is this real ? MS giving free Vista and Office for viewing webcasts ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter JustFYI ...
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You're welcome. I don't blame you for being aprehensive. The time I got an
email from a fullfillment service telling me I had won one of six $500
prizes being given to respondents to an evaluation of knowledgebase
articles, I checked the url out everyway I could before responding. It
turned out to be perfectly legit and I got a check in the mail a week later.
The email never asked me to provide anything other than confirmation of my
mailing address so It didn't look like phishing trip, but I sure worried
about it.
 
I watched three recorded webcasts regarding aspects of MS Office 2007
yesterday and then filled out three email questionnaires regarding them
(and myself), so I did all that was required for earning my copy of MS
Office 2007 Professional. I guess now I just wait to see if it comes in
the mail in "6-8 weeks."

As to the webcasts, I unfortunately found all three of them pretty
out-of-range of my interests, and therefore quite boring. The selection
was pretty limited for the the gift of MS Office, though, and I
understand it is much better if you're going for a copy of Vista
Business. In either case, if one is watching them at home, one can just
go about one's business while they're playing. The questionnaires ask
you to rate them, but don't test you on them at all.

It should be mentioned that it said somewhere in all the fine print that
the offer of gifts is "while supplies last," so anyone that really wants
to do this better complete the requirements fast.
 
I wonder if your description of this as "an offer to the public to
promote Vista and Office 2007" is exactly correct. The questionnaires
ask a number of questions (regarding one's company, position, interest
in various programming languages, and on and on) that suggest this is
really aimed at IT Professionals and the like. The webcasts I watched
also are aimed at that kind of audience and wouldn't be of much interest
to even most computer technicians . . .

-----------------
 
That is still public. An enterprise oriented rather than consumer oriented
public perhaps, but still public. After all, enterprises are public too.
Regardless of the target audience, if you wish to define yourself in such a
way as being a member of the target audience that is left up to you. Just
like it was with CPP. MS defined what they meant by Customer in Customer
Preview Program ("Developers, IT Professionals, and Technology Specialists")
but no one had to pass an exam to qualify. Self designation as a Customer
was sufficient.
 
To qualify for a gift, one must view/hear/attend at least three
selections of one's choice from among a list of webcasts and virtual
labs. I didn't opt for any labs, so I can't describe them. As for the
webcasts, some of them are live, with limited "seating," and during
which one can ask questions. Many other webcasts that one can choose
from, however, have already occurred "live," and are now available as
recordings. The latter can be viewed whenever one likes and basically
just amount to watching a streaming video slideshow presentation with a
narrator, so I went for three of the recorded webcasts and got them all
in, and done, yesterday.
 
Point taken. ;)

Colin said:
That is still public. An enterprise oriented rather than consumer oriented
public perhaps, but still public. After all, enterprises are public too.
Regardless of the target audience, if you wish to define yourself in such a
way as being a member of the target audience that is left up to you. Just
like it was with CPP. MS defined what they meant by Customer in Customer
Preview Program ("Developers, IT Professionals, and Technology Specialists")
but no one had to pass an exam to qualify. Self designation as a Customer
was sufficient.
Click to expand...
 
you let them implant a chip under your skin


Richard Urban said:
Sponsored by Microsoft? There is no mention of this on their web sites
that I could find.

What type of information do you have to supply to these people to get your
"free" copies of Vista or Office.

Sorry, I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for.

It sure seems like a come on to me.

--


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!
Click to expand...
 
Well did mine today so will see if anything happens. All the webcasts I did
show as Pending though whatever that means.....hope I was not too late for
the offers....
 
One they stated that they needed one's job title and stuff I opted out
completly.
I don't use the Internet or even a PC at my job,so it seems to be more aimed
at those in big businesses and such as opposed to a person like me who would
only uise the Vista Business as a way to get Ultimate full for the price of
home basic upgrade :)

As for office the only component I would really be intertested in is Word
though I would be open to getting Office Home and Student. (The FULL version
is only abour $30-40 more then the Word Upgrade.)

As for Vista I may either pass or wait til I get a NEW PC which may be some
time away.
 
Colin;
Only some Partners will, and then only those paying for Action Pack etc.
MSDN subscribers also are not getting Vista for free.
Since Vista is an operating system, it is included in the subscription cost.
 
Then take my meaning as "without additional charge." It's really no
gratuity either considering that the MSDN licensing does not permit personal
or production use. But I run it on the test box anyway.
 
Indeed, a day after they have all gone completed.....now the worst part is
the waiting......if it turns up..... :-D
 
You can check on your status, as follows: After signing in with your
email addy and password, on the left-hand side of the next page, you
will find your name. Below it, click on the "My Stuff" link to learn
your status with respect to the gift offer. Click on the "Help" link to
find answers to other questions regarding the offer.
 
I still don't fully understand the tax part. What exactly is a W9 form. Will
I have to pay tax/money if I want to receive both Vista and Office. Or is
this tax information for Microsoft so they won't have to pay tax on this. In
short, am I going to have to end up forking out any kind of money for
receiving both products, and if yes, what amount am I looking at. I live in
Michigan btw.
 
If you receive $500 or more in gratuities in a year MS is required to report
it to the IRS. You are responsible for any taxes. Vista Business + Office
2007 is valued at more than $500. If you chose only one of them the value
would have been less than $500 and no form would be needed.
 
No more free copies of either Vista *or* Office available now, at least
for those who have not begun the process of earning them.
 
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