"Windows Vista RTM'd a week ago, and now, the beta testers have gotten their swag. If you (actively) participated in the Longhorn Beta program, this is your chance to get a free Windows Vista Business or Ultimate Edition product key. The only requirement to receiving this free product key is that throughout the duration of the beta program you submitted at least one bug - nothing more, nothing less."
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Member since:
2006-08-01
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-07-06
If you read the e-mail, at the bottom it says to just install the RTM with no CD-key, it will ask you what edition you want (pick whichever you chose, Business Prem. or Ult.), you can use it for up to 30 days with no key while they are sifting through all the surveys for which edition you wanted, you should get a key by e-mail in a week or two.
Member since:
2006-08-01
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2006-06-19
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2006-06-01
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2006-05-01
If you can't see it and you're not from the USA, you'll get it soon.
http://neosmart.net/blog/archives/290#comment-7299
Member since:
2006-06-05
I deleted the Passport accounts I had associated with my original beta test application - I supposed I'm probably gonna miss out on this because of that, despite the fact that I filed numerous bugs and the actual e-mail addresses I filed them under are still active. At least, I assume I will, because I haven't gotten any such e-mail.
Member since:
2006-08-01
I got a reply back from Microsoft, here is what they had to say:
"Matt,
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Connect Help (mchelp@microsoft.com) and for your interest in testing Microsoft products!
We located your account on Microsoft Connect, but no invitation or enrollment in the technical Windows Vista beta (you may have been registered for the public beta). Access to the download you specified is limited to technical Windows Vista beta testers on Microsoft Connect.
Microsoft Connect Help Team "
So those of you who took part in the public beta, MSDN, Technet, or whatever get nothing, regardless of what you contributed. I guess that would cut too much into their massive profit margins.
Member since:2005-07-06
MSDN get it.
Public beta was so you could mess around and play with it.
Seriously, stop crying like a little baby because you didn't get a free hand-out.
---- Edit---
Also, you seem to expect Microsoft to give out free versions to everyone who was part of the public beta, but do you EVER see ANY company EVER do such a thing?
Edited 2006-11-17 20:59
Member since:2006-08-02
CPUGuy said:
"Also, you seem to expect Microsoft to give out free versions to everyone who was part of the public beta, but do you EVER see ANY company EVER do such a thing?"
Why yes I have. The company; Canonical. The product; numerous versions of Ubuntu. They even sent me free copies in the US mail.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2006-04-28
Indeed, i can't understand why everyone is so keen to do free QA testing and file bug reports on a non-free OS like vista, when we file reports against a FOSS project at least we know everyone will benefit from our efforts, not just the company selling the OS and their paid up customers.
Member since:
2006-02-01
I'm part of the MSDNAA and when renewing we were told that Vista would be made available to us.
Looks like that's not the case any more, or at least I'm trying to find out what the deal is.
At least with their online chat, one person said yes we can get it, the other said no we can't.
MS seem very inconsistent, some people are getting their keys, others aren't, not available in MSDN when it should be.
Member since:2005-08-19
The way I understand it:
If you participated from the beginning in the exclusive beta, you will get the free key if you submitted at least one bug report.
If you only participated after Microsoft posted the public download links (i.e. beta 2, RC1, RC2), like me, you are not eligible for the free key.
Member since:2006-02-01
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2006-10-23
Member since:
2006-03-24
This isn't fair, TBP people who submited ONLY ONE bug get a ultimate version, CPP people who submited more than 5 bugs get nothing, because.. well they were on the CPP. It is even more unfair because I know the CPP reported bugs got reviewed, I got an email asking for hardware details because of a bug I submited, and a link to connect, but I had no access to it since I was not on the TBP or whatever was needed, I changed a few emails with them and they said they were aware of the unfairness and were taking care of it, never got anything after that email, and now this.. *sigh*
Office 2007 will be the same, I've downloaded the beta and TR(payed for it), submited a few error reports related to crash on email sync, and there's no reward, oh wait, if I buy it I'll benefit from my reports and the time I dedicated to do real-life testing of it, nice.
Well, congrats to the TBP testers, I never did found how to be a part of that program.
Edited 2006-11-19 04:50
Member since:2005-07-06
Unfair because you didn't get a free handout of a piece of software that costs a good bit of money?
CPP is for just that, PREVIEWING the application.
There are many companies out there who don't offer any sort of beta preview of their software, and there are many companies out there that do put all the beta builds up for download for anybody, and yet no one gets a free copy.
Why is it that you expect something from Microsoft?
BTW, to get into the MS beta testing world, set up an account on connect, and anytime you see news for an invite to a private beta (sometimes through actual invitations, others you fill out a survey and send it in, then, most of the time, you will be on the private beta for said product). Then there is the "available connections" which will show you all kinds of different private betas that you can request to be a part of.
Member since:2006-03-24
"BTW, to get into the MS beta testing world, set up an account on connect, and anytime you see news for an invite to a private beta (sometimes through actual invitations, others you fill out a survey and send it in, then, most of the time, you will be on the private beta for said product). Then there is the "available connections" which will show you all kinds of different private betas that you can request to be a part of."
yeah, I know that, and that's why I'm saying it's unfair, there's no payment involved to be a part of the beta, and I never saw the connection on Connect, so, the only difference is that some people clicked on a link, and other don't. In this particular case, the one who hasn't filed more bugs than many of the ones who did click on the link.
Bug count should decide the reward, not being a part of connect, wich I do, and I'm on other connections and giving feedback.
Anyway, I'll get Vista on my tablet refresh cycle.
