Which is right

[dbishop]

I have been using VB 6 for the last 4 yrs. I am looking to purchase the .Net. Im not sure what I need for home. I have a PDA with Mobile 2003, database projects and I have the need to write web applications. Would VB.Net standard edition be enough? Does it come with ADO.net? I need opinions.

Tks
DB

 

[Volte]

From what I hear the Standard edition is extremely limited in what you can do. If you can, Id get at least Professional.

 

[jfackler]

The difference in price can be over $400. The standard edition can not create mobile projects or windows services, but does have the ability to produce web applications and work with ASP.Net and ADO.Net. There is no Crystal Reports or ability to create databases from the IDE either. If youre getting started and unsure of a long term commitment to VB.Net, buy the standard version....my guess is youll upgrade within the year. Then gift the standard version to your local starving programer when you upgrade.

Jon

 

[Threads]

Sign up for a class at a local college and then get the Academic priced VS.NET Professional for $99. The funny thing is you would get the program cheaper than just going out and purchasing it even with all the extra costs of college included.

 

[Volte]

The downside to this is that the Academic version is non-upgradeable, so you need to either continue purchasing the academic full versions, or get a non-academic full version and upgrade from that in the future.

 

[Threads]

That is true, Volte. Or you could sign up for a yearly subscription to MSDN with it. You can even get a year of MSDN Universal for $750 (others are much less expensive). Still cheaper than some versions of them separately. :-\

 

[Volte]

Actually MSDN Universal is about $1700 IIRC. I will be getting an MSDN Professional subscription soon, and it will cost us about $1200 Canadian.

 

[Threads]

Actually, I know for a fact MSDN Universal is $750 Academically priced. Some sites even list it for around $780.

 

[Threads]

MSDN Professional 7.0 Subscription $609.95
MSDN Universal 7.0 Subscription $789.95

Check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ and do a search for MSDN. They will even match other prices if you find someone cheaper. Ive ordered from here before.

 

[Volte]

I didnt realize you meant Academic pricing. I wouldnt get that, since it cant be upgraded, and so ends up being more expensive if you plan on getting new versions.

 

[Threads]

Originally posted by VolteFace
I will be getting an MSDN Professional subscription soon, and it will cost us about $1200 Canadian.

:-\

 

[Volte]

I didnt mention anything about it being Academic.

 

[Threads]

True, you didnt say it was Academic. However, you later posted that "I wouldnt get get that, since it cant be upgraded". The MSDN licenses are the same whether you paid the Academic Price or the full price. And either can be "upgraded/renewed" at the same rate.

Customers who qualify for the renewal/upgrade price include:
Existing MSDN Universal, Enterprise, Professional, and Operating Systems subscribers
Microsoft Visual tool users, version 5.0 or later
Microsoft Certified Partners & Certified Trainers

So really it is still cheaper and you are getting the same thing even if you do get Academic and both can be upgraded the same since they are MSDN.

 

[Volte]

You might be right. Doesnt matter to me though, I dont qualify for academic myself until I get out of highschool and into higher education.