Must Have Free Software from Microsoft - DreamSpark - For students

Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition – free. Expression Studio – free. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition – free. It does sound too good to be true, but this is the exception that confirms the rule. Microsoft DreamSpark is an initiative from the Redmond company designed to "inspire success, make a difference," while at the same time "ignite the imaginations and careers of today’s students." Via DreamSpark Microsoft is offering students around the world access to professional-grade software developer and designer resources. Initially, the program will be made available to 35 million college students in Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.

"We want to do everything we can to equip a new generation of technology leaders with
the knowledge and tools they need to harness the magic of software to improve lives, solve problems and catalyze economic growth," Gates said. "Microsoft DreamSpark provides professional-level tools that we hope will inspire students to explore the power of software and encourage them to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs."

But the Redmond company is by no means limiting itself to 35 million students. According to Microsoft, DreamSpark will slowly open up to students from additional markets across 2008 Australia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Japan, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and the remaining countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. By the third quarter of 2008, Microsoft will also permit access to high school students to DreamSpark.

The DreamSpark program will include Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition; Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition; XNA Game Studio 2.0; 12-month free Academic membership in the XNA Creators Club; Expression Web; Expression Blend; Expression Design; Expression Media; SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition and Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition.

"Student identity is verified by both institutions that subscribe to public ID systems or even partners who work directly with Microsoft to connect the verification process. They transmit a simple binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ concerning eligibility. The important thing is that students and universities retain total control over the transaction. Microsoft is not privy to any personal information about students - safeguarding their privacy is of paramount concern to us. Once we receive verification of their eligibility they can bypass the verification process on future visits to the DreamSpark download site," stated Joe Wilson, Microsoft’s Senior Director of Academic Initiatives.