Gizmodo
Want a free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate direct from Microsoft, no piracy required? Don't care about your privacy? Have I got a deal for you! Microsoft is offering up free copies of Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate, Money Plus Premium, Student with Encarta Premium and Streets and Trips, all for free. All you've gotta do is allow them to track your every move for a few months.
Yes, Microsoft is looking for people to help test its new "Windows Feedback Program," and isn't afraid to reel people in with bribes. You'll have all of your computer usage tracked for three months, and you'll also need to submit to surveys every two weeks. As long as you don't mind Papa Gates and his menagerie knowing just how often you look at your ex-girlfriends Facebook profile, it's actually a pretty serious amount of free software for almost no work at all on your part. Not that I'll be taking part, mind you. I respect myself and my privacy. But hey, don't let me stop you. I won't tell; your computer will do that for me. [Windows Feedback Program via Notebook Review]
Comments
If they had a deal with XP, I would be totally down for that. I would just install it on my gaming machine. They would learn NOTHING except how often I play Oblivion. Take that, you MS bastards!!
So basically, I install this on my spare machine, let it sit for 3 months doing nothing, and fill out surveys for free software?
Sounds like a good candidate for my media center PC. :D
I already got Vista for free XD
@Xavoc: I was thinking in a VM :)
I may just do this!
MUNCH:
They have a deal with XP; read the web page at MS.
But, no matter what your OS, you only get _one_ product, so it's not as good as the Giz made it sound.
Hm...install in VMware for a few months sitting idle does not seem bad....
dual boot my macbook and just keep it on the mac side for 90 days...no sweat
Forget Vista. Office Ultimate 2007 retails for more than $600. Perhaps I'll talk my wife into doing this and let Microsoft track her online shopping for me.
@sumocat: You can sell it on ebay. Just hope they don't track that :p
If they really learn from this, I'm all for it.
I don't think there's a time limit. I read through the agreement and there was no mention of when... if ever, MS would stop monitoring your computer use. They basically say give us access to your computer and files and when you stop participating you have to uninstall the software.
Any details on the time frame for participation?
yeah, i read through the agreement and could not find mention of a 90-day participation requirement.
Done. Deal. Where do I sign?
Seriously people, why do you care so much about "Papa Gates knowing how often you check out your ex-girlfriend on facebook"? He doesn't know you. He doesn't know her. You're just another nameless, faceless statistic. I can't believe how many people think that those with access to our privacy give a rat's ass about our lives. Get off your self-important high horse and realize that no one cares about you, personally, as an individual. You don't have feelings, you don't have hopes, and you sure as hell don't have dreams. At best, you have statisically relevant habits, and even then, the term "you" still just means your zip code or age group.
No. One. Cares. About. You.
Learn it. Live it. Get free software. Where's the catch?
Yep it happened. Vista sucks so much they have to give it away.
@markgm: That's a good point, be nice if it allowed them to improve the product! :-)
@Munch: Yeah, I only play Team Fortress 2!
This could be a good deal for us Mac users who only play games through Boot Camp!
Hmmm...
"Microsoft may also terminate or suspend your participation in the WFP and Program Services for inactivity, which is defined as those instances when the WFP Software installed on your computer fails to send information back to Microsoft."
So basically, you have to use it... you can't just let it sit. Also; I can't find where it says "You can stop after X days," but it also says
"Your participation is entirely voluntary, so you may withdraw from the program at any time, with no consequence."
As long as it doesn't slow me down, I'm in!
They never paid me that $5 for everytime I forwarded that email message they were tracking!
Oh wait... it looks like you install the thing on the windows you have NOW, and (whenever they feel like it) they'll ask you what gift you want to receive, and they'll send it to you. So it won't be disabled after you opt-out of the program.
@drive90:
What greenkabbage said...
After you receive your free msft software, the monitoring program doesn't automatically stop. You need to wait for your software, and then opt-out.
Jrronimo.... That is what I was thinking.
@greenkabbage: What's that? The designers of something, anything - a service or a product - have already thought about and solved problems or flaws that Gizmodo repliers were able to throw at them? The people actually DOING stuff might just be smarter than those reading and writing about it? But that's unpossible!
This is great...I'll put this on my laptop (only thing with a valid XP install), MS will get tons of data on how much my wife sucks at Diablo II.
Does anyone know if they can have legal actions taken if they catch you leta say downloading office 2007 or is it just for info purposes? Notthat i would. Just an example :)
Hmmm, my secondary machine could handle this no problem.
They'll be able to track how much I listen to Slacker web radio in my down time.
@jeffj-nj: Speak for yourself. Some peoples personal info is more valuable than others.
@iamcrazyed: Hey, PM me your STEAM name and I'll add you. :D
@bdkennedy1: I've been wondering about this for quite some time. Why, precisely, does Vista suck? I mean, my friend has used Vista for a few months now, and, short of WoW crashing every once in a while, he's had no trouble. I figure, "Hey, free Vista? HELL YEAH!"
Also, from the FAQ:
"We do not intentionally collect sensitive information, such as the passwords on the user accounts, the contents of any of your personal files, the name or HTTP address of any of the websites you mark as Favorites, or what websites you visit."
Time to upgrade the porno-machine downstairs!
Also, I agree with JEFFJ-NJ. People only care about you as a statistic.
@DustyButt: Im sorry but Microsoft will not make fun of your pRon collection. All they want is information on how vista can be changed to not suck. (just act like your mom is watching what youre doing for the next three months, but punch her in the face and say "lol catz iz notz lookingz at mi pornz, beech!)
So I use 2 partitions on my hard drive and a 25 gig section is my Pre-release copy of Vista (received at the Office 2007 launch)... if i put that on there, never touch it and just let it sit, i get ti for free... sweet... i'll let you guys know what happens when i get the email.
I caved in... and signed up... :P
@davidm: Props to the comment, i remember those days.
Too bad its setup to pay AFTER all the work is done, it makes it hard for people whom most of us know that want free software....because they have no software, if you know what i mean.
Do you think it's possible to sign up twice on different computers using a different name, address, but the same IP address?
Participation is currently limited to US residents of 18 years and older. Bleh.
@Zipway: i don't know, i put my name in twice with the same email and it gave me the same screen afterwards...
@jmurph05:
yeah, I did that, too, but only because it wouldn't send me the confirmation email the first time...
@Zipway: Still haven't got mine... do i have to sign up on my PC? or what? because its been like 2 hours
@Kaiser-Machead: They do.
But does the software work on a machine that is not "Genuine", or the fact that they don't give you any software until after you participate for 3 months, will it work on a corperate edition maybe? Damn if I even have a copy anymore, just wanted it for my boot camp partition. Mooks
@jmurph05: Well, immediately after I signed up the second time, I got an email (it was about 10 minutes after the first time)
I took the survey, downloaded the program, and it's probably sending microsoft what I'm typing right now, lol.
@Zipway: lol alright, i still have nothing, maybe i'll do it on my pc in a few... we'll see what happens
@jrronimo:
My thoughts exactly
ummm.. no thanks!! I installed the POS of OS on one of my computers last November. After 6 months of use, it actually convinced me to upgrade that computer Linux.
Meh indeed.
On second thought my secondary is likely to get hosed with my constant tinkering, so why bother.
I came close to doing it though.
Why do I get the feeling Microsoft's successor will be out in two years?
@Zipway: that was it. anyone who can't get an email make sure you're using a PC not anything else..
You're better off getting an OEM copy off newegg (or somewhere else) and then getting the microsoft bonus pack:
A free printer
2 free dlink routers
a free hard drive
If you've already bought vista you may be eligible, other versions of vista offer less items.
You'll need to cough up the $170-180 for windows vista ultimate And you'll have to front the money for the bonus items and submit rebates.
[promotions.newegg.com]
[www.localpcbuilder.com] (microsoft's site)
You don't need to buy this from newegg, but you do have to buy each item from the manufacturers (dlink, maxtor, epson).
Hmm I may do this on my old PC just to get another copy for free. Of course I won't actually use for anything... I don;t need microsoft knowing about my porm preferences.