Windows 2003 Server Academic pricing

I don't believe Microsoft is selling 2003 Server for individual use in an academic environment.  They will sell it to schools who can prove academic status, but not individuals.  You can try the 120 Timed Demo version that is otherwise the full product.  Gives you nearly 4 months to work with it, then you'd have to reinstall it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/trial/default.mspx

Many colleges are part of the Academic Alliance, so if you take a course with them you get a free copy of Win XP, Win 2003 Server, and many other Microsoft things.  And you can take classes online.  Check your local community college.

That is so NOT true.  Microsoft doesn't give the university (or school) FREE copies of programs - I used to work in an Educational institution - we had to pay for the products just like anyone else - but we could buy them through MOLP - the Microsoft Open License Program - a copy of Server was $175 a few years ago.  A school is NOT going to just give it to you because you're taking the class.  They, would likely, as I've already stated is available for free, provide you a copy of a time limited trial version - Classes don't last 4 months in most cases and in most cases, your copy of TRIAL server would outlast the class if you installed it.

I'll take that back slightly - I can't imagine a school GIVING you a copy for free.  It's always possible... but I've never heard of it and it doesn't make economic sense to me.

At Stanford University when I worked there we made our purchases from this company, they were dirt cheap, I mean, the XP licenses were around $35

http://www.enpointe.com/licensing.htm

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=743476

Cheers,
LHerrou

Its paid for when you take the courses. MS will sell ther products to students of those particular courses the OS and apps at a greatly reduced price (the price seems to vary year by year).  We won't talk about what instructors get <big smurk>.  
To date, I have not seen FREE copies of a software given out at colleges for these courses; they were either paid for with the course fee or it was a separate fee.  Unless they WERE the trial versions which you can get free or for the price of shipping (or something like that).

Regards,

I am not lying.  Our department pays $800 a year to be a member of the Microsoft Academic Alliance, and that gives us the right to give free copies of Windows XP Pro, WIndows 2003 Server, and many other products to our students.  They are the same as the retail single-user licenses.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/academic/

Pricewatch.com helped. Thanks.