Free Upgrade to Vista or Office 2007 Website?

[MICHAEL]

Only pay shipping of $9.99.
I haven't heard anyone mention this.
Follow the procedure all the way through-
seems hard to believe.

Pick the version to be upgraded and get a Vista version.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/techguarantee/northamerica.mspx


http://www.microsoft.com/athome/techguarantee/worldwide.mspx
Thank you for being a valued Microsoft customer! As a show of our appreciation to customers who
acquire a qualifying Windows XP or Microsoft Office 2003 boxed product from a retailer or
authorized Microsoft reseller during the qualifying eligibility period*, we are providing
minimal cost** upgrades to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office software.

 

[Phil]

Only pay shipping of $9.99.
I haven't heard anyone mention this.
Follow the procedure all the way through-
seems hard to believe.

Pick the version to be upgraded and get a Vista version.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/techguarantee/northamerica.mspx


http://www.microsoft.com/athome/techguarantee/worldwide.mspx
Thank you for being a valued Microsoft customer! As a show of our
appreciation to customers who acquire a qualifying Windows XP or Microsoft
Office 2003 boxed product from a retailer or authorized Microsoft reseller
during the qualifying eligibility period*, we are providing minimal cost**
upgrades to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office software.

This is simply the free upgrade with eligible purchase programme. In order
to get your (almost) free upgrade to Vista, you will need to send them proof
that you purchased a copy of XP between October 26, 2006 and February 28,
2007.

-phil

 

[Mike]

I can't seem to find when the "qualifying period" for purchases is/was.
Anyone else see it?

-Mike

 

[Daze N. Knights]

Available for United States and Canada residents only. And the only
upgrade options for this deal are: Purchasers of XP Home can upgrade to
Vista Home Basic, and purchasers of XP Pro can upgrade to Vista Business.

Do you see where it specifies exactly what the "qualifying eligibility
period*" for United States customers happens to be? I can't find that
information any where on the web site.

 

[MICHAEL]

This is simply the free upgrade with eligible purchase programme. In order to get your
(almost) free upgrade to Vista, you will need to send them proof that you purchased a copy of
XP between October 26, 2006 and February 28, 2007.

Where does it say anything about the exact time period or
about sending them proof?


-Michael

 

[MICHAEL]

Saw no mention of the time period, nor did
I see anything about sending them proof.

-Michael

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

That's a great offer. They sure don't give any fine print do they? I have
several boxed XP Pro full editions but I don't want a Vista Business upgrade
edition for one.

I tried the form with XP Pro (full) on the first page and I am surprised
that the form showed I could order Vista Home Basic or Business. Something
is not quite right. Upgrade from XP Pro to Vista Home anything should not
be an option. There can be stuff on your computer that requires XP Pro and
there is no way to complete an upgrade to Home. It would be like trying to
downgrade XP Pro to Home. (Upgrades from Win2K Pro to XP Home weren't
supported for the same reasons when XP came out.) The system requirements
page shows my system as XP Home even though I told it I used XP Pro, so that
doesn't look right. It should have shown XP Pro.

When I tried XP Pro Upgrade all I was offered was Vista Business and that
does make sense.

When I tried inputing XP Home (full) on the first page I was only offerred
Vista Home Basic, which is right.

Since there is no boxed edition of XP MCE there is no way to get Vista Home
Premium through this program. Too bad.

Since XP Pro x64 is not available for input on the first page, there is no
way to get a 64bit edition of Vista through the program either. That really
is too bad.

Still, Vista Business is a good deal at the price. If I could go full
edition to full edition for a little more I would do it.

Obviously this is a very targeted campaign. Since only 5% of the user base
can qualify MS will not lose much.

 

[MICHAEL]

Okay, I went through the whole order process-
luckily, you're not actually charged until you
send them the proof of purchase. I just had
to know the whole story. Anyway, it's
still not a bad deal- Microsoft didn't have to make
this offer. I had only seen recently bought computers
mentioned as part of this upgrade deal.
Never anything about retail copies bought.

<quote>

Thank you for participating in the Windows XP Technology Guarantee Program
Please print 2 copies of this receipt; one for your records, and one to mail in with your proof
of purchase materials. Your order has been placed and a confirmation email will arrive shortly
to your shipping and billing contacts. You may also print a pro-forma invoice, if needed, for
re-imbursement when purchasing on behalf of your company or organization.

Enclose as your proofs of purchase:

The ORIGINAL product box top with the product name and barcode clearly identified from the
product, and a copy of your sales receipt that clearly shows the date and store name where you
acquired your product. Products must be purchased between October 26, 2006 and February 28,
2007. Mail must be postmarked by March 31, 2007.

Note: If submitting Proof Of Purchase for Tech Bench SKUs, please send in the DVD case insert,
front page of the manual and receipt of installation from the authorized retailer.

Please send this receipt, and the required proof of purchase materials to:
Microsoft Corporation
PO Box 1096
Buffalo, NY 14

Please allow 4-6 weeks after general availability for delivery of your product.

</quote>

 

[Robert Firth]

Thank you for participating in the Windows XP Technology Guarantee Program
Please print 2 copies of this receipt; one for your records, and one to mail
in with your proof of purchase materials. Your order has been placed and a
confirmation email will arrive shortly to your shipping and billing
contacts. You may also print a pro-forma invoice, if needed, for
re-imbursement when purchasing on behalf of your company or organization.

Enclose as your proofs of purchase:

The ORIGINAL product box top with the product name and barcode clearly
identified from the product, and a copy of your sales receipt that clearly
shows the date and store name where you acquired your product. Products must
be purchased between October 26, 2006 and February 28, 2007. Mail must be
postmarked by March 31, 2007.

Note: If submitting Proof Of Purchase for Tech Bench SKUs, please send in
the DVD case insert, front page of the manual and receipt of installation
from the authorized retailer.

Please send this receipt, and the required proof of purchase materials to:
Microsoft Corporation
PO Box 1096
Buffalo, NY 14

Please allow 4-6 weeks after general availability for delivery of your
product.

--
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Robert Firth *
* Windows Vista x86 RTM *
* http://www.WinVistaInfo.org *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

 

[Daze N. Knights]

There we go. Thanks for digging in further than I did for the full
skinny <g>

 

[Phil]

Where does it say anything about the exact time period or
about sending them proof?


-Michael

On the order confirmation page that is displayed after placing the order.

-phil

 

[William]

Thanks for the information Colin. You do us all a great service. I think
it is ridiculous that Microsoft is allowing as the only options Vista
Home Basic and Vista Business. I wonder how many people have made
computer purchases now with the desire to upgrade to either Home Premium
or Ultimate are looking at Home Basic or Business.

Is Microsoft most important focus placed on how to serve the corporate
world? Is the retail consumer more or less an after thought just on the
fringe of the radar?

 

[Richard Urban]

Microsoft is offering the "equivalent" free upgrade. They are not going to
allow you to buy a copy of the least expensive version of XP and upgrade
(for basically free) to the most expensive version of Vista.

They are a business. Like other businesses they must make a profit for their
investors or heads roll. They give away little for free.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I don't know that MS is more focused on the enterprise market than consumer
when it comes to the client, but they have to pay close attention to the
needs of enterprise users, especially with regards to protocols and
security. Of course the server market is only enterprise driven.

 

[Alias]

Microsoft is offering the "equivalent" free upgrade. They are not going
to allow you to buy a copy of the least expensive version of XP and
upgrade (for basically free) to the most expensive version of Vista.

They are a business. Like other businesses they must make a profit for
their investors or heads roll. They give away little for free.

Yeah, we know they don't understand good PR and hold their paying
customers in total disdain. WPA, WGA, etc. is ample proof of that.

Alias

 

[Richard Urban]

COME ON!

Do you think "anyone" would purchase at a reasonable price if the thought
they could get Vista Ultimate for the price of Windows XP Home upgrade
($89-99)?

You can try to apply a bit of common sense here if you would like, and not
allow your emotions to run away with your sanity.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It shouldn't be a problem. The offer only applies to recent purchases of
the boxed editions of XP, not to those who bought XP preinstalled. Those
folks are getting an upgrade coupon. Since no one can buy a boxed edition
of XP MCE, there isn't any practical way for this kind of program to offer
them Vista Home Premium. The problem I see is that there are a whole lot of
Home Premium features not in Home Basic that have nothing to do with media
center. In the end it will turn out that since most folks who buy retail
editions of Windows know what they are doing, most would just continue to
use it. For those few who didn't get the word that Vista is just around the
corner it is good safety net.

 

[Guest]

Is 14 a valid zip code to send the forms?

Jeff

 

[Henry Jones]

I think zip codes are usually 5 digits but I could be wrong!

 

[Tom Lake]

I think zip codes are usually 5 digits but I could be wrong!

IN the US, a full Zip Code is 9 digits now.

Tom Lake