The Microsoft Action Pack is a subscription package available to IT Professionals, Students and other Microsoft partners which contains full copies of an extensive range of Microsoft software – operating systems (Windows Vista, XP and editions of Windows Server), application suites (such as Office), as well as development tools.
When Windows Home Server was launched last summer, many IT professionals and enthusiasts were very disappointed to learn that WHS would not be included in Microsoft’s Action Pack, Technet and MSDN subscription packages – they would have to go out and purchase an OEM license separately.
Many felt this would be a limiting factor in persuading developers to create add-ins for Windows Home Server – with the power of hindsight, I’d say that there’s some merit to that argument (even to the point of raising the profile of Windows Home Server with the development community throughout the last 12 months), so it’s great to see Microsoft taking a first step with the inclusion of Windows Home Server in next month’s release. Let’s hope we see the team extend the inclusion of WHS in other subscription packs too.
If you want to know more about the Microsoft Action Pack, visit the Microsoft Partner Program website.
Thanks to Lukasz Foks for the tip.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
You mention that the MS Action Pack is available to IT Professionals, and students, as well as other MS partners. How does one enroll as an individual? On the MS Partner Program help page I see that Academic institutions and students are specifically listed in the “nonqualifying entity” list.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Please oh please make it onto Technet/MSDN!
September 19th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
@mfmjos -
If you a a student / teacher, why not get MSDN subscription and you get Action Pack plus more (Visual Studio)?
Action Pack is for busines people to help Microsoft sell MS products.