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Californians Can Get Free MS-Settlement PCs
soliaus writes "Seeing as how Microsoft recently lost the anti-trust lawsuit in California, Lindows has taken charge and is offering people free Lindows-related goodies. Basically, Lindows files a claim on your behalf, they keep the money, and you can get a copy of Lindows; a Click-N-Run subscription; a free PC; or other Lindows goods. More information about filing a claim on your own can be found here." (Note that this only applies if you purchased a computer for use in California.) Other companies will probably come out with their own approach to trading settlement money for goods, too, so if Lindows isn't your choice, waiting is a good idea.
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.
Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
Now *that's* some good creative thinking there. Who ever said that all marketing folk are good for nothen eh? ;-)
Seriously, I'm looking forward to seeing how this initiative pans out - getting it mentioned on Slashdot is a good step towards getting the viral marketing concept going though!
A little planning goes a long way...
while i'm all about microsoft taking it in the shorts, who cares about a free copy of lindows? it's a proprietary piece of software (not that being proprietary is necessarily a bad thing), and, um, linux is free?
it's almost like buying fake dog shit when i've got a perfectly healthy dog producing the real thing every day before lunch...
well, it's nothing one behind the ear wouldn't cure
a savings account of $100 billion!
Wow! They must keep it pretty well hidden since their balance sheet shows only $6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Even if you include short-term investments (which you really shouldn't because investments are not as liquid) you only get to $49 billion.
I also wonder how much of a cash-cow are CA schools for Apple. I am guessing that they pretty much give the stuff away for the same reason that MS would be glad to give away their software. There is nothing forcing schools to switch to Windows and if they are already all Mac they probably wouldn't because it would require new hardware. This really should only benefit schools that already use Windows and in that case Microsoft gains nothing.
Nice troll, though.
They have $6 billion in Cash and Cash Equivalents according to their last 10K (warning Word Doc). That is up from $3 billion that last year. Don't follow what the media says and include Short-Term investments. If a short-term investment was easily converted to cash it would be a cash equivalent. Short term investments are investments with a maturity within 1 year. Cash equivalents are investments which can be converted to cash immediately or that mature within 90 days.
Part of this program allows you to get StarOffice 6.0 for either Microsoft Windows or LindowsOS which would cost $69 from Amazon.
You can immediately download a fully functioning digital copy. So even if you're not interested in LindowsOS (which it seems dumb not to at least check it out) there is something else of real value.
The whole tab is on Microsoft. This seems like a win-win.
I found viewing the Flash Video about all this was an excellent way to quickly learn what this was all about.
http://www.msfreepc.com/flash_main
Roger
" LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER"
d Instructions.pdf
When you file your claim for a voucher with the state that is required information:
http://www.microsoftcalsettlement.com/PDF/Standar
If you want Lindows to file the form for you then they need that information.
The Lindows webstation PC's that they are giving away are diskless Live-CD based machines. Mouse, Keyboard, Case + CPU + Memory, CD-ROM drive. Sound and video are integrated on to the motherboard. These are really cheap boxes -- still it looks from their normal sales price that Lindows will be losing money on the deal (the machines normally sell for $169, but the settlement terms require you to produce sales receipts for any claims over $100.) Full data on the webstation is located here.
--
BitTorrent in C -- LibBT
http://www.sf.net/projects/libbt
If you used a licensed MS product that qualifies you are eligible. I live in Oregon and I just provided proof of my employment and temporary residence address to prove my claim. If you ordered a PC from California you do not qualify or if you did not reside in California for more then 10 days. To boost tax revenues if you are in California for any business purpose you become a resident under California law on the 10th day of arrival and luckily I still have my California tax papers work from 1996 ;-) Although it is not required I'm sure those outside the state will get the most scurtiny, so documentation or a letter should help out.
Funny thing is, at some places the tide is a' changing.
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My university used to be all VAX and UNIX (HP hardware) and taught the requisite core computer software: Wordperfect, Lotus 123, DB III. Lab computers were a mix of PCs, Macs, VT100 terminals, and some HP Gecko and Sun boxes
MS came into the picture and showered the university with a nice load of software, and the next semester the university was busy putting in NT servers, NT workstations and teaching MS Office. The Macs were neglected and the Suns remained.
Not to be bitter over all of it, but the Office move was a wise choice for the students because that was where the business world was going. Yes, it was feeding the problem but the students need jobs. Running the campus network from a bunch of NT machines really bit them hard over the past two years with all the worms going around. Nimda, Slammer and Blaster hit them pretty hard.
Blaster was pretty amusing because right when they got the infection under control and the machines patched, the professors returned from the summer break and started powering up their personal (unpatched) systems and started the whole mess up all over again.
Since going back for my Master's about two years ago I finally saw Macs making inroads on the campus network, running OS X server (in the campus IT dept) and OS X elsewhere. They really seem to like them over the NT machines as well.
I tried every decent and legal way I could think of to resolve the issue w/the business before I rented the chicken suit
Businesses will not just leave CA; there are just way too many customers here.
If you mean "service industry businesses" then you're right, if you mean all businesses in general then you're wrong and late besides. Manufacturing is gone. Intellectual is moving as I type this. Only in the service industry does the physical location of the business mean diddly to the customers.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo.
Manufacturing and Services are not the only two businesses. Retail will not move. Agriculture will not move. Government will not move (ha, ha, okay not quite a business, but they do mean jobs). Intellectual is moving mostly only on the customer service side (to India, which is due to labor market, not any rules CA government may come up with). Other areas of intellectual are just plain dying on the vine due to the flailing US and world economy. There are still lots of jobs in engineering in California.
Boeing has so many job openings that they are hiring almost anybody who can breathe (in Anaheim). It has been my experience that people who cry about loss of jobs are too lazy to get one or not as good as they think - ie they overprice themselves.