I am at COMMON this week in Orlando and they are not making much to do about the new release other than a few people talking about it.....kind of boring if you asked me.

-David

My 2 Cents.

The URL you want is https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40016455

It does not include Virtual Studio, only Operating systems, servers and the Office family - still very good value though.

Mark

It would be nice if you could share the URL you are referencing for the cheap MSDN option. As another person mention there seems to be a difference from the 1199 MS option to the 795 IBM option (in US $).

What I don't understand is how you don't factor the software in the cost of your business. I would be shocked you would assume a cost of $0 for any software. Technically you are passing part of the costs (for your business) to your customers via your consulting fees or projects. I can share that the price (of the IBM software) has been the same for a number of years (as far back as 2001 as I remember). Hell I made the investment in 2001 out of my own pocket. My logic: 1) I figured the investment will allow me to use/experiment with the software and bring that knowledge to the bargaining table with my employer. 2) The cost of the IBM software (then) was less than 1.2% of my annual salary; quite far if you ask me.

The benefit from the software allow me to get a nice salary for the job -- past and present jobs. Personally I will probably purchase the MSDN for my non-production (or home) environment.

Just my 2 cent (or pence)

I don't understand Notes Client licenses the same way as Jerry does (why would there have be the need for a "Personal Edition" back in R5 days then?), but still:

In the past, the only limitation that applied to the trial versions of Notes and Domino was, that your entitlement to use the software was limited in time. The software itself did remain fully functional even after your trial license expired. So, you might just have chosen to start another validation preriod ...

Where do you get that kind of offer from MS?

It's a bit unfortunate, that there is no trial version of Notes 7, yet, for sure. But on the other hand we do have - for licensed users - the complete family of Domino Extended Products readily available as R7 compatible versions (even if this doesn't mean much more than R7 compatibility).

Things could be worse on Lotus' end.

I agree, sometimes it is hard to find information on the IBM website only because it's sometimes hard to ask the right question.

I've managed to get a copy of ND7 since posting this thanks to somebody mailing me a link to a copy on their own server. I hate that I have to do it this way, but I'm left little alternative.

Microsoft do a good job on that score.

Hell, just look at the new Express offerings around .Net - a new strategic push at pulling in more hobby developers, etc.

If you have any trouble with the PartnerWorld site, you can email me for more info.

I still wouldnt get any manuals/documentation though, which is poor.

IBM should give away the designer for the developer community for free.

Anybody can download Mickeysoft software for home use and will do so.

I would like to use Lotus Notes 7 and Lotus Designer 7 at home to stay up to speed in the latest Lotus technologies (our company always takes a bit longer to get up to speed), but currently there is no way for me to stay up-to-date.

As a private home user I'm not willing to pay $790 anually so I can download the software myself.

For that money I'd like a gold case CD in my mail!!

But then, as Ross quoted - 2 options - the Value Package is $2000 (lastest prices may have changed a bit) and entitles you to run your business with a certain number of copies of the software plus You Pass We Pay education/certification.

Software Access Option allows you to download all Lotus/IBM software and is $790

I've had this latter option for the past couple of years since the CD's stopped dropping through the door automatically.

Agree that the finding a way through Partnerworld site is not easy....but then again with M$ and MAPS (registered thanks to your blog about it) your have to wait for the CD's...and find room to store them just as I'm throwing out all the old Lotus CD's!

As I understand it one can't download the full versions except from a Passport or Partner World site. It's been that way for a while though hasn't it? Trial versions are time limited.

Unless you have a licence for the full product and that's what you are running then you are not legal....in my understanding at least.

Apparently the licence applies to the ID file. Not the actual software. Fine. But what I desperately want is a copy of the Japanese version of the software. But can you get it? No. French, German. Yes. Japanese, no.

Even 6.0 would do me. Even arguing with ibm.com/jp/ doesn't get me anywhere.

IBM Lotus Notes Domino Designer and Admin 7.0 for Windows 2000, XP Pro English

The company I work for has access to all software.

Email me your address and I will send you a cd.

If it only was for all the knowledge and research you share with us.

Regards

Peter

Holland

If you want you can check out more details about value options from this page.

{Link}

The list of software you could use to develop application or internal use is available from this page. you have most products from DB2, Websphere and Lotus platform for use legally.

https://www.developer.ibm.com/partnerworld/mem/pat/pat_sw_down_ryb_vpkg.html

You will need to register and get a username and password from this page to view both the links above.

{Link}

Best

Srinivas

Thanks Jens. That's the kind of think I'm looking for. Still begs the question whether or not I'm legal though ;o)

I'll keep my eye on that page later this week.

They will be available from here

This is a password-protected site. I don't know what kind of access you will need (just your basic IBM ID or maybe you need to be a partner with an IBM ID ). But it will be Trial-level licenses.

Right this moment, only R 6.5.something is available from there, but according to my source, the R7 trials should be up this week.

But seriously..

There's a PartnerWorld package referred to as

Run your business software: "Run your business software for companies who have purchased the PartnerWorld Value Package or Software Access Option."

(that badly formed sentence comes to you courtesy of IBM, not me)

Possibly the reason you can't find out about it, is because information is stored in the PartnerWorld area which requires a ParterWorld logon.

However I suspect you could play the game and sign up for the free "Member" level ID in order to find out more. Or of course there's also the possibility that there are 394491 other options which are all documented in various forms and scattered all across the intermaweb!