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Microsoft Battles Vista Perception With Prizes

Posted by Zonk on from the you-too-may-already-be-a-winner dept.

LambAndMint writes "In what can only be described as an act of utter desperation to overcome Vista's mostly negative public perception issues, Microsoft has put together an online "Fact or Fiction" quiz about Windows Vista. Every person who submits themselves to Microsoft indoctrination gets a free shirt and the chance to win a $15,000 prize. Some of the supposed 'facts' will make you feel like you're reading a document from an alternate reality. Get ready to get a job as a computer salesman for a mass-market retailer as you go through the quiz."

46 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. All I read was... by csguy314 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Woohoo! Free shirt!

    --
    This is left as an exercise for the reader.
    1. Re:All I read was... by irby0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Free shirt for OEM system builders.

    2. Re:All I read was... by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I tried to play it because I'm certainly willing to have half an hour of laughs for a good shirt.. but the "australia" in the URL is scary since they're shipping things, and though I'd have been willing to install some activex control and take the quiz in IE, apparently the SilverLight installer is just some shady .exe.... so no way ~~~~

    3. Re:All I read was... by coolhaus · · Score: 5, Funny

      Woohoo! Free shirt!

      I dropped an "r" or two when I first read that. It made better sense at first, honestly.

    4. Re:All I read was... by edwardpickman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Great, a free t-shirt that...

      You have to type in Allow before you can put it on.

      Can only be washed in Microsoft approved detergent

      And isn't compatible with any other clothes I own.

      I'll stick with my plain white open source t-shirt

    5. Re:All I read was... by somersault · · Score: 4, Funny

      Meh.. I don't care if it's free - I'm not going to get one unless they provide access to the source pattern..

      --
      which is totally what she said
    6. Re:All I read was... by harry666t · · Score: 5, Funny

      Would you like to see the questions?

      The first was: you're trying to get a free t-shirt. Cancel or Allow?

    7. Re:All I read was... by durnurd · · Score: 4, Funny

      And you have to get a new torso before you can put it on, otherwise you can only walk really slowly... right? And when you do get your new torso, all of your clothes will become slightly transparent.

      --
      --Edward Dassmesser
    8. Re:All I read was... by calebt3 · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's not free. You are selling your soul.

    9. Re:All I read was... by Mahjub+Sa'aden · · Score: 4, Funny

      And you have to get a new torso before you can put it on, otherwise you can only walk really slowly... right? And when you do get your new torso, all of your clothes will become slightly transparent. This being the internet, I'm going to go ahead and tell you that slightly transparent clothes really flatter me. Women have commented, or should I say drooled, when I wear something sheer. And I own the Golden Gate Bridge. True story.
      --
      What is is all that is. Isn't that obvious?
    10. Re:All I read was... by srmalloy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Going to the URL with both IE and Firefox showed nothing but a black browser window and a button to download and install Microsoft Silverlight. "We're going to give you the opportunity to win something, but you have to let us install our latest proprietary extension." No, thanks.

    11. Re:All I read was... by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny
      Wanna bet I can find myself a free Linux shirt somewhere

      I've open-sourced my Linux shirts.

      Just copy the text below into a word-processor, scale it up to your shirt size, and print it onto the shirt.

      LINUX

      You can thank me later.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    12. Re:All I read was... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      >but the "australia" in the URL is scary since they're shipping things
      Yeah, ya gotta watch out for those Australians shipping things. Why, they might try to slip a kangaroo into the package or something.

      >apparently the SilverLight installer is just some shady .exe.
      As opposed to the rest of the software on your computer that just magically appeared and runs in some otherworldly fashion, I suppose.

      But, my goodness, you're quite the Slashbot - I especially admire the fact that you got modded up for bashing Microsoft when you use Windows on your computer. The hypocrisy here knows no bounds, apparently.

      I know, I know: "You must be new here".

  2. Sheesh. by Divebus · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm glad they're not running an airline. They'd be in the side of a mountain by now.

    --

    Most of the stuff on /. won't survive first contact with facts.
    1. Re:Sheesh. by csguy314 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sure, you make that sound like a bad thing. But for all the people that *live* on the side of the mountain it'd be pretty darn convenient. ...
      Uhh... Don't mind the burning fuselage, it's a feature!

      --
      This is left as an exercise for the reader.
    2. Re:Sheesh. by Stormwatch · · Score: 5, Funny

      1990s called, they want their joke back...

      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

      What if Operating Systems Were Airlines?

      DOS Airlines
      Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again, then they push again jump on again, and so on.

      Windows Air
      The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

      Windows NT Air
      Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

      Mac Airlines
      All the stewards, stewardesses, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look the same, act the same, and talk the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are told you don't need to know, don't want to know, and would you please return to your seat and watch the movie.

      Unix Airlines
      Each passenger brings a piece of the airplane and a box of tools to the airport. They gather on the tarmac, arguing constantly about what kind of plane they want to build and how to put it together. Eventually, they build several different aircraft, but give them all the same name. Some passengers actually reach their destinations. All passengers believe they got there.

      OS/2 Airlines
      The terminal is almost empty, with only a few prospective passengers milling about. The announcer says that their flight has just departed, wishes them a good flight, though there are no planes on the runway. Airline personnel walk around, apologising profusely to customers in hushed voices, pointing from time to time to the sleek, powerful jets outside the terminal on the field. They tell each passenger how good the real flight will be on these new jets and how much safer it will be than Windows Airlines, but that they will have to wait a little longer for the technicians to finish the flight systems. Once they finally finished you're offered a flight at reduced cost. To board the plane, you have your ticket stamped ten different times by standing in ten different lines. Then you fill our a form showing where you want to sit and whether the plane should look and feel like an ocean liner, a passenger train or a bus. If you succeed in getting on the plane and the plane succeeds in taking off the ground, you have a wonderful trip...except for the time when the rudder and flaps get frozen in position, in which case you will just have time to say your prayers and get in crash position.

      Wings of OS/400
      The airline has bought ancient DC-3s, arguably the best and safest planes that ever flew, and painted "747" on their tails to make them look as if they are fast. The flight attendants, of course, attend to your every need, though the drinks cost $15 a pop. Stupid questions cost $230 per hour, unless you have SupportLine, which requires a first class ticket and membership in the frequent flyer club. Then they cost $500, but your accounting department can call it overhead.

      Mach Airlines
      There is no airplane. The passengers gather and shout for an airplane, then wait and wait and wait and wait. A bunch of people come, each carrying one piece of the plane with them. These people all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing constantly about what kind of plane they're building. The plane finally takes off, leaving the passengers on the ground waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. After the plane lands, the pilot telephones the passengers at the departing airport to inform them that they have arrived.

      Newton Airlines
      After buying your ticket 18 months in advance, you finally get to board the plane. Upon boarding the plane you are asked your name. After 6 times, the crew member recognizes your name and then you are allowed to take your seat. As you are getting ready to take your seat, th

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
  3. And the grand prize...... by edwardpickman · · Score: 4, Funny

    is a free upgrade to XP Pro!

  4. I went to Camp Microsoft... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and all I got was this lousy operating system.

    (But the T-Shirt wasn't half bad)

  5. How Software Companies Die by lobiusmoop · · Score: 4, Funny

    Got to get some better packaging. Yeah, that's it.

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
  6. Re:Propaganda by Divebus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh. It's just a way to seed Silverlight. Nevermind.

    --

    Most of the stuff on /. won't survive first contact with facts.
  7. Good luck with your free shirt... by mythosaz · · Score: 4, Informative

    CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

    Instructions on how to enter form part of these Conditions of Entry. By participating in this promotion, entrants agree to be bound by these Conditions of Entry.

    You must be a Local OEM Channel Partner. Definition of a Local OEM channel partner ("partners") includes resellers and System Builders who resell other branded hardware (PCs and Servers) with Microsoft OEM Licenses or who build hardware to sell directly to end customers.

    Entry is only open to Australian residents residing in NSW, VIC, QLD, NT, or SA who are Microsoft OEM Channel Partners. The promotion commences at 09:00am (Sydney time) on Friday 14th December 2007 and closes at 11:59pm (Sydney time) on Friday 14th March 2008 ("Promotional Period"). The Promoter's decision in relation to all aspects of this promotion is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

  8. Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by milsoRgen · · Score: 5, Informative

    Windows Vista sold more copes than any other Microsoft Operating System (including Windows XP) In the first month following launch.
    (Fact) Fiction

    Windows Vista faces significant Compatibility issues with hardware devices.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Windows Vista faces significant issues in terms of integrating with other software applications.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Windows Vista delivers all new levels of security compared to previous Windows operating systems.
    (Fact) Fiction

    Windows Vista is expneisve to deploy and run.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Windows Vista hasn't been popular with businesses.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Windows Vista is unreliable and requires more technical support than Windows XP.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Microsoft has been swift to diagnose and rectify initial issues with Windows Vista.
    (Fact) Fiction

    Windows Vista can help deliver peace of mind for parents in terms of their children's online safety.
    (Fact) Fiction

    Windows Vista won't truly be ready until the first complete Service Pack is released.
    Fact (Fiction)

    Their answers, not mine!

    --
    I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're goin' and hook up with 'em later.
    1. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by KublaiKhan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Cheat Sheet, Short form:

      Pick the answer that makes Microsoft look good.

      That sound about right?

      --
      In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
      A stately pleasure dome decree
    2. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by milsoRgen · · Score: 4, Interesting

      How about dropping the price of the OS to $30, and selling more copies? Truth be told they should be selling the ultimate version for $100 bucks, that seems to be the sweet spot. And considering that price point has been used atleast since Ballmer was hawking Windows 1.0. We'd still be seeing a price break, once inflation is factored in. Which would be good for us, and they'd be fine. As the are shipping far more copies now than in the past.
      --
      I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're goin' and hook up with 'em later.
    3. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by Timothy+Brownawell · · Score: 5, Funny

      Windows Vista sold more copes than any other Microsoft Operating System (including Windows XP) In the first month following launch.
      (Fact) Fiction

      Sold more copies of what? XP?

      Windows Vista faces significant Compatibility issues with hardware devices.
      Fact (Fiction)

      It's the hardware devices that have Compatibility issues with Vista.

      Windows Vista faces significant issues in terms of integrating with other software applications.
      Fact (Fiction)

      Similarly, it's the applications which have trouble integrating with Vista.

      Windows Vista delivers all new levels of security compared to previous Windows operating systems.
      (Fact) Fiction

      How low can you go?

      Windows Vista is expneisve to deploy and run.
      Fact (Fiction)

      Compared to the hardware you'll need, the OS is downright cheap!

      Windows Vista hasn't been popular with businesses.
      Fact (Fiction)

      Microsoft is a business, and they certainly like it!

      Windows Vista is unreliable and requires more technical support than Windows XP.
      Fact (Fiction)

      This one's correct, because it is reliable -- reliably slow.

      Microsoft has been swift to diagnose and rectify initial issues with Windows Vista.
      (Fact) Fiction

      Due to the size of these issues, this "rectification" has produced many goatse look-alikes.

      Windows Vista can help deliver peace of mind for parents in terms of their children's online safety.
      (Fact) Fiction

      You can't get in trouble online if the computer doesn't work.

      Windows Vista won't truly be ready until the first complete Service Pack is released.
      Fact (Fiction)

      I'd say it'll take until the second or third.

      Their answers, not mine!

      But the snarky comments are all mine.

    4. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by Admiral+Ag · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ugh... now that's desperate.

      Even though I am usually a pitiless and fanatical member of the Apple Hyper Commando Flame Unit in their Eternal War Against Evil (TM), this has gotten so bad that it is hard for me not to feel a bit sorry for the programmers who wrote Vista. It has to suck when you spend five years on something and pour your heart into it (as many no doubt did), yet poor management turns all your work into that.

      --
      "by that I mean people who don't sit on slashdot all day wondering why everyone else isn't building robots" DECS
    5. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by Eskarel · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I've been using Vista for a while. So I'll weigh in on those.

      1) Don't know, don't care, the PC market now is vastly different than it was even when XP was released, comparing 1st month sales figures matters to accountands, but up or down don't say much about whether an OS is good or bad. You might possibly be able to compare 1st month non OEM sales, but even that wouldn't make a lot of difference.

      2) I haven't used every piece of hardware on the market, but personally speaking I've experienced more hardware incompatibility on Linux than on Vista. A couple of things didn't work right away, and a couple of things required work arounds, but the same has always been true of my Linux system, and at least Microsoft didn't shaft driver developers simply because they disapprove of the way they license their own product(see the whole GPL export debacle a few years back). Hardware compatibility is really a hardware vendor thing anyway.

      3)I do Integration work for a living and I don't even know what they mean by this one. I don't really want to integrate my OS with applications, I just want them to run. Do they mean that older applications don't take advantage of Aero or something? If you can explain this one to me, I'd be happy to hear it.

      4) The Vista security model is substantially better than the XP security mode, and if we stopped blaming the UAC nags on Microsoft and instead pointed the finger at the lazy software developers who won't right their Windows App code to run in user space instead of as an admin we'd be a lot closer to the truth.

      5) In a business environment deploying an new OS or OS version is expensive, and licensing is rarely the largest portion of that. I suppose if you were running your XP machines with Automatic update on pointing directly at windows update instead of at a SUS server, the activation requirement could be expensive or tedious, but that's a relatively small subsection of businesses really.

      6) Any new version of anything is unpopular with some parts of business, making a major change to the environment is expensive and risky. My company is just upgrading to XP now, so it's relative popularity in business is really only important to accountants.

      7) Haven't really noticed this much, there was a period back last year when they patched it a bit and it got less stable, but aside from the fact that your regular IT people are less familiar with the interface and so it's a bit harder for them to find stuff, it's not been much more difficult for me. In my experience the OS is rarely the cause of support calls anyway. Most issues are with third party apps, spyware, data corruption etc, and 2000 and XP had plenty of wierd it's easier to wipe the system than fix it bugs too.

      8) Matter of opinion really I've never found anyone who believed that a developers response time was quick enough, and as I've not been sitting waiting with baited breath for a patch on Vista yet I can't realy talk about the response time. SP1 is taking a while, but that's a big patch set.

      9) Total garbage, but no more garbage than any other claim by any government, third party vendor, OS manufacturer, or anything else. No content filtering system is effective, and unless you plan on running your home network like a corporate LAN you're not going to stop your kids from looking at what they want to look at, and even then you're not likely to stop them.

      10) If you're not running a bleeding edge environment(which applies to 99% of the corporate world) waiting for a new version of anything to get patched a few times isn't a bad idea. Vista's not worthless pre SP1, but it'll presumably be better post SP1.

      A lot of this quiz is marketing spiel, and I hate market droid speak as much as everyone else, but Vista has been the victim of the greatest FUD campaign I've ever seen for software, so maybe they needed market spiel.

    6. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by MichaelTheDrummer · · Score: 5, Funny
      No, you have to look at the wording of the question more carefully:

      Windows Vista won't truly be ready until the first complete Service Pack is released.
      Clearly, this means there will be at least a second service pack before Vista is actually ready! :P
    7. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by spir0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      or, more appropriately,

      pick the answer that is blatantly wrong.

      --
      The reason girls and Windows users don't understand UNIX is because all the documentation is in Man files.
    8. Re:Cheat Sheet! No Silverlight Required! by Tolkien · · Score: 4, Funny

      Their answers, not mine!
      Wow. They got every answer wrong on their own test!
      --
      how is babby formed?
  9. Vista isn't so bad by LM741N · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've got a triple boot laptop: Vista, FreeBSD, OpenBSD. I only ever had one problem with it and it was fixed- the USB subsystem blue screen. Most of my old programs run on it unless they have some funky driver.

    But I customized it so perhaps I just don't see any of the problems. My screen looks like Win2K and all the eye candy and crap is turned off. And I have yet to see any Ultimate Extra that is anything more than a screen background.

    One thing that is useful is to download "Server Tools". With it you get a utility that will make bootable iso DVD's. Otherwise I just make DVD's in FreeBSD.

    Instead of Gates doing the "Wow" thing, he should have just stuck to the features.

  10. Fact or fiction by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    This test is interesting enough to clog your system with silverlight.

    [ ] Fact
    [x] Fiction

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Fact or fiction by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Funny

      This quiz will change people's perceptions of Windows Vista.

      [ ] Fact
      [x] Fiction

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  11. Re:Why do they care about perception? by QuantumRiff · · Score: 4, Informative

    Because the preloading on non-apple x86 customers is only a small piece of the pie. What they really want is large corporations to start rolling it out by the truckload. Major companies don't want to do that, largely because of the perception (whether true or not) that it is a crappy product. Many large companies are flat out telling Dell and HP and their ilk that they will not mass order machines without XP on them, or that they better ensure that they can revert to XP, and still have working drivers and support. Then Dell, HP, and their ilk get mad, because they have to train employees how to troubleshoot problems on model X in two os's, driving their costs up.

    --

    What are we going to do tonight Brain?
  12. No, 100% safe. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If Microsoft Marketing was running an airline, it would be 100% safe! Zero crashes. Because no Microsoft aircraft would work well enough even to taxi on the runway.

    Have you ever talked with Microsoft marketing people? Every day they have to go to work and pretend that they are doing something positive for a company that pretends to sell quality products. They pile fantasies on fantasies. They live in a world of unreality.

    Microsoft marketing people are far scarier than zombies. Zombies have more respect from the universe; they were at one time at least allowed to die.

    Like zombies, MS marketing people also have no will of their own; they are automotons of corporate speak, which is a language that no one understands, including themselves. But they wander the earth undead, believing that they are human, believing that they have jobs.

    Okay, some of this may not be completely true. However, I'm not sure what or how much.

    1. Re:No, 100% safe. by canuck57 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Have you ever talked with Microsoft marketing people?

      Sure did, and was sharp that day.

      We were at an internal technology presentation, showing off what we do. Being security, we had our BSD, UNIX loggers and appliances on screens for everyone to see. We had a "tail -f syslog" and other logs just a moving every bad event across the screen in real time. Many called it similar to matrix.

      Along comes the CFO and the Microsoft sales guy. And asked me, I haven't seen that before what is it. I said it was OpenBSD firewall logs on the vendor net. He said "OpenBSD what? That isn't an OS, is it? BSD what? Is that LSD?" with a smile (He knew).

      I looked at our CFO and said, OpenBSD, the operating system we use to keep our Microsoft systems from getting wormed, infected and controlled by others. We also use it for firewalls, detection and system login because they cost less, run longer and don't requires the costly hand care to keep them going as does Microsoft Windows. We don't have the staff, software or capital budget for Microsoft.

      Rubbed it right in. My manager heard from the CFO 2 days later, he was impressed and got a second tour with my manager. And a budget increase and authorization to use BSD and open source, in writing to the executive staff.

  13. Re:Why do they care about perception? by QuantumRiff · · Score: 4, Informative
    Sorry to reply to my own post, forgot the second point....


    By not having large corporations move to vista, one of the major incentives for moving to Windows server 2008 is evaporated, meaning a huge financial hit for MS. One of the biggest selling features of 2008, is how well all the new features are supposed to work with vista. Yes, that and server core, and Hyper V.

    --

    What are we going to do tonight Brain?
  14. It's a Silverlight app by schickb · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love how the silverlight download wants me to run silverlight.exe to install it... on my Linux box. Probably not going to work. How about some better user-agent checking with a message like: "For your own good, please go away. We are only planning to provide half-baked implementations and lip-service to non-Microsoft platforms".

  15. Help by robertjw · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can somebody help me? I'm trying to complete the quiz, but I'm having trouble installing this sliverlight stuff on my Linux box and getting the site to work under Firefox.

    If I could just finish the quiz I might ditch Slackware and move to Vista!

    --
    Find coupons in Greeley
  16. Fun by whitehatlurker · · Score: 4, Funny
    Okay, so I went and installed silverlight to try this out. They won't let you give a "wrong" answer.

    Q: Vista faces significant compatibility issues with hardware devices
    A: Fact!
    MS: Are you 100% sure? We supported 1.4M devices at launch and have doubled that number since then. Are you sure
    YES / NO
    A: YES
    MS: You're wrong WRONG! WRONG! Too stoopid to have a computer TRY AGAIN
    Q: Vista faces significant compatibility issues with hardware devices

    I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that.

    --
    .. paranoid crackpot leftover from the days of Amiga.
  17. Silverlight by Kamineko · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not too familiar with this 'Silverlight'.

    Is it equally devastating to both werewolves and vampires?

    1. Re:Silverlight by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes. Also Browsers.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  18. First prize is a copy of Vista by sizzzzlerz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Second prize is two copies.

  19. An Ignorant Buffoon has qualified by david_craig · · Score: 5, Funny

    I actually did this a while back (the promotion has been running since December 2007 IIRC). They send both a shirt and a certificate (as a Vista certified salesperson) to whatever name you fill in the form. I did it several times with the names "A Retarded Monkey", "Someone Brain-damaged", etc.

    I have a certificate on my wall that states "This certifies that An Ignorant Buffoon has reached the level of excellence to qualify as a Vista Certified Salesperson".

    (I'm paraphrasing as I'm not in the office at the moment).

  20. Not all wrong... by Ken_g6 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This one was right:

    Windows Vista delivers all new levels of security compared to previous Windows operating systems.
    Vista includes new levels of security for the both the MPAA and the RIAA!
    --
    (T>t && O(n)--) == sqrt(666)
  21. What to do with your shirts. by gnutoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Donate your shirt to charity. Your feelings will go like this:

    • Actually receiving your shirt after suffering through 30 minutes of Silverlight dribble - neutral.
    • Cleaning your closet of dated shirts that make you look old or gullible - satisfying.
    • Giving those shirts to charity so some kid can groove on the pretty colors and designs - very satisfying.
    • Seeing all the local pan handlers in MSFT shirts - priceless.

    Living well is good revenge. Being kind can be better. You will never get back the time you wasted but someone can make good use of the results.