Microsoft's "Vista for privacy" offer still on?

Details are still fuzzy at this point, but according to an e-mail received by numerous tipsters, Microsoft is indeed offering up a free copy of Vista in exchange for their privacy. Yeah, even though it claimed otherwise late last year. According to the note, Redmond is viewing these folks as "registered members" of the Windows Feedback Program, and if they keep their guard down for the remainder of a three month period, they will seemingly receive a copy of its latest OS gratis. So, any others out there finding an unexpected message from the Big M regarding said offer? Let us know in comments below, particularly if you get any free wares or previously analyzed keylogging reports.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[ncsustash @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:27PM]

It is just for the people that signed up before the deadline but didn't get to pick the free product.

Thank you for your interest in the Windows Feedback Program!



All customers who entered their name and email address on the first enrollment page on our website http://wfp.microsoft.com before the program closed at 2 p.m. PT on December 11, 2007 are eligible to receive the free product offer. We reviewed the timestamps in our system and would like to inform you that you are eligible.



However, we still need you to select your free product and provide us with a shipping address. Please follow this link to finish your registration:

[Brodie @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:34PM]

I got this email from Microsft:

Dear Sir,

My name is Prince Mootoo of Nigeria. Thank you for signing up for the free Microsoft product promotion. I would also like to inform you that you have been selected to receive the sum of 42 million US dollars. All i will require of you is your Bank account numbers and a cheque for the amount of 10,000 US dollars to cover administrative fees and then you will recieve your copy of Microsoft Vista and the balance of the 42 million US dollars.

Jackpot! I think i'm going for it!

[LondonConsultant @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:37PM]

Imagine what it'll be like when Microsoft runs your Yahoo! email account...

[michael @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:29PM]

I think it could be great if they merged the best of Y! Mail and Live Hotmail.

I can't wait for my Y! Mail account to get FREE POP3 access, better loading to Outlook, better spam filter, far better Calendar, less ads, better Plus! program, among other things.

And at the same time, I hope Live Hotmail gets a RSS feeder, more organized inbox reader, better icons, more robust options, among other things as well.

I can't wait to see what could happen if 2 of the largest e-mail providers merged their some of their great features into one cohesive e-mail account.

[Kurtis @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:40PM]

"I can't wait to see what could happen if 2 of the largest e-mail providers merged their some of their great features into one cohesive e-mail account."

It still won't be as good as gmail.

[Anthony @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:55PM]

I was one of the very first people to enroll, i received an x86 disk and a x64 disk for Vista Ultimate along with TWO product keys, on the Friday before Christmas :) It was completely worth it.

[Das @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:44PM]

I don't understand why everyone's complaining about this offer. It's not like anyone's being forced to do it and it's just a way for microsoft to test its product. Acting like it's an invasion of privacy is unreasonable because in effect microsoft is hiring you as a tester.

[Patrick @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:42PM]

Got my email yesterday, on track for a free copy of Vista Ultimate with my extra work machine.

[Marc D @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:46PM]

yup... i got the same e-mail last night. only i opted for office 2007 ultimate. they warned if i stop the program i will loose the offer, yet i was doing fine with steady activity. luckily i put it on a pc that doesn't contain many things i would worry about someone seeing.

[DJ @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:47PM]

Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program!



This message is to notify you that you are a registered member of the program, and so far you have met all requirements to qualify for the free product offer. Congratulations!



As a reminder, when you registered for the program, we stated that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have:



· Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address.

· Fully completed the survey.

· Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or XP.

· Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the Internet.

As part of the registration process, we indicated that if we detect your computer not to be sending data, you would be notified accordingly.



We are currently receiving data from your PC on a frequent basis, and as soon as you complete the 3 months participation term, your free product selection will be sent to the mailing address you submitted at registration. We will send one free product per person.



Your product selection:

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit DVD)



Your address:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REMOVED LOLZ!!!!!!!!!


You may also receive an occasional invitation to participate in a Windows product survey, though this is not guaranteed.



If you have any questions, or if your mailing address has changed, please contact us at [e-mail].



Thank You,

The Windows Experience Team

[Eric @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:59PM]

I've been doing this since they first offered, I signed up and installed the software. My only concern is that they never have emailed me any surveys past the first one they sent.

[Bruce Carroll @ Feb 4th 2008 7:37PM]

Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program!



This message is to notify you that you are a registered member of the program, and so far you have met all requirements to qualify for the free product offer. Congratulations!



As a reminder, when you registered for the program, we stated that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have:



·Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address.

·Fully completed the survey.

·Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or XP.

·Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the Internet.

As part of the registration process, we indicated that if we detect your computer not to be sending data, you would be notified accordingly.



We are currently receiving data from your PC on a frequent basis, and as soon as you complete the 3 months participation term, your free product selection will be sent to the mailing address you submitted at registration. We will send one free product per person.

Your product selection:

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007

So as long as you have the software on your computer, you are using the internet and have not received an e-mail from Microsoft saying your computer is not sending out information, your fine...hope this helps everyone. I have not done a single survey since the 1st one and this was just sent to me 3 days ago letting me know everything was still working correctly.

[Bruce C. @ Feb 4th 2008 7:45PM]

Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program!



This message is to notify you that you are a registered member of the program, and so far you have met all requirements to qualify for the free product offer. Congratulations!



As a reminder, when you registered for the program, we stated that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have:



·Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address.

·Fully completed the survey.

·Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or XP.

·Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the Internet.

As part of the registration process, we indicated that if we detect your computer not to be sending data, you would be notified accordingly.



We are currently receiving data from your PC on a frequent basis, and as soon as you complete the 3 months participation term, your free product selection will be sent to the mailing address you submitted at registration. We will send one free product per person.

Your product selection:

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007

So as long as you have the software on your computer, you are using the internet and have not received an e-mail from Microsoft saying your computer is not sending out information, your fine...hope this helps everyone. I have not done a single survey since the 1st one and this was just sent to me 3 days ago letting me know everything was still working correctly.

[jsz @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:52PM]

I also got this email. I run the program on my desktop machine that either idles most of the day or is off.

[Kevo @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

Dang! I really need Vista for a couple programs but don't want to pay $300+ for it. I wish this promo were still going.

This got me thinking about getting the basic version instead. It seems like the upgraded versions only offer prettier experiences, but nothing too beneficial. That's such BS for Microsoft to rip out features for different versions. I'm happily enjoying my $109 upgrade to the single version of Leopard.

I like Microsoft, I love my Xbox, but it seems that they just absolutely suck at making operating systems. I can't stand Windows Mobile either. Ugh. Not looking forward to this.

[Craig White @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:55PM]

Does this mean they start counting the 3 months from this e-mail or from when you first signed up?

[Todd Croce @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:05PM]

I have been enrolled for around a month so far and am looking forward to my reward of Vista Ultimate. I am running the software on my Motion Computing Tablet PC and I don't notice any slow down or interference with what I always use this PC for, which is email, web surfing and an occasional document creation session.

[Tomoki @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:12PM]

I recieved my email not long ago, too. I don't really mind having the program installed since it takes up virtually no space and doesn't interfere with my other programs. Pretty sweet deal.

[thecatt @ Feb 4th 2008 9:18AM]

I have not gotten any surveys, but I have gotten my email about the free product. So, more than halfway there.

[Dan Z @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:15PM]

I actually went through the program and already recieved my copy of Vista Ultimate. I signed up sometime in late October and then got the disk itself in December (so before the three months or whatever was up). It is a OEM copy with one lisence and two disks: one for 32-bit and one for 64-bit depending on the setup you need. They sent me a follow up email roughly three months after I orginally signed up telling me I should have recived the disk.

And, I am still running the software on my primary computer. Also, they send me a survey via email every once and awhile about random things. I guess I'm different than most people in that regard...I have no problem running this software on my computer :)

[Wes Joyce @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:16PM]

I got the same email last night...im just wondering if it means that the three months is up, or that im half-way through it, or it just started hahaha...no real details...

can't wait to get my vista ultimate...i got office ultimate for roughly $64 thanks to the ultimate steal deal they are running for students!

[Rik @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:16PM]

I wouldn't install Vista if they actually gave me money to do so, in fact the first thing I did with my new laptop was installing XP on it.

Unless MS somehow manages to put out a decent next-gen Windows before XP really gets outdated I'm switching to another OS. (And no, I'm not going to get a Mac, then I might just as well get Vista). I'm curious btw. how lively the second hand license market is going to be after sales stop... and if the circulation of pirated copies will soar...

[Stephen Moore @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:19PM]

I got the same email telling me that I need to select my product. To me it's worth it for a free copy of Office 2007. When the program is finished I plan on wiping everything off the hard drive and doing a fresh install. But honestly I don't know why anyone really cares if Microsoft sees what your doing online. If your doing anything sketchy your ISP knows everything and they are the ones that you should really be worried about.

[matt @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:21PM]

got the same email!!!

[ptui @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:58PM]

Yes, they asked for an address, but just city and state - confirming for their records or a mistake in data collection on their part?

Who knows. Anyway, I *read* the responses in gmail on a Mac and respond from my WinXP computer.

[r275delta @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:28PM]

Yeah, I got the email (about time they got to us).

For the record: Microsoft never "claimed otherwise" on the offer's validity, and it shouldn't be reported as such. From the start, they had a limited number of spots in their program ("while supplies last!")--once the spots filled up, the offer came off the table.

Other than taking 1.5 months to reply to those who did sign up, I don't see any disingenuity on the part of Microsoft here.

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:31PM]

I wonder if this software will run in Wine?

[uh-oh @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:36PM]

I think I may have a problem. I signed up for this right before the deadline, installed the software, and then got uncomfortable about it. I uninstalled the software the next day (a month and a half ago), but I still got this email yesterday telling me they're still receiving data from my pc.

The program isn't listed when I go into Add/Remove Programs. Should I be freaking out?

[Ignatius @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:14PM]

Just format the drive and reinstall. Not that hard.

[Brandon @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:37PM]

yeah i DEFINATLEY did this and got a free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate. Its just a disk in a sleeve and a cd key, no fancy box. Or even OEM box at that.

[Kory Hearn @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:36PM]

I got the email as well, and I'm jumping up and down for joy! I wonder if I could get $10 for it on craigslist?

[Dustin @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:38PM]

I have done like others in the post, i installed it on another work computer that i use to send images out on. I don't even use it for IE or anything else. They are shipping me Vista Ultimate soon!

[sjdurfey @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:37PM]

im glad i finally received this email! i anxiously await my free copy of Vista Ultimate. hopefully ill be lucky like a previous poster and get 2 product keys.

[Neoisamu @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:44PM]

Ditto, same email.

[Ben H. @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:54PM]

Thank you for participating in the Windows Feedback Program!



This message is to notify you that you are a registered member of the program, and so far you have met all requirements to qualify for the free product offer. Congratulations!



As a reminder, when you registered for the program, we stated that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have:



· Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address.

· Fully completed the survey.

· Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or XP.

· Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the Internet.

As part of the registration process, we indicated that if we detect your computer not to be sending data, you would be notified accordingly.



We are currently receiving data from your PC on a frequent basis, and as soon as you complete the 3 months participation term, your free product selection will be sent to the mailing address you submitted at registration. We will send one free product per person.



Your product selection:

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007

[DJ douchebag @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:57PM]

spammer: [e-mail]

[Chris Aubeck @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:52PM]

"Hasn't got as much spam in it as spam egg sausage and spam, has it?"

- Monty Python

[Anthony Castanza @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:58PM]

@ Everyone who got their disks
there should be one product key on the back of EACH disk sleeve ie. Two Different Product keys.

Also, its not an OEM copy, its a NFR (Not-For-Resale) copy, like the ones that employees can get.

[StammesOpfer @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:00PM]

yup mark me up as another that got the email and hopefully be getting my disc soon I guess this will get installed someday when I build a new computer but until then I'll stick to XP pro. Plus I am getting office 2007 enterprise for 19.99 through a military offer so hey all the new Microsoft stuff for a total of 20 bucks and 3 months of my browsing habits... Hey Google has those going all the way back to Dec of 2005.

[Jammrock @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:53PM]

I signed up for WFP and just got an email saying I was on track to get my free product.

[DarkAardvark @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:07PM]

why would you want to give up your privacy for a free virus? and by virus i mean vista

[Alex @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:14PM]

not even worth it

[Ayle @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:15PM]

Received the mail too. By the way Engadget, fix the reply system already or at least tell us what the hell is going on...

[Ratteler @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:18PM]

It's not the free invasion of privacy I hate. It's paying $450 for the ultimate invasion.

I'll stick to Linux thanks.

[Patrick @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:19PM]

@Anthony Castanza:
If true, that's even better, I could really use both an x32 & x64 copy of Ultimate.

[michael @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:25PM]

What's the point? Using your Google account, Google scans through what input you have, to consider making ads and profit from that. Isn't that a privacy matter?

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=28a58f90-8e0b-4da8-a6fc-da68ac846154

Same thing here. You get it for free in money, but then there's the fact that the company gets to keep tabs on you.

If you don't want it, then don't get it. That's it.

[alejandropando @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:36PM]

got mine on the 31st...

[jmd @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:38PM]

nice, went and checked my live.com account and got the confirmation email that they been recieveing data from me and everythings ok. So far I have yet to receive any new surveys (I signed up like minutes before they took down the software choice), and Ive been using the pc less then I thought I would, but i try and boot it 2 times a week atleast.

Getting both 32bit and 64 bit disc sounds great actually, I may install the 64bit version just to have at it on my crysis pc.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:44PM]

Well, running Vista Enterprise in a virtual machine... and I'm on track for my free copy of Vista Ultimate. Sure, it is theoretically an invasion of privacy... but I do very little (and nothing personal) in the VM of Vista. Works for me. :)

[Kyle @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:12PM]

Yup, I got got an email from the big M. If I participate Ill have a 32/64-bit disk of Vista Ultimate.