Share via

Come meet the new MSDN

  • Article

MSDN

The MSDN Global Network is re-launching with a new design and new benefits for all MSDN subscribers.

MSDN subscriptions are the ultimate resource that give developers, teams, and organizations comprehensive access to Microsoft tools and technologies to confidently design, develop and test software solutions. Along with access to thousands of downloads, it offers professional support services and expert information resources to ensure developers can rise to the biggest challenges.

Today, we are announcing new benefits to better support developers and to help them grow their career. All MSDN and BizSpark subscribers will be able to leverage free e-learning courses in English. We are providing priority support to all subscribers through MSDN Forums. We are also announcing free Windows Azure Platform cloud computing use for MSDN Premium and BizSpark customers following Windows Azure commercial availability. To kick start developers on this powerful platform, subscribers will get 750 free compute hours per month for 8 months.

The MSDN network re-design supports our customers around the world, including 37 international sites. The goal of the new design is to improve the overall experience with the site and centers and help you be successful with the Microsoft products and technologies you have invested in. The new MSDN site includes a new visual design, new ways for the community to interact on the content, and new Silverlight controls to promote dynamic community content. This includes a Community Activity area featuring recent and most popular forums topics, code samples, and technical articles. The MSDN Library now has the ability to explore two new library views: ScriptFree (which sets the bar for performance by eliminating scripts and server round-trips) and the Lightweight Beta (a similar view to VS 2010 offline help experience).

This is just the start of an important investment we are making around our online assets to improve discoverability, readability, consistency, and relevance.

Feedback from MSDN users is crucial to making MSDN the best place to go from ideas to solutions. Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback and recommendations to make MSDN a better place. We are looking forward to hearing your additional input on the MSDN Site Feedback Forum on how to make MSDN even better.

Namaste!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2009
    I WAS a great fan of MSDN till new design was released!!! but now after seeing the so called NEW design I am very disappointed indeed. This was not expected from MS! The NEW MSDN LOGO is also very poor compare to previous one, Pl restore what was there previously. I think MS started recruiting novice people to do this job. This new MSDN does not stand out as previous one. Pl don’t revamp existing design just because you want to bring something new by hook or cook. I JUST DON’T LIKE IT NEW MSDN!!! Hitesh Chennai, INDIA

  • Anonymous
    October 19, 2009
    Hello Soma, New MSDN sites looks ok but links are not working Reference: when you click on link with text "Improving .NET Application Performance and Scalability" in http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163808.aspx article its going to http://library/ thanks

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    Not an improvement in my book.  It appears less organized/more chaotic.  I abhorr flashing pictures and ads (when it gets too bad, I cover them up or scroll them out of view - or close the page if I can't).  I agree with previous poster - don't change page contents while I am looking at it/reading it. The text is larger type - which I don't particularly need or care for - I prioritise real estate.  Content looks like it is dropped with a spreader.  The additional white space does not add to the organization of the information, and it too detracts from real estate. Please bring back the old site or try again.  This iteration just don't cut it.

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    I'm so over squiggly bendy abstract logos. As for the site, i'm completely indifferent. Works fast, delivers the info. Though, Ads, esecpailly moving/flashy ones chap my asterisk.

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    The orange button can go, but I love the lightweight.  Fast and without distractions and that awful tree.

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    It's maybe lightweight but wayyy ugly.

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    The new MSDN desgin is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.Colors choice is really bad  which makes overall theme looks totally dull to me. I am a guy who spend a lot of time on the forums and its a huge disappointment for me to see the poor aesthetics shown from MSFT. Either revert back to original one or make new one better!

  • Anonymous
    October 20, 2009
    I have to agree with most posters that the refreshing content for CA is horrible.  I also could care less about most of the subtopics in the Forums section, everything in Videos and VS Gallery.  When the page comes up my eyes are drawn to the advertisement at the top of the page and the every changing activity in the middle.  Is this really where you want me to start out?  Seems like the News section is more important.

  • Anonymous
    October 21, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 21, 2009
    Hi folks - based on feedback, we decided to turn off  auto-scrolling in the Community Activity section on the MSDN Home Page, and across the other DevCenters as well. We plan to re-introduce this after implementing additional user control, and with animation turned "off" by default.

  • Anonymous
    October 22, 2009
    Hi Venkat, Thanks for pointing out the broken link issue.  It is fixed now. -somasegar

  • Anonymous
    October 22, 2009
    Hi Joe and Will, Thanks for your feedback. We have placed the "Orange" swicher to highlight our new "lightweight beta" feature and make it discoverable. This is temporary and we will turn them off soon. Hope this helps. Anand.. http://blogs.msdn.com/innovation/ http://blogs.msdn.com/sandcastle/

  • Anonymous
    October 29, 2009
    Even a caveman could do better than the new msdn site. Was the new MSDN site designed by some "Developers" instead of "Designers". Or may be by some college students.

  • Anonymous
    November 04, 2009
    I hate the font. It's designed for ClearType which gives me a headache.

  • Anonymous
    November 06, 2009
    I remapped the Segoe font to Tahoma and the site looks much nicer. Is there a way to have it do this without having to do the remapping?

  • Anonymous
    May 25, 2010
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 21, 2012
    unable to switch from classic to light weight view. Help please

  • Anonymous
    November 27, 2012
    @santosh: What error are you facing when you try?