Why not just points for a Vista license? It doesn't have to be a physical license--just a serial number that activates and legalizes an installed copy, advises WGA accordingly, and registers the installation as legal in their database? It doesn't have to be the high-end Windows, just Vista Home Basic and Windows XP for Netbooks/Nettops should be fine, so MS still has the upgrade market. points can also be given for using live.com. That should make a big dent in piracy across the world.

Again the Inquirer fails to assume that (fortunately) there is a world outside the US border and that its readers may actually live there. Nowhere in the article it is mentioned that (T&C)

The SearchPerks! Promotion (the “Promotion”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia (“Participants”) (...)

This is not just another example of americocentric bias, is even worse than believing that the earth is flat. I sometime suspect that the globes used in the US only show the US landmass, and have a big sign reading "hic sunt leones" on the rest.

Lorenz

PS: perhaps they don't have "hic sunt leones", maybe they have a sign saying "nobody"

Yes i think u are an idiot coz ..dont comment on somthin that u are not aware of ...

When searching for the swedish word for circumference at live.com the first returned hit is that of penis growth pills. Nuff said...

First 1mil sign up gets to participate in the perks program (doesn't say when this number is exceeded the program will be taken down)...

Only valid for the residents of the U S of A....

Like my sister said when she saw the page, "Live Search can go to hell."

This program is for pure lovers of the Vole only. Firefox users need not apply. You must have Internet Exploder 6 or higher. 

Not that you could even pay me to use their search. Microsoft search is awful and just looks cheap, generic and is obviously designed for idiots by idiots. Microsoft should give it's users some credit that we're not all morons who don't know their way around a PC.

it normally makes a bad impression...

"To earn value for your searches and join the SearchPerks! promotion you must have Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher to participate. "




i have done some basic maths and the maximum number of points you can get before it is canceled is only 5300 while the top prize needs 5500 points. 
this is also the only reasonable prize you can get, do they think we are all idiots.

The hottest scandal right now involves a presidential candidate you've never heard of. grave robbery and cover-ups. Nice.

www.cottonforpresident.com
www.joeynilan.com

I'd do it for free if they'd finally get my Vista 64 bloat'n bug-ware to work as reliably and predictably as the last 98 or XP



Spokesvole Whitney Burk said "Over the long-term these programs have changed people's behavior."

lol, its M$hites behaviour that needs to change whitney dear O_o

If you've ever used live search, you must realise how shite it is. I even had to help one user to change from live to google because he couldnt find his bank's homepage with live...

i hate clearly biased articles, it normaly makes bad journalism...

A search engine designed to direct me to sites that paid the vole instead of sites that I might actually want to find. Funny that it hasn't been more popular. Not to mention that I am champing at the bit to give my personal information to a giant monopoly for their assurance that my data won't be used for anything that I might find objectionable.

The Giant Vole, what's not to love? They're cute and furry and only take an arm or a leg with that sweet little love bite.

Its only valid in US, dammit!

Participation in the promotion is limited to the first 1,000,000 respondents before December 31, 2008. Promotion valid only for legal residents in the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., who are at least 13 years of age, have a valid Windows Live ID, are accepted to participate in the program and participate in the program until its completion on April 15, 2009

but, this statement has made my day:

"Over the long-term these programs have changed people's behavior."

Having a car battery attached to your dangly bits often has the same effect. µ

all your humor are belong to us

If one started immediately and earned the maximum 25 tickets daily you would be 200 tickets short for the Xbox controller come April 30th.

"We know we have some challenges with the brand and perception… "

And the fact that search results are mostly crap. 

I hope I can redeem my tickets for a plush "Screaming Steve Ballmer" doll. The "Tickle-me-Ballmer" prototype was rejected after it was found to sweat too much, leaving an unpleasant residue on the hands.

The tittle should read more like
MIicrosoft seeks new market in its malware/spyware