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Microsoft Giving Away Vista Ultimate, With a Catch

Posted by kdawson on from the no-free-lunch dept.

Opinari writes "In case you haven't heard, Microsoft is giving away copies of Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit or 64-bit DVD), Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007, Microsoft Money Plus Premium, Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008, or Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 — you can choose any one. The caveat is that you have to let them monitor your use of the program."

8 of 495 comments (clear)

  1. Hide your own habits... use a VM! by Z80xxc! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Instead of letting them see every single thing you do on your computer for a whole 3 months (or longer... who knows what stays on your computer after installing the software), why not install Windows XP in a VM, install their crap, run it once or twice a week to "check your email" or whatever, and then after three months, collect your software? They only see what goes on in the VM, you get your free Vista and everyone's happy. Well, if using Vista can be considered as something that would make you happy.

    Just to show how bad their monitoring actually is:

    3. Additional data collection

    The following list describes some examples of additional data collection our software performs:

    • Windows settings and usage, such as the number of user accounts on the computer and the view settings for Control Panel (that is, if you use the default Category view or the Classic view to display Control Panel).
    • Details about your computer hardware, such as processor type and speed (as well as the number of processors), system memory, video memory, and other hardware configuration information.
    • File and folder information, such as the number of files and folders located in common places (for example, in Documents).
      * Which programs you open (for example, which application you use to read your e-mail).
      * Changes you make to your hardware or software.
      * Problems you encounter, such as application crashes.

    They're basically looking at everything you do. Here's my favorite bit from the whole thing:

    This sounds good, but I'm still concerned. Is this anything like the "spyware" I've heard about?
    No, this is not spyware. You choose to participate in the Windows Feedback Program and you can easily withdraw from the Program at any time with no penalty whatsoever.

    This sounds like spyware? Yeah, I'll say. But noooooooo, it's not at all harmful for your computer. Rigghhhtttt....

    1. Re:Hide your own habits... use a VM! by Kawahee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They're basically looking at everything you do
      Yes, they're looking at everything they do with Windows, not everything you do with your data.
      --
      I'll subscribe to Slashdot when I see a month without a dupe, a typo, or an article the "editors" didn't read.
  2. Prior Art by madbawa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They want us to let them monitor use of their program?? Don't they do that already???

  3. i don't see the issue by xubu_caapn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't see the issue here. No question of privacy really, people can choose to do this or not, and it's openly the catch. Microsoft probably wants to watch people's use of it to see what people have trouble with and what they can improve..

    --
    FYI: I don't know what you guys are talking about half the time.
  4. Re:No longer available by moondo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is probably something to do with sites like Slickdeals.net that caught on the deal earlier and maxed out the freebie. Just one of their threads on this deal has over 47,000 views.

  5. Alright, so they're watching you. by Zorque · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At least it's completely voluntary and you make ~$400 off of it. Why are people getting upset that Microsoft is paying you for providing them with information? It's not like it's mandatory for Windows users.

  6. A fair look from a Microsoft-neutral observer by Asmor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Glad to see that you guys don't let facts get in the way of a good MS bash.

    Anyways, just in the in case there's anyone actually curious about this and not just interested in kneejerk reactions about poorly-written, inflammatory summary.

    I've actually RTFA (and a page linked off of it) and here's something the summary completely neglects to mention:

    The automated data collection is one of two different options you can pick; the other is to be asked to fill out a survey not more often than once every two weeks. It sounds like you can pick either option.

    Now, that all said, there's also one more big thing: They're giving away FREE copies of EXPENSIVE software* which many people NEED** or WANT with a perfectly reasonable caveat. They're being open and honest, and they're providing both a manual and an automatic method of data collection. The latter is particularly appealing to many, because it basically means they can just forget about it. Those who are worried about their privacy can take the surveys.

    Disclaimer: I am a fanboy of many things, including Xbox 360, but not Microsoft in general. I like Windows XP and hate most everything that MS has put out which isn't an OS (i.e. office, internet explorer, etc). I'll definitely not be participating simply because I'm not interested in any of the offerings.

    *Expensive for a typical end user, I don't care how much your company paid for its graphics design software
    **Again, typical end user who doesn't know what OpenOffice is and just wants to be able to open their files at work without thinking about converting file types.

  7. Re:Free... by plague3106 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Or you can take the option of just filling out an online survey.. but hey, why stop free bashing?