Snag Vista Ultimate for free, in exchange for your privacy

Microsoft's been keeping its record pretty clean of late, but we suppose it couldn't end the year without a parting shot meant to cheese off the ultra-private, Microsoft-eats-children types. The company's latest diabolical plan involves giving away free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate '07, Money Plus Premium, Encarta Premium or Streets and Trips -- scary, we know. All you need to do is fill out a few surveys now and then, and download a little app that lets Microsoft watch your every move for three months. If you can manage to be a good little pod person for that long, you get a free copy of whatever software title you selected in the mail. But really, can you put a price on dignity? Exactly, you can't, so sign us up!

[Via NotebookReview]

[Rainier @ Dec 11th 2007 10:27AM]

Fine. I'll just install the app on my old computer that I don't use anymore.

[Chuckles McGee @ Dec 11th 2007 10:51AM]

Smart, smart, smart. Was wondering what Microsoft would think about my vast array of err... purchased software.

[Ian @ Dec 11th 2007 10:56AM]

Yes, I agreed. I wonder how many times I can do this. Lots of old computers sitting around doing nothing.

[DSeaver @ Dec 11th 2007 11:02AM]

You don't have to install the program, its the survey OR the program
(From the about page)
"That's great – I'm all for better software, but will this be a lot of work for me?
In a word, no. An advantage of this program is that there is really not a lot of work for you to do, regardless of the parts of the program you choose to participate in:

1. The survey feedback program. When you join the survey feedback program, you’ll be invited to take a survey on a regular schedule. If the survey arrives at a time where you are busy, you skip that one and take the next one instead. You will not receive more than a survey every two weeks.
2. The automated feedback program. When you choose to participate, most of the work is done behind the scenes, with no additional effort, time requirement, or inconvenience to you. Occasionally, we might send you an invitation to participate in a survey or another feedback program to get additional information about your use of computers but, in general, you only hear from us if we make significant changes to our data collection method or if we want to offer another feedback program to you that you might be interested in.

How do I enroll in the Program?
When you decide to participate, you will:

1. Read and agree to the Agreement for joining the Windows Feedback Program.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Complete a 15-minute survey that helps us to understand your user preferences and main interests. This is important for us because it allows us to target specific research activities to the right audience. For example, if you never play games on your computer, we would not invite you to participate in a survey about games. Completion of the survey is required for your registration to be complete.
4. Download and install the software on your Windows Vista or Windows XP computer if you are joining the automated feedback program.
"

[Rainier @ Dec 11th 2007 11:08AM]

@ DSeaver.....

You type alot.

=P Hehe

[DSeaver @ Dec 11th 2007 11:09AM]

I just copied and pasted, and I may be wrong, because on the about page, the programs are listed under the automated feedback program. I'm all befuddled now

[sam @ Dec 11th 2007 11:11AM]

@DSeaver

A bit further down on that page:

"By signing up for both programs, you are eligible for a free product."

[John B @ Dec 11th 2007 11:24AM]

@Rainier:

What's an "alot"? :P

[Fuzzball @ Dec 11th 2007 11:28AM]

To add to DSeaver, you basically have to enter into both programs in order to get something and you only get one; It's not an all-you-can-eat like an MSDN subscription is. Here's the info from MS's site:
-------------
Ok, tell me more about the automated feedback program - how does it work?
If you agree to join the program, a small amount of data will be collected using the Windows Feedback Program software. That data will be sent to Microsoft so we can monitor how your computer is working and better understand how you are using Windows and Office. This data is collected every time you use Windows and Office. We use this data to help make future versions of the software better and more useful for you and other users.

What about the free product?
If you are a Windows Vista or Windows XP user and decide to join and participate in both programs, we will send you a free Microsoft product when you participate in the program. Limit one gift per person. This offer is non-transferable. This offer expires on 12/31/07, while supplies last, and is not redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are your sole responsibility. The current list of products to choose from are:

* Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit DVD)
* Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007
* Microsoft Money Plus Premium
* Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008
* Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008
-------------

The sad thing is I'm tempted to enroll in this more for having a vested interest in giving them feedback so their software, like Vista, doesn't suck so much. I'm a Sys/Net Admin and have to support it on a small scale now and eventually on a large scale. I probably wont do it since I wouldn't install their monitoring software on my work computer, which I use the most, for PCI complicance sake.

[Rainier @ Dec 11th 2007 11:37AM]

@ John B...

Touché!

[DSeaver @ Dec 11th 2007 11:51AM]

Thanks sam and fuzz for unbefuddling me!

[m-p{3} @ Dec 11th 2007 12:11PM]

VMware FTW

[Elliott @ Dec 11th 2007 1:10PM]

Is there an internet connection required on that? I was planning on using it on my Carputer.

[Eric Herr @ Dec 11th 2007 8:34PM]

Or just install it on a virtual machine...

[Scott @ Dec 11th 2007 4:10PM]

I never got an email confirmation to either of the two addresses I tried signing up from...

[The Aggie CEO @ Dec 11th 2007 6:11PM]

yup yup..

where do I sign up.........

I can install it on my daughters computer.....they stay on Sesame street website ALL the time.......lol......

[Blackstar @ Dec 11th 2007 10:37PM]

I like that. So, my name is now John Smith, I live at 123 Main Street Anytown USA. I have a 10 year old IBM with a 14.4 modem that only surfs Apple.com... from the local library. Ah, priceless.

[Brodie @ Dec 11th 2007 10:27AM]

What would stop someone from installing the app on a spare box that they never use and letting the thing run its course for three months?

Granted the reward is a copy of Vista, but maybe I could sell it on craigs list?

[Xzavier @ Dec 11th 2007 3:15PM]

Ya-know... I bet Microsoft wants everybody to install that app on their second computer...

Think about it. You go out and install the app on your second PC, you think that you out smarted Microsoft. Meanwhile Microsoft got us to do EXACTLY what they want us to do!

I wonder... just what does that small piece of software do??? "sniff, sniff"

Pretty sneak Microsoft... However I'll pass!

[DWells55 @ Dec 11th 2007 5:20PM]

Who cares what it does? I'll put it on a PC that will run for a couple hours a day and only connect it to the internet for one day a week. Then, once the 3 months is up, I format the hard drive (or zero it out if you want to be ultra-paranoid) and put Ubuntu 7.10 on it. Then I get a free copy of Vista Ultimate that I can sell to a friend for half of retail. Easy enough.

[RIFRAF @ Dec 11th 2007 10:27AM]

Hmm,, I could just go off and sell it.. I sure the hell don't want that bloatware...

[DWells55 @ Dec 11th 2007 5:32PM]

Agreed. I don't like wasting RAM and CPU cycles. Even if I have a lot of spare RAM and a good processor, it doesn't make sense to waste system resources when it isn't necessary. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft, but Windows XP is a good operating system. It doesn't need a lot of RAM (especially once you disable unneeded services), it's responsive, has the basic features I need/actually use, and is well supported in terms of updates and 3rd party drivers/software. Switching to Vista, which is slower, less compatible with some of the apps I use, and uses more RAM just doesn't make any sense to me.

The only thing that gets me is the lack of DirectX 10 in Windows XP. I have an 8800GT which supports DX10, so it kinda bugs me I don't get to take advantage of that. However, there's no games out that prove DX10 to be superior to DX9, so I'm sticking to XP. In the event games start taking advantage of DX10 to the point where it's a noticeable and worthwhile difference, I'll install Vista Basic as a dual-boot OS and disable every single non-essential service and only boot to it for specific DX10 games. In fact, I might even disable it's ability to access the internet and play those games in DX9 mode from XP if I want to play online since I generally prefer smooth performance over eyecandy when it comes to multiplayer.


Bet hey, it's hard to turn down free software with a high retail value for a little bit of effort involving a spare PC. I can always sell it to a friend for cheap. I get to make some money for myself and save a friend some money at the same time.

[david @ Dec 11th 2007 10:28AM]

The words "No Way Jose" comes to mind.

[Rynth @ Dec 11th 2007 11:22AM]

thats "No way José"

My last name is Jose, and its pronounced like it looked, "J-oh-s".

Sorry, picky, but it cheeses me off when people pronounce my name "José"

[Kennyb123 @ Dec 11th 2007 11:34AM]

Rynth, you sound mightily insecure about your name. Someone saying "no way jose" without the accent mark in an engadget forum post should not cheese you off. It's not our fault you got a really weird last name. Mine's weird too, and people mispronounce it often. WHOOPDEE DOO!!!!!

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 11th 2007 12:08PM]

Here I thought it was because his AND my keyboard might not have accent keys, like EVERY US 104 key keyboard.

And sorry... but I'm not hitting Alt+0233 just to make you happy.

BTW, it's "That's", not "Thats" ;)

[kempcross @ Dec 11th 2007 12:17PM]

It's also "it's" not "its."

[Don @ Dec 11th 2007 12:31PM]

Andir, you should currently be 'highest ranked' for that catch.

I have a suggestion for Mr. Jose. Change your name.

[Jagster @ Dec 11th 2007 3:58PM]

And it's "pronounced like it looks", not "pronounced like it looked". Unless you have since changed your last name.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 11th 2007 5:36PM]

Wow, bad day for him to post. Maybe he needs to change his last name to "Joes" though, if it really matters. I, for one, just politely correct someone that mispronounces my name and continue the conversation. I've learned to accept that different people have different pronunciations.

[andyo @ Dec 11th 2007 10:29AM]

Wow no soul required... The Devil has gotten cheap. I wonder if I can just install this "app" in a dummy computer, or if it comes embedded within the "free" software.

[Dan @ Dec 11th 2007 10:30AM]

Was thinking something similar. Install it into Parallels which only use for browser testing anyways.

[Brad @ Dec 11th 2007 12:15PM]

Not only that, but within the Parallels installation, install all sorts of fantastic non-MS software... Cygwin, OpenOffice.org, Firefox, , etc etc. Let 'em know that you prefer OSS alternatives over MS products.

[David Russell @ Dec 11th 2007 10:30AM]

So... you set-up this "application" on your SECOND computer, browse around the net a few minutes a day (for 3 months), but do everything else on your MAIN computer sitting next to it. I can handle that for Windows Ultimate. Even better: Make it Windows XP Pro and a $20 Pizza Hut coupon.

[sepirioth @ Dec 11th 2007 10:30AM]

Totaly doing it. installing it on my nephews computer the first 3 months. Let them watch him play barney games all day :)

[Skeezle @ Dec 11th 2007 10:31AM]

I thought they did that anyway?

[iii @ Dec 11th 2007 10:32AM]

heres the sad part, I still don't want it even its free

[droopy1592 @ Dec 11th 2007 10:53AM]

That's what's really hilarious. I don't even want it.

[Tony @ Dec 11th 2007 11:34AM]

Don't kid yourself.

[ethana2 @ Dec 11th 2007 12:21PM]

free and Free are not the same thing. If it's not Free, I try to avoid it.
...and I do a better job every day.

This is the epitome of half of what microsoft does wrong, and reeks of desperation.

~Ubuntu user for 6 months.

[Chebwa @ Dec 11th 2007 3:16PM]

Holy &%*#, droopy1592, that IS hilarious.

[mark @ Dec 11th 2007 5:47PM]

@Tony
He's not kidding anyone. Vista really is crap.
I'm not surprised to see MS giving it away.

[Todd @ Dec 11th 2007 10:32AM]

"...If you can manage to be a good little pod person for that long, you get a free copy of whatever software title you selected in the mail. But really, can you put a price on dignity?"

Yes I can put a price on my dignity, and my privacy for that matter. It's exactly $0.00 - the cost of Ubuntu. The cult of Bill has officially jump the Shark. Don't drink the kool-aid:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

[Eric H @ Dec 11th 2007 10:41AM]

Some people, god I wish I could live in that world, the Linux fanboys are almost as bad as PETA these days.

[Craig @ Dec 11th 2007 10:56AM]

Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul!

[UKNigel @ Dec 11th 2007 11:43AM]

@Eric: You CAN live in that world! Just download Ubuntu, then vote for Ron Paul. Works great for me.

[jperry2010 @ Dec 11th 2007 1:49PM]

Ron Paul Revolution! Investigate 9/11.

HA!

[w4rh34rt @ Dec 12th 2007 12:00PM]

I've been using Linux for about 2 years. Your about as bad a Microsoft saying everyone should use Linux, let people make their own decisions. I mean, installing a little application onto a spare comp for some software. I like the sound, but almost sounds too easy =]

[Todd @ Dec 13th 2007 4:55PM]

Ha! I get the last laugh on this one:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/12/microsoft-pulls-vista-from-snooping-offer/

[majortom @ Dec 11th 2007 10:33AM]

smells of desperation some how. Not sure how just yet, but it DOES smell.....