>>>>I am now certain that MSDN is a suitable (though significantly more expensive) alternative to VS.
>>>
>>>Here's the angle. Get you boss to cough up $100US*2 to get 2 people certified in an MS product and you can become a MCSP which includes the MSDN universal for $1395US. MSDN Universal costs hmmm about $2000US-$2500
>>
>>Doesn't MSP stgatus require more than MCP status - as I remember it, you need MCSDs, MCDBAs or MCSEs, not just MCPs.
>
>It looks like there are two levels, the lower level is below:
>----------
>Have at least (2) two exclusive Microsoft Certified Professionals, each of whom may be a:
>Microsoft® Certified Professional (MCP) or
>Microsoft® Certified Trainer (MCT) or
>Microsoft® Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) or
>Microsoft® Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) or
>Microsoft® Certified Database Administrator
>------------

Thanks, I wasn't aware that they'd added the lower level solution provider classification. Is there a difference in what resources or services are available to each level of organization?