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msfreepc.com:

Lindows.com does not agree with the ruling, but stands by its customers. Consumers who processed their claims through the MSfreePC.com site are permitted to keep and use all the software that they received.

In the site's frontpage they quoted a guy from Microsoft:

"But Microsoft's Drake said Lindows.com's online process makes it too easy to make a claim".

But they omitted the rest of his comment (also here): "[comma] making it more likely that people without legitimate claims will file.".

Heh, that reminds me of some movie ads, where they show quotes from magazines like "Brilliant!", but they omit the rest that goes "It was brilliant the way the director blew it with this piece of crap. Just brilliant!".

More free computers for all! :p

No surprise that Microsoft is being "jerks" too:

The website incorrectly states that Microsoft was "found guilty of antitrust violations" in the Department of Justice case. The Department of Justice action was a civil proceeding, and the findings of liability in that action do not constitute criminal convictions or findings of "guilt."

So maybe the correct term is "liable" not "guilty" but when the government hauls someone into court and wins, "guilty" seems pretty appropriate to me.

The MS threat letter also says:

The www.msfreepc.com website clearly encourages people to submit fraudulent claims. The website's clear objective is to encourage claimants to maximize the amount of their claims rather than submit claims that accurately reflect purchases made or benefits to which they are entitled. For example, the website encourages claimants to submit claims for combinations of products that total exactly $100, and offers a "free PC" only to claimants who submit claims for only one purchased product, only allows claimants to submit claims for certain combinations of purchased products (with high total values), and does not allow claims that total less than $50.

But if you took a quick look at the FAQs on the MSFreePC site you'll see:

Why doesn't my particular combination of products appear as an option in the Instant Settlement* Wizard?

The MSfreePC Program is only available for claims between $50 and $100. If the combination you are trying to claim is for a value below $50 or over $100, then you will need to use the manual system. If you don't want to deal with the manual system, and you want to purchase the products offered here at MSfreePC.com, you are certainly able to claim fewer products than you qualify to claim, if you wish, to bring you under the $100 limit.

So rather than encourage people to make fraudulent claims, the site suggests people can claim less than they are entitled to if they wish to fall under $100. And this is on the FAQ page, not buried somewhere in their terms and conditions.

I agree, the whole thing is fishy if claims have to be signed by the people and can't be processed by a third party, but it's not like MS is being reasonable here.

No big deal, as they are also cheaper and better at what they do than Microsoft is. The package delivers what the vast majority of home computer users say they want, and it does it for much less than Dell, Gateway and other M$ corrupted PC makers can. In the last few months, the vast majority of home computer users have been let down by Microsoft in one way or another. If Microsoft is the metric, Lindows will come out 1.0+.

The staying power of Lindows has surprised me. I thoght they would be washed out by now. That they are still here verifies their plan and it's implementation.

From the MSfreePC.com FAQ page:
Q: Is there a deadline for me to make my claim using MSfreePC.com?
A: Yes. The MSfreePC program is scheduled to end at the latest March 15, 2004. However, depending on demand levels, the ability to use MSfreePC.com to get an Instant Settlement* could end at ANY time [emphasis theirs], so you'll want to make your claim today! Also, keep in mind that the FREE PC offer is only valid for the first 10,000 claimants who acquire $100 worth of products through the MSfreePC program.

Depending on the robustness of the MSfreePC.com server, "depending on demand levels" may mean that "the ability to use MSfreePC.com" could end about 10 seconds after the story shows up on Slashdot...

If it does get Slashdotted, though, I've still got the FAQ in cache and would be happy to post it.