Microsoft is offering to Visual Studio .NET 2002 Professional, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Architect customers a corresponding upgrade to a Visual Studio .NET 2003 product for only $29 USD. This offer is open until September 30, 2003 and is indeed one of the first signs of yesterday’s news that Microsoft is cutting down the prices like crazy in order to beat the rising competition. The original price for the PRO upgrade was about $480 USD (Enterprise and Architect upgrade versions were even pricier).
Microsoft Sells Visual Studio.Net 2003 Upgrade for 29 USD
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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This is good news for Visual Studio.NET customers but I would advise anyone planning to use Visual Studio instead of X, Y or Z IDE to steer clear as Microsoft don’t have a reputation for keeping prices down when they don’t have to.
The low price is not due to competition. The low price is to make sure the bulk of developers — what Microsoft views as a critical mass — all keep the pace and move to the next version of .NET and associated tools.
Microsoft realizes they still have a lot of work to do before they outflank Java, so the cheap prices will remain until .NET is substantively on the marketshare map. Once Microsoft has a real .NET base, the prices will begin to ratchet up again.
This strategy has been used so many times by Microsoft, I am surprised more people don’t recognize it. Microsoft’s development tools are always cheap when Microsoft wants to build share.
The reason why a large number of people don’t realise is because the majority of people are moronic simpletons. One only needs to look at a MSDN conference and the evangelical promoting makes. It is almost comparable to the “crusades” that Billy Graham did back in the 1960s-70s.
If these “developers” had half a brain they would be cynical and asking *why* the prices are being dropped, what are the *real* motives behind this “outpouring of generosity to the unwashed coders” of the world.
Well maybe not now, but that day will come. Hopefully Mono and SharpDevelop will be what Eclipse is today.
There are efforts underway to port SWT to C# into platforms supported by Mono. Soon, Mono will have the APIs and the killer IDE to “Push the net out of .Net” (as Borland used to say) into Linux and other platforms (e.g MacOSX).
Microsoft planted, Mono watered it, but the developer comunity will make it grow.
-magg
If these “developers” had half a brain they would be cynical and asking *why* the prices are being dropped, what are the *real* motives behind this “outpouring of generosity to the unwashed coders” of the world.
Despite only having half a brain, they still don’t refer to themselves with a name as stupid as CooCooCaChoo. And besides, by your stupid logic, I am even more concerned about the *why* software developers are releasing software for *free*. What are there real motives? What is behind this outpouring of generosity? You can answer all you want with your “logic”, but I am only interested in wild speculation, to go along with the spirit of your post.
If these “developers” had half a brain they would be cynical and asking *why* the prices are being dropped, what are the *real* motives behind this “outpouring of generosity to the unwashed coders” of the world.
Hmmm, well look at it from this perspective. VS2003 is a small upgrade from 2002. Its what MS admits 2002 should have been like. Its a point release, fixing bugs and adding a few bits (like the Pocket PC stuff built in). They couldn’t justify selling an overpriced upgrade because it is simply a collection of bugfixes and enhancements, nothing revolutionary.
I’m ordering mine anyway
Microsoft has had a monopoly on personal computer operating systems, office suites, and development tools for a long time. And Microsoft currently owns 2/3 of the overall server market in unit shipments.
I think much of the free software movement’s popularity came as the result of a reaction against Microsoft’s monopolies.
It will be interesting to see what will happen if Microsoft succeeds in killing Linux in the server market. Who will want to write free software for the Microsoft server OS?
SCO and Microsoft used to be close business partners. Is the massive lawsuit attack by SCO purely circumstance or just another move by Gates to kill Linux?
The fact that Microsoft even has a chance of killing Linux is because most Linux developers are incredibly ignorant and cannot see Microsoft as the ruthless amoral evil beast that they are. And even in the face of such evil, most Linux developers are too weak and wimpy to do anything other than cower in fear and post stupid jokes on /.
Besides Visual Studio.Net, there C#Builder from Borland. It is an IDE with better features than MS and is more interoperable with other technologies.
Check out their product:
http://www.borland.com/csharpbuilder/
It could also be possible that MS is trying to stomp out Borland from the .Net race. Borland licences the .Net Framework since last year. The USD29 for the new VS.Net pricing upgrade is quite a show stopper if you are planning to justify your VS.Net upgrade to Borland’s .Net Tools.
It is an IDE with better features than MS and is more interoperable with other technologies.
Prove to me it has better features. I doubt it. As for ‘more interoperable with other technologies’, what technologies, and why would that attract me away from the ‘other technologies’ available through VS.Net?
“Sorry, there are no downloads currently for the product you have selected.”
I cant evaluate it first, and there are no screenshots to go by (apart from a v small reference to some UML modelling). I’ll stick to my VS.Net thanks
You want screenshots?:
http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,30021,00.html
Interoperability with other technologies, J2EE:
http://www.borland.com/products/white_papers/dotnet_integrate_j2ee_…
I have tried the beta. You don’t know what you are missing…:-)
The boxed products and trials be out around June:
http://www.borland.com/news/press_releases/2003/05_06_03_borland_la…
Eat your heart out!
-magg
C#Builder is not released yet, so nothing to evaluate.
You want screenshots?
Yikes!! Borland stuff never was pleasing to the eye
Interoperability with other technologies, J2EE
I already have my Java tools tho? And if I want mixed compatability I can use J# (not that I’d want to!)
If C#Builder does it for you then great, go with it. I’ve been using VS.Net since it was in betas so have grown accustomed to ‘getting things done’ using it. Might give Builder a chance when its released, but it looks a little too hectic for my liking to use day-in-day-out.
because Anonymous (IP: 67.168.65.—), these developers have developed a tool in their work, however, they feel that others may benefit and contribute to the project, which could then in turn could benefit the original developer with a feature being added which they want as well. It is called a community development process, people helping each other in a commune like process. People take a little, and those with the ability give back to it.
Again, you completely miss what I am getting at. This is a monopoly who is now, out of the goodness of their heart giving a price cut on their flag ship development product. What would motivate them? competition from the likes of Borland or IBM since its purchase of Rational? simply saying that they care for developers does not fall into the relm of running a business. Every action a business takes is done because there is either a long term or a short term benefit to themselves, there actions are NEVER done out of generousity.
Redhat didn’t make their distribution out of the goodness of their own heart, they did it to grab market share and make a bigger profit. That is a fact of life. The only motivating factor for a business is profit, either directly or indirectly. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that, but don’t think for a moment that there is a charietable side to any business.
This offer is ONLY valid from Visual Studio 2002. I had bought Studio Pro 2002 and was really angry at the prospect of shelling out another 600 bucks for the upgrade to 2003 with its C++ Compiler which is the only thing i actually use.
So again, its only 29$ for a limited time and ONLY if you´re upgrading from Visual Studio 2002
Every action a business takes is done because there is either a long term or a short term benefit to themselves, there actions are NEVER done out of generousity.
Maybe it’s because people aren’t going to shell out another $700 for an incremental upgrade to a product they just bought 6-12 months ago…
Personally, I already have my copy of VS.Net 2003 for work, but it won’t get installed until my current project is finished with testing and refinement.
The reason why the UPGRADE from Visual Studio 7 to Visual Studio 8 is so cheap, is because they decided to get it out quicly after version 7 instead of releaseing service packs…
Thats why its just as cheap as a service pack (you only pay for the media)
You can’t use the new v1.1 framework unless you upgrade Visual Studio. Hence the low pricing; otherwise there’d be a backlash.
Still, can’t fault people for being conditioned by Microsoft to expect the worst.
As the “Why OSX Panther May Tear Up Windows Longhorn” article states:
Longhorn will feature “A new core application programming interface set, code-named “Avalon” that is designed to replace hundreds of the existing Win32 APIs with various .Net Framework APIs.”
So this is another reason for MS to want everyone on the same sheet of music.
1.1 compatibility for mobile devices is another reason.
.NET 2002 was a first release, they want people to upgrade for many of the same reasons most people don’t jump on first releases.
And last but not least, MS wants to take over the world enslave the human race as a source of power and plug us into the matrix to leave us believing we are all “free”.
Like the subject says, is it ???
With the continuing growth of Linux in installations, quality and cost-effectiveness,
why would any developer spend good money on a tool that doesn’t work on anything but windows,
these days? Maybe in 1998, VS was a good idea, but today?
Secondly, J# isn’t Java 1.2 or 1.3 or 1.4, so that’s a dead end.
No matter how good the IDE, it still only works with MS languages, and these are stuck only on MS platforms. I’d like a tool and languages that can run on any Linux, windows or Unix box.
But, that’s just me.
If my management decides tomorrow to save money and move applications to linux, I’m dead on this product.
I’d look into something like Macromedia Dreamweaver MX for a Web Development cross platform environment, with it’s support for ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, and ColdFusion, etc…
Anybody have anything better?
Well, it will be interesting. On one side of the ring we have mono which includes rapidly developing support for Java, C# and VB. On the otherside of the ring we have QT for C++ programmers, and GTK for C, however, I have heard that gtkmm is very good now and as I see it, they (GNOME community) need to push more the fact that you don’t need to be a C programmer to utilise the features of GNOME.
Then there is support for ASP.NET, PhP rapidly improving, Linux 2.6 is starting to include many features found in commercial UNIX’s and scalability exceeding that of AIX.
Yes, these are interesting times, and those who are unwilling to learn Linux for a rainy day will find themselves as about as useful to the job market as pockets on a singlet.
To the first part, VS.Net 2003 was previously code-named Everett, so, yes, this is it.
As for whether or not this is a dead end, I guess that depends primarily on what your future development looks like. If you’re in an environment where most of your programming for the next couple of years is going to be on Windows (or PocketPC, or whatever other MS devices this supports), then it’s probably your best bet. As Mono develops it should also work for you there, though you most likely would have to avoid the Windows Forms portion and a few other portions that VS helps with. If you’re primarily a C++ developer then the improved conformance to ANSI/ISO helps there.
As for web development, I really wouldn’t know since it’s not related to anything I work with. I don’t even use anything higher level than Notepad for most of my static html (on the few occasions I actually do any of that), and that’s mostly because I usually have to edit that html from any given computer when someone has a reason for it to be updated.
VS 2002 was version 7.0, VS 2003 is version 7.1
Someone said this $29 price for upgrades in the comments section of another article on this very site almost a month ago. Why wasn’t it news then?
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/howtobuy/standards.aspx
For US and Canada at least. You can upgrade your standard editions as well. Also it seems that you don’t have to upgrade to the corresponding version if you don’t want to.
I have VB.NET, but am probably going to get C#.NET with this offer.
Want proof MS sees Linux as its biggest tread?
http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=96369&owner=(IHT)&date=20030515163945
Ayala’s e-mail told executives that if a deal involving governments or large institutions looked doomed, they were authorized to draw from a special internal fund to offer the software at a steep discount or even free if necessary. Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive, was sent a copy of the e-mail message.
For those who don’t know it already:
Microsoft actually gives away their C# and VB.NET compilers FOR FREE (you can download them from Microsofts webpage). You only need to pay if you want the MS IDE.
I guess they do this to make .NET more popular. Apple also gives their dev tools away for free (because they need every software developer they can get for their platform)
> Someone said this $29 price for upgrades in the comments section of another article on this very site almost a month ago. Why wasn’t it news then?
Do you think I read all 500 comments every day?
News flash: I don’t, I have a life to run. I didn’t read this elsewhere before, someone submitted the story, and here we are, posting it. Easy!
Just ran into another problem in VB 6, the Split command,
where the Count field is not being handled properly.
If you ask for a limit of 5 fields, you will get 6, with all the other string data that overflowed the 5 fields,
in element 6. So, when you do a Join right after the Split command, your Output looks exactly like your Input.
Why do I bring this up here?
Because, had the “Wizard” at MS actually used the IDE( the Locals Window ),
he would have seen that his code didn’t work!
Assuming, he even bothered to test it of course.
Maybe MS could give their product to their own developers?!
VS.Net 2003 is terrible for any sort of web development. It cannot produce stanards compliant code, and in fact, isn’t even close at all. By default (what most people would use), it uses a special MS grid layout system for aspx files, and it will not display properly in any other browser but IE 5.x or greater. It is poorly done overall. If I had to assign it a letter grade, it would be a F.
Right, this is not some fire sale to prevent people from defecting to the competition. It’s not even a particularly generous deal for VS 2002 users – I imagine they discussed a free download, or CD shipment at cost, until cooler heads prevailed (although Ballmer the bean counter was probably pushing for something higher).
IntelliJ and Eclipse is a better IDE than Visual Studio crap.
I still like DrScheme best.
Then use it, and stop bitching in a story about MS Visual Studio.