Hi Jim,

On the same note, I've paid about $2800 for an upgrade to MSDN universal, just before the professional edition came out. I can honestly say that much of this is a waste of money. Sure I did recieve VFP7, WINXP, SQL-Server2000, and OfficeXP, but it would be sufficient to have only the new OSs and VS (and VFP7) versions. I have no need for all the server stuff (except for SQL server, but since already own SQL 6.5 and SQL 7, I don't have a high need for SQL 2000) all the SDKs, and beta stuff.

The universal subscription expires this month, so I'll choose the professional version this time which is a lot cheaper (about $900).

Walter,


>Sure John... you MVPs get MSDN for nothing, so it is excellent "value".
>
>CraigB in particular takes every opportunity to tout the 'value' of MSDN over a combination of products. His calculation is likely right on when it comes to a brand new setup with a developer who has yet to use (read: have bought) MS software previously. But for the guy who already bought Office2000 and WinXP and VFP7 and VS 6.0 I think that the "value proposition" is quite a bit different.
>
>Not to mention that MSDN is an ANNUAL subscription whereas outright purchases are a multi-year proposition.
>
>Those of us who have to watch our pennies some have a whole different "value proposition" than either those who don't or those who get it for nothing anyway.
>
>Jim
>
>>You don't think MSDN Universal represents a great value?
>>
>>I sense a good deal of thread drift here...
>>
>>
>>>>>>The key is to be an MSDN customer and get a universal subscription. Then, you can get VS Enterprise Architect Edition.
>>>>>
>>>>>Is it expensive?
>>>>
>>>>Check out msdn.microsoft.com for details.
>>>
>>>I did. Isn't that expensive? Especially for small time developers. Would'nt just the product be enough? The advantage to small time guys like me?
>>>
>>>Thanks John:)