ChemIT signed up, at no cost, for a Microsoft DreamSpark Premium subscription to benefit CCB educators, researchers, and graduate students in October 2013. Now CCB graduate students can get any version of Windows ($40-200) on their personal laptops, for free. As well as other Microsoft software. |
ChemIT worked out how to get the Premium subscription without paying the $500 enrollment fee, nor the $320/yr continuation fee. We have since shared how with our campus peers who had previously been paying for their departments' subscriptions.
Benefits of the Microsoft DreamSpark Premium subscription to CCB
- Any graduate student can get any version of Windows on their personal laptops, for free. Thus saving $40-200. They don't have to delete the software when they leave, since license is "Perpetual Rights". But they must get the software before they leave!
- Research lab researchers get access to expensive Microsoft programming software for free.
- Ex. Visual Studio Pro 2012, $500 list (no academic pricing available).
- One Note is made available for researchers, educators, and grad students.
- Free access to Visio (drawing tools) and MS Project, if used for eligible (STEM) education and research.
- Provides ChemIT staff (CCB representatives) 4 Technical Support Incidents and Priority Support in MSDN (MS Developer Network) Forums.
See Microsoft's DreamSpark FAQ, which answers questions such as:
Who in CCB is in the program?
All CCB academic staff in CCB as of 10/2013, per the CCB Admin Office and the CCB Grad Office.
- Once a year (when?), this list will get updated. When that happens, ChemIT intends to again send out a notice of this program.
Limitations on software's use, per Microsoft
DreamSpark Premium Usage Guidelines
https://www.dreamspark.com/Institution/DSP-Usage-Guidelines.aspx
- "The tools and technologies provided through the DreamSpark Premium subscription may only be used for academic instruction, academic projects, and non-commercial research".
To resolve licensing ambiguities, you are welcome to review some highlighted portions ofthe guidelines, along with Oliver's interpretation.
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT - MICROSOFT DREAMSPARK PREMIUM
https://www.dreamspark.com/Institution/DSP-EULA.aspx
How install? And other support issues
How download and install?
- If it's a personal computer, work directly using Microsoft's site to get a key, download, and install the software.
- If it's a CCB computer, work directly using Microsoft's site to get a key and download. Contact <chemit@cornell.edu> or your IT rep for installing the software.
Program eligibility question can start with <chemit@cornell.edu>.