Let Microsoft spy on you, get a free copy of Vista Ultimate

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Office, Microsoft

Let Microsoft spy on you, get a free copy of Vista Ultimate

by Brad Linder Dec 11th 2007

How would you like a free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007, Money Plus Premium, Streets and Trips 2008 or Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008? Well one of these fine (or buggy as the case may be) products can be yours for the low low cost of nothing.

But wait, you're saying, didn't my momma tell me there's no such thing as a free lunch? Well, your mom was apparently one smart cookie. Because while Microsoft is offering up these applications free of charge, the company would like something in return: the ability to look over your shoulder for a few months.

In a nutshell, Microsoft is seeking volunteers for its Windows Feedback Program. In order to qualify for the free goodies, you'll have to fill out an occasional survey and install an application that will monitor your PC usage in the background for about 3 months.

Microsot uses your data to understand how users configure their systems, what hardware they use, and how Microsoft products work with various configurations. In other words, you'll theoretically be helping Microsoft to make better products while getting free software. But if you're the sort who values your privacy, this might not be the offer for you, since Microsoft will potentially be monitoring every game you play, pirated piece of software you download, or web site you visit.

The offer expires December 31.

[via Engadget and http://wfp.microsoft.com/]

Tags: free-stuff, windows-feedback-program

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

nizzy1115 said 3:07PM on 12-11-2007

Since they already spy on you, whats the difference?

Aaron Berry said 5:05PM on 4-07-2008

Yeah really! No thanks to this bullarky! Microsoft has to be stupid to think people are going to buy into this marketing b.s.!!!!

Scott said 4:02PM on 12-11-2007

US Only. ffs Why not mention it in the write up. There are other people on the planet you know !

Maffu said 10:11AM on 12-15-2007

Hear, hear.
I've lost count of the amount of times I've come across this.

Xenoriffic said 9:20AM on 12-15-2007

Scott said: "There are other people on the planet you know !"

Not any that really matter... :-)

Garrett said 4:54PM on 12-11-2007

So I took the bait, why not? I have nothing to hide.

I'm clean!

Kind of deceiving though, they give you the download right after you finish all of their survey crap. I want my Vista copy, dammit.

Are they spying on you now? Or when you get your copy? I'm kind of feeling that they are doing the spying now...on my not-so-legit-copy of Vista... *blushes*

Garrett said 4:41PM on 12-11-2007

Disregard my ignorant comments. I should RTFA. Hah.

yabun said 6:06PM on 12-11-2007

michael said 8:10PM on 12-11-2007

I understand hating about the costs of stuff, but stop dissing on the products already.

People are buying Vista PC's and installing illegal copies of XP? Maybe on your side. It is possible you know to install XP legally for now, and Vista ain't half bad.

I also don't know where people get MS works, but mine came with Office 03'. I'm quite happy with it's many functions, tons of freebies on the Office site, and how I'm a step ahead of all my other coworkers who don't have Office.

And I'm also guessing you've never used Money. Well newsflash, Money isn't spyware, nor does it take your private info. anywhere. It just helps you manage your income and your money and whatnot. I don't use it, but my friend likes it more than Quicken to say the least.

And I use a combination of places to find info. Wikipedia is awesome and free for a lot of it's content. Though accuracy is a bit low on some articles. At least Encarta comes with several multi-language tools, accurate articles, multimedia, graphing calc, and a bunch of other educational tools not available elsewhere. I got mine for about $40 at Sam's Club.

I think Microsoft may overprice some of it's stuff, but it's not by any far indecent.

web-downloadsquad.com said 6:09PM on 12-11-2007

I like the bit in their FAQ that says "We do not intentionally collect sensitive information, such as the passwords...".

yabun said 6:09PM on 12-11-2007

This marketing plan will be greeted with much indifference.
Giving away Vista? (yawn) People are buying new pc's WITH Vista because they have to, wiping them, and installing illegal copies of XP.

Free MSOffice '07!! (huhh??) people who care can do fine with MS Works which came with the computer, will be smart and get used to OpenOffice/StarOffice, or they can afford some version priced for education/home.

Free MS Money? Yay!(sarcasm). I'm going to do all my personal finances on a computer which is running MS "feedback software" and uploading bits and pieces of god-knows-what to Redmond.

Encarta? What's that?, let me go to Google/Wikipedia to learn what this Encarta is.

I like how in the FAQ, one question is if the auto-feedback software will slow down their computer. HELLO!? You're running Vista, Office07, Money, Encarta, and StreetsTrips and you're worried about the feedback app.

It figures MS chooses product features based on people who sign for this. Microsoft, GFY!

Jeremy K. said 12:33AM on 12-12-2007

You really have no clue about office programs if you think Open/StarOffice or Microsoft Works are good replacements for Microsoft Office. In the professional world there really isn't any replacement for Microsoft Office.

Hany Hanna said 8:11PM on 12-11-2007

I teach English in Korea and I'm teaching a special class to Korean Public School teachers on how to teach English using Multimedia. Several students have newer laptops with Vista. What a nightmare. Microsoft is retarded. An upgrade would have been to make XP a little lighter and run a little more efficiently. But no, they decided to use up today's increasing CPU power and Ram with pretty effects and make everyone relearn how to use certain aspects of the OS. What idiots. I've enquired to several companies about new laptops with XP and many have a licensing agreement with Microsoft that forces them to only offer Vista now. I guess that's the only way they can sell that elephant of an OS. I'll NEVER buy it. Myabe it's good they did this....it may motivate a greater exodus to Linux and other OSes.

yabun said 8:16PM on 12-11-2007

A H said 8:48PM on 12-11-2007

Vista sucks, replaced it with semi-legal XP Pro.
Office 2007 sucks, replaced it with Office XP.
Encarta sucks...Use wiki
Money sucks, replaced with quicken.

Hmmmm why would I sell my soul to Microshit when I could get a much more valuable doughnut from the devil in exchange for my soul instead.

matguard said 8:58PM on 12-11-2007

Although, just for grins, I oughta sign up and install the stuff on a vmware virtual machine on my macbook.

That will let them know about my Windows XP experience.

james said 11:02PM on 12-11-2007

Free stuff is over -- you can still sign up for monitoring, but they are no longer offering free software -- I guess they gave away their quota

PsypheR said 11:02PM on 12-11-2007

Due to the high volume of feedback Microsoft received, they are no longer offering "free" software.

I was beginning to wonder where the "free copy of Vista Ultimate" came in, as the sight suggested nothing of that sort from what I read. Too bad!

yabun said 10:26AM on 12-12-2007

to JeremyK -- I agree, for most professionals in the "professional world", they can't work without MS Office. But most professionals don't need free copies of Office and company policies won't let them run "feedback software". But, if you're at home, don't need Outlook or OOXML files, and got along fine with MSOffice'03, OpenOffice.org will do the trick great. You have no clue if you think business professionals will or need to procure software this way.

Jeff Hudsson said 12:43PM on 12-12-2007

Would you let Microsoft keep tabs on your day to day usage of your computer in exchange for a free copy of Vista?
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/4542/would-you-give-up-your-privacy-for-a-free-copy-of-windows-vista

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