cars ( in another zip code <s> ) It's their website.
>
>Of course when IE doesn't work because of something they've done to trash my cookies - well, it makes me want to toss my cookies along with IE.
>
>>
>>
>>>I've been trying off an on for months to sign up for the MS ISV Empower Program ( MSDN for $375 etc )
>>>
>>>This site looks promising http://microsoft.mrmpslc.com/ISVCommunity/OverviewdetailEmpower.aspx
>>>
>>>but when I click join now I go to a page that says Windows Live ID is not available on this site ( a MS site !! ) and the links to join seem to go nowhere.
>>>
>>>I historically find MS websites extremely quirky and usually broken ( and I make sure to use IE as Firefox complicates the problem even further. )
>>>
>>>Anyone who has insight into how to get started on this, it would be greatly appreciated. Craig, Alex ... ?
>>>
>>>TIA