Free copy of Vista
Posted by admin on Feb 16th, 2007
Hi, I am hoping someone can help me. My son was invited to test Vista for bugs and hacking and to submit ares needing improvement. This he did. He even provided solutions to the problems he found. His reward was to receive a Free copy of Vista. To date he has not received it. The address his responses were forwarded to are a no reply address (it was in the Vista program). Does anyone know who I may write to via Email? I only want to make this wrong a right. Thank you to all who read this and/or helps me.
Feb 17th, 2007 at 08:09 am
I'm not sure what p[rogram this might have been? Was it through the Microsoft beta program?I don't think that Microsoft had a program like this since even the beta testers are not guaranteed a free copy of the software they are testing.Can you provide any more details? Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User "Matt's Mum" <Matt's Mum@discussions.microsoft.com>
Feb 19th, 2007 at 01:19 am
If your son was a member of the Vista beta program he should know who to contact at Connect to resolve the issue. If not ... then he was not an official beta tester and probably does not qualify for a copy. In any case, the person or group that "invited" him would be the first, best contact. Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com * NEW! Catch my blog ... msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/ * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups * The Website rgharper.mvps.org/ * HELP us help YOU ... dtsl.org/goodpost.htm "Matt's Mum" <Matt's Mum@discussions.microsoft.com>
Feb 19th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
"Matt's Mum" wrote: Thankyou for your question. Yes, my son informs me that it was Beta. He was told a free copy would be his after he located errors within Vista and supplied information/answers/formulas on how to overcome those particular problems. It appears he was just used as were others I have now been reading in this forum. The good work that all those people have done for Microsoft in my opinion should not be left unrewarded. Thank you Ronnie for responding. It was much appreciated. Have a great day, Matt's Mum.
Feb 24th, 2007 at 02:50 am
Hi Matts MumThere where a number of beta programmes for Vista each of which had different characteristics and rules. One of the largest beta programmes was, a Public Beta which your son may have been part of. None of the participants in this beta got a free copy of Vista.However, even participants of the private beta programmes where not promised any reward. In fact to become a Beta tester your son would have had to agree to an email which stated that he was volunteering his time for NO reward or profit.Being a Beta tester is not about rewards but about learning new products and being part of a community who thrive on technical challenges, that is why so many people volunteer their time. They have not been used or misled by Microsoft, but have agreed to perform some testing purely to satisfy their own curiosity.Undoubtedly Microsoft gain a great benefit from this, but it is always made clear that people are invited to take part, and that they should never expect any material reward.Your son will have gained rewards from participating in the Beta, as his knowledge and skill in using the latest software technologies will have been greatly improved, and he will also have learned how to communicate, share and express his views and experiences with a global technical community.As things turned out in the Vista programme one of the small private groups of Beta testers where rewarded with a gifted copy of Vista, but even then this was restricted to a subset of testers who had reached a very modest level of participation within the group.If your son was part of the private beta group he would have known it, and would have been sent an email back in November/December informing him that he was entitled to a gift.Has was mentioned in an earlier response he should check his connect account, and registered email address.If you still feel that he was part of one of the private beta groups, you could perhaps look at his connect account for him and post the title of the beta programme as that would give a good indication to those here if he was or wasn't in the relevant group. Although as mentioned above even being in the right group still does not entitle anybody to anything."Matt''s Mum"
Feb 25th, 2007 at 01:33 am
Not being a smart ass, but I'm rather curious as to why his mother has to come on here to ask this question, he would have all the contact info he needs if he was a beta tester. Crosspost, do not multipost blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm How to ask a question support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 How to Post dtsl.org/goodpost.htm dbpc.com _________________________________________________________________________________ "Matt's Mum" <Matt's Mum@discussions.microsoft.com>
Mar 1st, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Not being a smart ass, but I'm rather curious as to why his mother has to come on here to ask this question, he would have all the contact info he needs if he was a beta tester. Crosspost, do not multipost blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm How to ask a question support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 How to Post dtsl.org/goodpost.htm dbpc.com _________________________________________________________________________________ "Matt's Mum" <Matt's Mum@discussions.microsoft.com>
Mar 4th, 2007 at 09:49 am
"Richard G. Harper" wrote: anticipated. I took advantage of looking up your "blog". The information you provided for others would be valued by all who read it and it also made me laugh a few times with your great sense of humor. I appreciated your time and advice ...... I wish you all the best .... and I thank you again. Matt's Mum
Mar 6th, 2007 at 10:02 am
"Buellpilot" wrote: light on it for me. I am in awe of the generosity of your time (unless you can type alot faster than me !!!ha) explaining to me in detail "why" the beta paticipants volunteer. I did not look at it the same way you did. I actually feel ashamed that I didn't. Thank you again for your advice ....... time ........ etc. You are truley a wonderful and thoughtful person. I wish you all the best in life. "Cheers" Matt's Mum >
Mar 7th, 2007 at 05:29 pm
Matts MumI can assure that my typing skills are far from being quick... :) and I thank you for your response...and I hope your son will still consider volunteering to in future beta programmes, as I am sure he will enjoy the experience of once again being ahead of his peers in being given access to future technolgies before the public at large."Matt''s Mum"
Mar 10th, 2007 at 08:52 pm
Matts MumI can assure that my typing skills are far from being quick... :) and I thank you for your response...and I hope your son will still consider volunteering to in future beta programmes, as I am sure he will enjoy the experience of once again being ahead of his peers in being given access to future technolgies before the public at large."Matt''s Mum"
Mar 16th, 2007 at 09:16 am
DavidIt's likely that Matt participated in the public preview. There was a lot of FUD being slung around when Vista was first released in November. The official beta testers who qualified were sent a free version and many people who participated in the public preview were up in arms because they felt that they also deserved a free copy. The public preview was simply a way for anybody to try out the new OS and finding/sending bugs was not a mandatory requirement, although some PP participants did do this.Even if you are an official beta tester, there is never an assumption that you will receive a free version of the final product. This decision is always made by the beta team when the product reaches RTM. Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User "David B."
Mar 21st, 2007 at 05:09 pm
DavidIt's likely that Matt participated in the public preview. There was a lot of FUD being slung around when Vista was first released in November. The official beta testers who qualified were sent a free version and many people who participated in the public preview were up in arms because they felt that they also deserved a free copy. The public preview was simply a way for anybody to try out the new OS and finding/sending bugs was not a mandatory requirement, although some PP participants did do this.Even if you are an official beta tester, there is never an assumption that you will receive a free version of the final product. This decision is always made by the beta team when the product reaches RTM. Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User "David B."