Microsoft DreamSpark

In a recent past, it seems, Microsoft is going towards controlled Openness, while they are not 100% open source, there has been a lot of movement on Open Source. Let it be the sharing with their Application Protocols or let it be the sharing of important code-knowledge of Vista Internals to Anti-Virus developers around the world, add OOXML to it too. One more exciting movement, it is not being open-source though, it is VERY important for all wanna-be Microsoft Developers in Student community across the world.

It is no other than...Microsoft DreamSpark(Literally its gonna spark a lot of dreams in some students out there.. I AM SO DAMN SURE...)

According to the official site of Microsoft DreamSpark "Microsoft DreamSpark enables students to download Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge."

DreamSpark is simple, it's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and design tools at no charge so you can chase your dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on your career.

Who can get this right now?
We are kicking this off in 11 countries/regions, giving DreamSpark to millions of students in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium.[Unfortunately India is not in the list as of now, somehow I feel we will be the very next one to get it, only problem is we DO NOT have a single nation-wide Student Information System] If you are not residing in one of the countries listed keep checking back, we will be adding more countries throughout the year.

Does that mean that I might not get in?
Possibly, if you are not residing in one of the countries listed, not attending an accredited university or not a member of one of the student organizations that we're connected with. But keep checking back, as we're working on adding more ways to verify your student status all the time.

Apart from attracting more and more students/universities to Microsoft platform I am damn sure this is yet another Sweet Microsoft moves that will give deep impact to the freetards out there. Now think from an average student's mind set. Risk-Free, world class, 100% legal software development product, an AWESOME Server OS and a next generation Database system. Ofcourse following this will come large events, worldwide contest/s to attract more and more student wannabe-developers to Microsoft platform and one dream I have been seeing since a long time, [Kicking freetards and their free-tarts out of the colleges/universities] might come true. Put freetard and other goodies in a same arena where Students learn and see the difference between the two at the same time and see who comes out as a clear winner. I know it will take time.. but you know... one thing .. Microsoft is best at.. Chasing the goal with unmatched Passion. :)

Any thoughts? This post started a furious discussion here