A couple weeks ago I posted a blog entry ("Is The Microsoft Stack Really More Expensive?") describing the financial barrier to entry for building software--particularly web apps--on the Microsoft platform. The conclusion was that the cost is likely to be nil if you're a) willing to settle for the Express products and everything else bundled in the Microsoft Web Platform Installer (which includes a slew of open source ASP.NET and PHP web apps to start you off), b) starting a software company, c) a student, or d) an employee of a company willing to foot the bill for an MSDN license (to you personally, not to your team).

Well, Microsoft just created yet another program, for those of you who are e) building or designing web sites. (Sweeeeet!!) For a $100 offing fee (a fee that you pay when your license ends, rather than when it begins) you get Windows Web Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 Web Edition, Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, and Expression Studio 3.

Not bad! Although, your license ends in three (3) years (same as BizSpark).

Link: Microsoft WebsiteSpark