pietlinden (3/29/2016)
If you can, buy a copy of SQL Server Developer. It costs about $60 US, which is an absolute steal. While there is a cap on the size of the database you can create, you can learn a ton on your own.
You are confusing two editions, Piet.
* SQL Server Developer Edition has the exact same features as SQL Server Enterprise Edition. No caps, no limits. The only limitation is that the license is valid for development and testing only, not for any kind of production work. At somewhere in the $50-$60 pricepoint, an absolute steal if you want to learn to use SQL Server and all those features.
* SQL Server Express Edition is totally free, and is licensed for production use. It does not support all features and it has a cap on database size (plus a few other caps as well). This can also be a great tool for learning if you are still in the stage of learning the basics. Once you are ready to start experimenting with those enterprise features, the express edition will no longer be of help.