Free Windows Offer Revoked

By Doug Barney

I got a note the other day alerting me to an offer that seemed too good to be true. It seemed that Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA (microsoft.com), was giving away Windows XP, Vista or Office. All you had to do was let Microsoft track your every move so it could research how people actually use its software. (As much as you might scoff, I’ve visited Microsoft’s usability labs and the company is dead serious about improving its interfaces.)

The e-mailer didn’t believe the offer, so I checked it out and quickly discovered the Windows Feedback program. And yes, Microsoft did want end users to give them access to all their keystrokes for three months. Microsoft promises to use the information only to gain understanding of user patterns, and not to invade privacy.

The only thing I couldn’t find was the free software part. Turns out Microsoft changed its mind and isn’t giving away the software.

I’m not going to knock Microsoft over this. I’m sure Microsoft wants to track only users who are serious about the program and serious about helping Microsoft, and is not interested in following those in search of a freebie.

I can also imagine a whole heap of problems had Microsoft gone through with this. What happens when millions of people try to sign up? How do you choose? And how do you handle the reimbursements? The only bum move was to change the rules in the middle of the game.

If you think I am going too easy on Microsoft, let me have it a [email protected]!

And if you want to sign up for Windows Feedback, click here: http://wfp.microsoft.com/