SOFTWARE giant Microsoft is giving away copies of Vista Ultimate and Office if you will let the Vole closely monitor how you use the software.
While the more cynical amongst us might think that Vole can't sell its software and so is giving it away, the deal is part of Microsoft's Feedback programme.
According to its website, the Feedback Program allows you to connect directly with the Windows product team using your computer.
It will help the Voles work out which features the punters actually use and tell its designers where it needs to be simplified.
Those interested have to fill in a survey feedback form and allow Vole to snuffle the PC for an automated feedback .
However they can give feedback in the form of data that is automatically collected on your computer and uploaded to Volish servers.
The automated feedback programme takes two minutes on a 56K modem.
Currently you can only sign up for the programme if you are American, over 18 and running Vista and XP. µ
hellllooooo?? no free copies!!!
So how do we download this? You don't. what a scam.......... I cant anywhere to download my free upgrade even after i took there 25 Min. questionier. What a rip off
No thanks! I don't care to be spied on even if it is free. Maybe the US gov't will offer this extraordinary value to Al Qaeda...being it's so irresistible.
There is no way I'm going to use my own copy of XP or Vista for this. If they want me to provide feedback, they need to send me a copy of Vista.
I signed up for free ultimate.. you could choose from office too or a few others.. I signed up on the last day listed that you could sign up... so maybe they just put the page back up on accident... they send you the software in 120 days..lol
Why must you be american? doesnt microsoft know the rest of the world has internet too?
Are they trying to hint that their tech support is illiterate? do they not know any other language other than English?

Well I would still wonder why other English speaking countries cannot participate.
I wish I had decent hardware to run Vista. :( This would have been a nice (read: cheap) opportunity for the inevitable upgrade to Vista.
I don't want it!
...to have a copy of Vista for the Macbook Pro. Alas, I installed their software on a box that gets turned on, at best, 2 hours a week;)

If they'd have been cool about it, the Macbook might've seen a few hours of Battlefield 2 play.
The offer has been pulled. What a surprise. Shows how stingy the Voles are.
I cannot find the statement where is written that we will receive free copies. But one of the "restrictions" is:
"The automated feedback program is offered to Windows Vista and Windows XP customers only"
And I will say it again. YOU CAN'T EVEN GIVE AWAY VISTA. 

I put someones technical credibility in question if they say "it isn't that bad"