据微软宣布，即将展开的DreamSpark计划将在11个国家内给于大学生身份，学习软件开发、设计师以及相关设计专业的学生免费使用Visual Studio、Expression Studio甚至Windows Server软件的权利。这11个国家包括比利时、中国、芬兰、法国、德国、西班牙、瑞典、瑞士、英国、加拿大和美国（以后会添加更多国家）。

令人振奋的是，XNA Game Studio 2.0软件也被加入了此免费计划之中，用户甚至可以成为12个月的免费XNA Creators Club会员，加入该俱乐部会员意味着免费评估Xbox 360游戏也将变得可能。

以下是完整的免费软件名单：

Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
XNA Game Studio 2.0
12个月免费XNA Creators Club
Expression Studio, which includes Expression Web, Expression Blend, Expression Design and Expression Media
SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition

其他工具：
Virtual PC 2007
Visual Basic 2005 express
Visual C++ 2005 express
Visual C# 2005 express
Visual J# 2005 express
Visual Web Developer 2005 express

以上的软件价值可能超过2000美元，对于在校的大学生来说，这无疑是一个巨大的礼物。目前学生用户可以登陆到微软MSDN Channel 8网站下载这些软件，但是需要第三方的身份认证，以核实他们的学生身份。

比尔·盖茨谈免费软件、学生、技术。http://channel8.msdn.com/Posts/2047/ （视频需要安装Silverlight插件）

https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/Default.aspx

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