In exchange for your privacy: http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/11/snag-vista-ultimate-for-free-in-exchange-for-your-privacy/

Quote :

"All you need to do is fill out a few surveys now and then, and download a little app that lets Microsoft watch your every move for three months. If you can manage to be a good little pod person for that long, you get a free copy of whatever software title you selected in the mail. But really, can you put a price on dignity? Exactly, you can't, so sign us up!"

http://wfp.microsoft.com/

12/11/2007 10:54:45 AM

i'll do it. I'm not scared of what they see me do.

12/11/2007 10:59:51 AM

http://www.theultimatesteal.com

id rather just pay this and not have them watch what i do

12/11/2007 11:02:52 AM

just stick it on a virtual machine and let it sit idle for however long

12/11/2007 11:05:10 AM

^ ftw

12/11/2007 12:12:59 PM

so you get the software after the 3 months of spying?

12/11/2007 12:13:56 PM

Quote :

"just stick it on a virtual machine and let it sit idle for however long "

12/11/2007 12:14:46 PM

if i have 2 laptops can i just put it on the one i dont use anymore?

12/11/2007 12:16:10 PM

And do they make you install it onto the machine that has the spy program running? As in- will it check to make sure you're installing it on a compute with a spy program that says it has succesfully run for 3 months?

12/11/2007 12:18:56 PM

i've got a folding machine they're welcome to spy on

12/11/2007 12:30:19 PM

^^ yeah, i think you have to run the monitoring app for 3 months

great if you're broke and you don't give a damn what they see (vista ultimate is $330 retail)

i already have it, so i'm not gonna bother

12/11/2007 3:22:19 PM

from anandtech forums:

Quote :

"Bullet Point #3 from WFP FAQ Excerpt from FAQ: We do not intentionally collect sensitive information, such as the passwords on the user accounts, the contents of any of your personal files, the name or HTTP address of any of the websites you mark as Favorites, or what websites you visit. WFP Privacy Statement Excerpt from Privacy Statement: Microsoft or its vendors may access and/or disclose personal information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Microsoft or the Program; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Microsoft (including enforcement of our agreements), or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, users of Microsoft products or services, or members of the public. So in summary, if you have an illegal copy of windows, you probably don't want to apply for this. If you have content that would be targeted by the Feds, you probably don't want to apply for this. If you have a few movies or songs I probably wouldn't worry too much, but don't hold me to that!"

[Edited on December 11, 2007 at 4:48 PM. Reason : ,]

12/11/2007 4:48:27 PM

Quote :

"just stick it on a virtual machine and let it sit idle for however long"

QFT

12/11/2007 4:50:00 PM

yeah i just made a VM and stuck it on there

12/11/2007 5:08:42 PM

installed it on my work laptop. I dont really do much on here, but it should actually give them a pretty good picture of how I like my windows setup.

12/11/2007 7:37:16 PM

Interesting idea. Might do this so I can through Vista Ultimate on my second PC for a media server of sorts (already have Ultimate and Office 2007 on this one).

12/11/2007 11:13:32 PM

you can choose to do either surveys every 2 weeks or so, or run the monitoring app

12/11/2007 11:34:42 PM

You have to do both to get the free software

12/11/2007 11:41:26 PM

foook them then.

sad when its free* and i dont even want it

12/11/2007 11:47:50 PM

true true, but having it isnt going to hurt. I just put it on my mom's computer.

12/11/2007 11:49:07 PM

They've removed any mention of free software ... not a good sign.

12/12/2007 2:53:26 AM

yeah what's up with that?

12/12/2007 2:56:49 AM

it's been on slashdot since

i'm guessing they've got enough sign ups

12/12/2007 10:40:51 AM

umm, maybe they got all the signups they needed....

12/12/2007 10:41:07 AM

Putting it on your laptop for work is probably a pretty bad idea if you guys have a LAN that is now easily hackable.

12/12/2007 10:51:01 AM

this is still up there:

Quote :

"In consideration of your participation, a license covering the software provided, under the terms and conditions that accompany that software. Please note, except as expressly licensed to you in those Licenses, Microsoft retains all right, title, and interest in and to the Microsoft software provided under the Windows Feedback Program"

also if you email them you get this response:

Quote :

"What happened to the free product option? Thank you for your interest in the feedback program. Due to overwhelming response, the supply of gifts has been exhausted so we have closed our free product offer on 12/11/2007 at 2pm Pacific Time. Thanks to everyone that participated! How long does it take to receive the free product? If you are a Windows Vista or Windows XP user and decided to join and participate in both programs when they were offered on our website, we will send you the free Microsoft product you chose when enrolling. Limit one gift per person. This offer is non-transferable, while supplies last, and is not redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are your sole responsibility. Note that you will receive your product only after we have confirmed that you have: • Entered a valid e-mail and shipping address. • Fully completed the survey. • Downloaded and installed the software on Windows Vista or Windows XP. • Used our software for at least 3 months on a Windows Vista or XP computer that is periodically connected to the internet. We will verify that you’ve used the Windows Feedback Program software for three months, and then we’ll send your gift to you. If we detect that your computer does not send data, we will notify you. Requests to be removed If you are already on the Windows Feedback Program or changed your mind and would like to be removed from the program, we will do so promptly. Please note that you may still receive another invite in the meantime. If you just received an invite to join this program and you would prefer to no longer receive promotional offers or research e-mails from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Profile Center. Requests to change email addresses If you are already a member of the Windows Feedback Program and you sent us your new email address, we will update our system. Questions about the program If you have questions about the program, please also visit our FAQ page on http://wfp.microsoft.com/FAQ.aspx."

[Edited on December 12, 2007 at 10:53 AM. Reason : ,]

12/12/2007 10:51:53 AM