Microsoft Giving Away Vista Ultimate, With a Catch 495
Opinari writes "In case you haven't heard, Microsoft is giving away copies of Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit or 64-bit DVD), Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007, Microsoft Money Plus Premium, Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008, or Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 — you can choose any one. The caveat is that you have to let them monitor your use of the program."
Free... (Score:5, Funny)
Which is the catch? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
Webcam + Wood Maul (Score:5, Funny)
This is how I would go about this. I would get a free copy of vista. Then, I would set web cam up outside on the driveway. I would grab a wood maul and just go to town on the disc, and do my best to savor the thought of MS technicians staring on in horror.
Reminds me of an offer I got in jail (Score:5, Funny)
Honeypot (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not accurate. (Score:1, Funny)
Which is another catch. They will only give you a "free" version if you are already a Microsoft customer. They want to install monitoring software on your box to upload to their server. So Linux and Mac users looking to score are SOL.
2girls1cup (Score:4, Funny)
I would setup a dedicated box with XP on it that would just sit their with their spy software installed and 2girls1cup running on replay. Stuff it in the basement and forget about it for three months :D
Aikon-
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
They'd be pretty happy, I'd think. (Score:5, Funny)
They're still going to count it as another person "using" Vista. I'm guessing they'd be pretty happy. I can see the marketing spin now. "Even a skeptic like Jared found that the Vista user experience was extremely satisfying."
Re:Hide your own habits... use a VM! (Score:5, Funny)
Unfortunately, you will not be able to look at your specific data. We designed the Windows Feedback Program software specifically to avoid any interference with your work or how your computer functions. To do that, the data you are sharing is stored in a binary format (zeros and ones) rather than in text format. Storing the data in binary format makes it very small and easy to share with us, but difficult for you to translate and interpret.
Re:Webcam + Wood Maul (Score:5, Funny)
You misspelled "longing".
My thought process was as such... (Score:4, Funny)
Vista Ultimate? That's bad!
Monitoring? That's bad!
Can I downgrade it to Windows XP Pro and get a free Windows XP Pro license that's legit? That'd be good!
Just seems you can't even give Vista away.
Re:My thought process was as such... (Score:4, Funny)
That's bad.
But it comes with a free legitimate license!
That's good!
The legitimate license also contains monitoring software.
That's bad.
But you get your choice of XP or Vista!
That's good!
There are no more copies of XP, only Vista.
Can I go now?
Geez... Such Cynical People (Score:5, Funny)
The Catch (Score:4, Funny)
"The caveat is that you have to let them monitor your use of the program"
So they'll monitor my activities when I sell it on eBay?
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
The only requirements are that your home PC is running the Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system, and that you have an Internet connection. That's it!
Tomorrow's headline... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks Microsoft (Score:2, Funny)
What am I agreeing to do?
To participate, you will need to agree to allow Microsoft to gather and record information about the use of your home computer on an ongoing basis. By agreeing to voluntarily participate in the Windows Feedback Program, you agree that:
* You will abide by all terms stated and referred to in the Terms of Use and Notices ("Agreement"), including granting Microsoft a license to use your data and feedback.
* You will install software provided to you by Microsoft to facilitate and allow data to be recorded, transmitted, and used by Microsoft.
* You will be invited to participate in occasional online surveys.
Then this one.
Will I be able to see what data I'm sharing with you?
Unfortunately, you will not be able to look at your specific data. We designed the Windows Feedback Program software specifically to avoid any interference with your work or how your computer functions. To do that, the data you are sharing is stored in a binary format (zeros and ones) rather than in text format. Storing the data in binary format makes it very small and easy to share with us, but difficult for you to translate and interpret.
Stop it, I'm gonnan pee. This one
Does my shared data have a unique identifier? Yes, we have a unique identifier for your data. This allows us to tell between one customer having an error 100 times and 100 customers having the same error once. Being able to make that distinction is very valuable in prioritizing how we improve our products.
Ooh, almost forgot my favorite
Can I install the WFP software on more than one Windows computer?
Yes, the software can be installed on multiple computers and registered using the same e-mail you provided.
This whole thing just feels .....right, you know. I'll do it!
HaHahaHAHaHAhaaHAhaHAahaa!
Be Helpful (Score:5, Funny)
Fine, let them monitor... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:2, Funny)
Don't Give a Flyin' (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:1, Funny)
I say Spinal Tap
The Sex Farm Woman
With the really Big Bottom
Just couldn't put Stonehenge back.
Re:Free... (Score:3, Funny)
Starting? You haven't been using Microsoft products very long, have you?
-mcgrew [slashdot.org]
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Which is the catch? (Score:5, Funny)
I picked up a brand new really fast Toshiba with a bunch of RAM, brought it home and it ran like crap, kept crashing and accused me of stealing something or other.
I did a little Googling and learned that the problem was bad drivers. You need to install this set of drivers named "Fedora". I popped in the "Fedora" disk, rebooted, answered a couple of questions (it must be really intelligent, since it didn't even want my Activation Key again), and everything worked great!
Tomorrow, I'm going to call Toshiba and find out why they didn't just ship this "Fedora" update automatically.
*sees kids, addresses them* (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Free... (Score:5, Funny)
Cause let's be real.. it's Vista.. it certainly won't suck less...