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Topic: Operating Systems

Microsoft offers a Vista two-for deal

Summary: As part of Microsoft's latest Windows Vista promotion, Microsoft is offering a variety of prizes to its MSDN and TechNet Vista testers, including a two-for deal on Vista Ultimate; $250 Amazon.com gift certificates (in exchange for completing an online Vista deployment-plan survey; and a chance to win one of ten ASUS W5fe PCs that have been signed by Chairman Bill Gates.

Mary Jo Foley

By for All About Microsoft |

As 2007 rolls to a close, Microsoft isn't letting up on its efforts to push Windows Vista.

The latest promotion is aimed at subscribers Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) or TechNet who provided Microsoft with Vista testing feedback.Microsoft offers a Vista two-for deal

"As we approach the one year anniversary of launching Windows Vista we want to remember you as one of the many people who downloaded and tested one of the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN. YOU were a significant contributor to the development of Windows Vista. Your participation was extremely valuable to Microsoft, and we would like to say, 'Thank You!'" according to an e-mail message I received about the promotion at the end of December.

Under terms of "The Ultimate Offer," testers can go to any retail or online store and buy a copy of Vista Ultimate (full or upgrade version) for full price and Microsoft will match it with a second complimentary Vista Ultimate Upgrade product key.

To participate in the promotion, invited testers should go to the Vista Tester Offers site. The promotion ends January 15, 2008.

According to the most recently released numbers from Microsoft, the company sold 88 million copies of Vista at retail (to the channel, not necessarily to end users), plus another 42 million licensees through its volume license programs since Vista went on sale. Microsoft officials said at the Vista launch they expected the uptake of Vista to be twice the rate of Windows XP -- a rate the company didn't realize (although how short it fell is up for debate).

Topics: Operating Systems, Microsoft, Software, Windows

About

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

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33 comments
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  • sold 88 million copies of Vista at retail

    (to the channel, not necessarily to end
    users)

    They're sold, now they're trying hard to get
    rid of them. Already offered to the Chinese
    for $3 bucks (plus throw in a copy of
    Office). What next???

    http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134488/

    How Microsoft conquered China
    Or is it the other way around? Fortune's
    David Kirkpatrick goes on the road to
    Beijing with Bill Gates, who threw his
    business model out the window.
    FORTUNE Magazine
    By David Kirkpatrick, Fortune senior editor
    July 17 2007: 9:58 AM EDT

    http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=525

    Sanity check: How Microsoft beat Linux in
    China and what it means for freedom,
    justice, and the price of software

    * Date: July 27th, 2007
    * Author: Jason Hiner
    Ole Man
    Reply Vote

    • Has to do with article how? NT

      <NT>
      quikboy
      Reply Vote

      • It does not

        He is just miffed that it has sold more then OSX Leopard, (or Apple systems in general).

        You get used to him.
        GuidingLight
        Reply Vote

        • He is just miffed?

          Hardly!

          LMAO :-D 8-)

          Numbers do not lie, but liars number.......

          (don't get in a huff, now, I'm not calling
          you a liar...... confused, maybe, but liar,
          No!)
          Ole Man
          Reply Vote

  • Already took advantage of this...

    I got my email hand-delivered by my rep. The envelope had a gold seal on it. It had all of the feelings of an Academy Award show. I immediately thanked my rep and MSDN. Of course I had long ago upgraded everyone in my house to Vista Ultimate, so I gave these away as stocking stuffers. When my nephew received his, he told me thank you and told me to stuff it myself. That kid has potential.
    Mike Cox
    Reply Vote

  • I should have kept my email.

    Why? It was French and not my language of English. At least the links were. :-) Did I take the offer? No, because I can get a better one elsewhere.
    Arm A. Geddon
    Reply Vote

  • last M$ ripoff in 2007!

    [i]Under terms of ?The Ultimate Offer,? testers can go to any retail or online store and buy a copy of Vista Ultimate (full or upgrade version) for full price and Microsoft will match it with a second complimentary Vista Ultimate Upgrade product key.[/i]
    So that would make it $200 a pop for windoze....when Linux is free and superior!
    Happy new year!....for Linux, of course. ;)
    Linux Geek
    Reply Vote

    • Well, duh. Didn't you read?

      You buy one, you get another product key for free. 2 copies of Vista for the price of one.

      Doesn't sound like a ripoff to me, unless you WANT to buy 2 copies of Vista Ultimate at regular price.

      Linux is free - but do people want it? For a very superior OS, I can just see the many downloads of Linux over new PC's.
      quikboy
      Reply Vote

      • Typical windows fanboy response.

        Try a course on reading and comprehension. If Microsoft is "giving away" these "free
        copies", it tells you how high the "markup" really is. I'm sorry (no I'm not), but $400 of
        an OS is absurd! Then again when one is in a monopoly position, prices tend to go
        well above the norm. In this case Microsoft is saying that $400 is twice the norm. So
        yet again, Microsoft is ripping off the end users.
        Rick_K
        Reply Vote

        • You can still get

          a perfectly working copy of Windows Vista for under $100. All that power they wield can't force you to buy the expensive version. And heck, with all the great competition that Windows faces from Apple and several Linux distros you don't even need Windows. There's very little need to get Windows of any flavor unless that's what you want.
          Michael Kelly
          Reply Vote

        • re: Typical

          [i]I'm sorry (no I'm not), but $400 of an OS is absurd![/i]

          Well, actually $320 from newegg for full - retail version or $250 for an upgrade retail version of Ultimate. Even cheaper for OEM versions. But still a bit high IMO.
          Badgered
          Reply Vote

    • Linux != Superior

      Linux is free and simply alternative - it is NOT superior. As with any OS it has it's strengths and weaknesses.
      jon_bjerke@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft offers a Vista two-for deal

    Weeks ago, Microsoft was offering up vista ultimate free of charge for some survey. It was only one day so I couldn't get it. And now another offer?

    Seems I shouldn't buy vista for normal retail price anymore.
    mmmkkkk
    Reply Vote

  • You should all be thankful

    MS has told us for years that it is rampant piracy that has kept Windows so expensive.
    You can be assured that without WGA to stop that piracy and keep the price down,
    Vista Ultimate would easily cost $1000.
    frgough
    Reply Vote

    • Or $3 if you're in China (legally for $3).

      http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134488/index.htm

      Toward the bottom of the page explains why (selective) piracy is condoned.

      Plenty of sites already discuss the $3 Windows/office deal.
      HypnoToad72
      Reply Vote

      • What a deal!

        Since "time is money" I can't waste my time to actually read the article. But, it would seem that I can buy TWO copies of Vista for only $3 if this is true. $1.50 a copy, the cardboard box and plastic wrapper has to cost this much, ignoring the costs of the media carrying the actual software.

        It's to much in postage to bother with for the rebates and stuff. Maybe if I email Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer they'll drop by and deliver. Yeah, I'm joking. :-)
        Cardinal_Bill
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft offers a Vista two-for deal

    Why would I want Vista in any Form if I am satisfied with the performance of my XP platform?
    rgg
    ggale345@...
    Reply Vote

  • What's the cost to get a subscription to technet?

    MSDN costs a pretty penny...

    Weird. Pay to do the company's work for it... mind you, I paid for Vista Ultimate on 2 machines myself so I suppose I oughtn't complain beyond fair reason...

    Those who did the extensive testing are getting a fairly good deal.
    HypnoToad72
    Reply Vote

  • Quality sells itself

    I simply take this as more evidence of how well Vista is doing.
    John L. Ries
    Reply Vote

    • You mean how well Home Premium is doing

      It appears they are doing the two for one with Ulimate as from what I understand, Home Premium is the top seller out of the group with Basic and Business the next two (I believe).
      GuidingLight
      Reply Vote
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