Two weeks ago, Microsoft announced it was putting the TechNet subscription program
out to pasture: Effective Aug. 31, nobody will be able to buy a
TechNet subscription, and a year later the infrastructure disappears entirely. Independent IT consultants and developers in particular are screaming bloody murder. Some small-business consultants feel this is just another indication that Microsoft wants to sell directly to small businesses -- Office 365 being exhibit No. 1 -- and they take the demise of TechNet as another blow to the chops.