Microsoft renames its free software for students from DreamSpark to Imagine

[GoodBytes]

If you are a student in engineering or in computer science or other computer related fields, you probably know that most likely your institution or its department that you are in, are registered to Microsoft's free software for students called DreamSpark Premium or, as it used to be called before that, MSNDAA.

 

Microsoft is renaming the service to: Imagine

 

 

There is no change to the service.

DreamSpark Standard is now Microsoft Imagine Standard

DreamSpark Premium is now Microsoft Imagine Premium

 

Premium joined schools provides to student all Microsoft software, including Windows for free, While Standard has, as before, only some software.

 

The official date of the change will be Q1 2017.

 

Microsoft says:

Quote

Welcome to Microsoft Imagine In addition to the changes in the student experience, institutions will also see changes, but enjoy the same levels of access as previously; the Microsoft Imagine renaming that replaces DreamSpark is only a branding change.

Microsoft Imagine will be the primary way for schools to put professional developer tools and software in the hands of your faculty and students with a low-cost subscription from Microsoft. 

* Microsoft Imagine Standard replaces DreamSpark Standard

* Microsoft Imagine Premium replaces DreamSpark Premium

* By the end of Q1 FY17, the DreamSpark name will be retired. However, the program benefits will live on as part of the Microsoft Imagine program. No changes have been made to the benefits.  

 

So if you plan in going into such program or institution part of the program next year, look for Imagine, instead of Dreamspark.

 

Source: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/uk_faculty_connection/2016/09/09/microsoft-imagine-for-institutions/

 

 

[pagani123]

do they have an explanation for the change in name?

[dragosudeki]

Just now, Maybach123 said:

do they have an explanation for the change in name?

Someone on the naming team had a dream that sparked him to imagine another name

[manikyath]

*insert john lennon music here*

imagine all the keys

going to G twoooo-AAAAAA

 

imagine there's no limits

to how low prices goooo~

/s

 

in all seriousness, i hope this makes them breathe some new life in the concept of dreamspark as well, because it was rather clunky when i used it last.

[Trixanity]

Yup, clunky as hell last I used it. Had to use a special link provided by my school and a specific unique login separate from all other school-related authentication. Was awful as hell. If the URL was lost, you'd have to ask for it again because going to the regular site did not work with that login.

[79wjd]

Dreamspark was so much cooler. 

[Unhelpful]

Dreamspark was a cooler and more recognizable name, imo.

[glitchmaster0001]

how do you even get into the dreamspark program anyways? 

[dalekphalm]

7 minutes ago, Trixanity said:

Yup, clunky as hell last I used it. Had to use a special link provided by my school and a specific unique login separate from all other school-related authentication. Was awful as hell. If the URL was lost, you'd have to ask for it again because going to the regular site did not work with that login.

Yep - it was up to the school to decide how you accessed it. Some schools allowed you to just login using your school email address, or allowed you to just register on the Dreamspark login page without any prior codes or anything.

[Trixanity]

1 minute ago, dalekphalm said:

Yep - it was up to the school to decide how you accessed it. Some schools allowed you to just login using your school email address, or allowed you to just register on the Dreamspark login page without any prior codes or anything.

A lot of Microsoft's services (and other US sites) require .edu mail addresses from what I've noticed. That top-level domain is not used anywhere in continental Europe I think. Most countries use their national top-level domain for all purposes including government and education, so there is no easy way to differentiate unless you whitelist specific domain names. Not sure if this pertains to use of the regular Dreamspark page but could be a reason for these workarounds. The local Microsoft store, for example, provides access to 365 University by selecting your school specifically (and hoping it's on the list) and going through some form of verification (never went through with it, so can't tell the exact details)

[suicidalfranco]

14 minutes ago, glitchmaster0001 said:

how do you even get into the dreamspark program anyways? 

school subscribes too it, school gives access to it's students

[dalekphalm]

2 hours ago, suicidalfranco said:

school subscribes too it, school gives access to it's students

That's not the only way to gain access. If your school is a participant, you can often register directly through the Dreamspark website, without any need to get any info from your school. It all depends on how your school setup themselves in the system.

[suicidalfranco]

Just now, dalekphalm said:

That's not the only way to gain access. If your school is a participant, you can often register directly through the Dreamspark website, without any need to get any info from your school. It all depends on how your school setup themselves in the system.

but the school still has to be a participant and you must have an email from that school

[dalekphalm]

10 minutes ago, suicidalfranco said:

but the school still has to be a participant and you must have an email from that school

Yes both of those are correct - but you don't necessarily have to register through your school or anything - that depends on the specific school.

[suchamoneypit]

17 minutes ago, suicidalfranco said:

but the school still has to be a participant and you must have an email from that school

actually, no. This is only if your school has a dreamspark premium account your trying to access. My high school does nothing through dreamspark but there is an option to fill a request, I sent then a picture of my high school ID and they granted me dreamspark for like 4 months simply because i proved I go to school, but it expired when the school year ended. I'll probably end up doing it again to get it for this year.