This has been out for awhile but I’m pretty sure that not everyone knows about it so lets spread the word. If you don’t already know Microsoft is offering Windows development and design tools free to students of Universities, Collges and Grade schools.

Here is an interview I found with Bill Gates talking about DreamSpark so you all know it is legal and legit.

Although the title talks about Window Server 2008, they offer a lot more tools and software other than WS 2008. Some other software they offer for free is Visual Studio 2010, Server 2003, SQL Express and Developer Edition and Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 Pro Edition.

To be able to take advantage of this offer you must be a student and your school must be registered with Microsoft. From there you just login to www.dreamspark.com using your Live account (@hotmail.com or @live.com) and verify you are a student with your school. You then are able to download ISO files to burn to CDs and generate Product Keys. Although once you are no longer a student you are not allowed to use their service you can still use any products that you have downloaded.