Andy Leonard

Andy Leonard is CSO of Linchpin People and SQLPeople, an SSIS Trainer, Consultant, and developer; SQL Server database and data warehouse developer, community mentor, engineer, and farmer. He is a co-author of SQL Server 2012 Integration Services Design Patterns. His background includes web application architecture and development, VB, and ASP. Andy loves the SQL Server Community!

Want to Learn SQL Server 2012?

Or SSIS 2012? SSRS 2012? SSAS 2012? There’s no substitute for getting your hands on the product, in my opinion.

I can hear you thinking, “But Andy, I can’t afford to purchase a copy of SQL Server 2012.” Are you sure? What if I told you that you can get a full-feature version of SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition for $50? Well, you cannot… it’s actually less than $50! SQL Server 2012 Developer Edition is available at Amazon on the day of this writing for $41.24USD. That’s about the price of eight cups of fancy coffee.

SQL Server releases follow a cycle. SQL Server 2005 was a major release with big changes from SQL Server 2000. SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 were not drastic departures from SQL Server 2005. Take it from me: SQL Server 2012 is a major release.

Is taking your career to the next level worth the price of eight cups of coffee?

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Published Monday, October 22, 2012 10:00 AM by andyleonard

Filed under: SSIS, Developer Community, Reporting Services, Business Intelligence, Professional Development, Consulting, Community, SQL Server 2012, SSIS 2012

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	AaronBertrand said: It's a good point, and one that doesn't get repeated enough. I see so many people using Express because it's free, then they need to prototype some sort of job architecture or one of the many other features that are missing from the free edition. $41 is a pretty good price to get your hands a lot dirtier. October 22, 2012 9:31 AM
	Ed Watson said: Thank you, just purchased. October 22, 2012 9:54 AM
	Edwin Sarmiento said: One thing that I always mention is to use the evaluation copies of both SQL Server and Windows. I go on and explain that they can setup a virtual environment running on their favourite virtualization platform to have multiple servers - domain controller, SQL Server and a client workstation - to get a feel of what it is like working in an enterprise environment using all of the evaluation copies of the product. October 22, 2012 9:55 AM
	Michael Corey said: Just put a link to my twitter followers on this. Good Stuff October 22, 2012 10:01 PM
	Paul williams said: You can't buy the developer edition in the uk for some reason. October 28, 2012 3:05 AM
	Eric Lawson said: Andy is spot on with his advice. I don't use MSDN (yet), but for £45 I have a rock solid ETL development platform. Superb value. Paul, try this link at Expansys. it's where I got mine and still in stock. http://www.expansys.com/s.aspx?search=sql%20server%202012 October 28, 2012 3:16 PM
	LadyRuna said: Wow, you buy expensive coffee... ;) I usually get free at the office, or if I pay for it, I get the $1.50 coffee from a convenience store. :) February 5, 2013 10:57 AM
	JohnStribling said: Thank you for the heads up, Andy! This is just the opportunity I have been waiting for. I ordered two -- one for me and one for a friend. April 25, 2013 10:37 AM