ATTENTION: Select beta testers get free Windows Vista Ultimate

[Vishal Gupta]

To everyone that took part in the Windows Vista beta test (as far as I know, about 20,000), only those that submitted at least 1 bug report will be offered a complimentary copy of Windows Vista Business or Ultimate.

Microsoft sent out a mail to those testers just a few minutes ago which specified that it is being offered as a download only. No media will be mailed, and only currently active, invited members of the Windows Vista technical beta program who filed at least one bug are receiving this offer.

Kudos to Microsoft! I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that they have really shown their appreciation towards the people that actually took the time to submit the bugs that were eventually worked out of the final code, some bugs that were submitted by beta testers didn't make the final, among those is the now infamous explorer folder selection bug* where the folder remains selected in the tree view, deleting a file or folder in the folder view (right pane) actually deletes the selection in the tree menu!

Microsoft had already announced that this was too late to be included in the signed off code and it will be fixed with a patch update.

*Workaround = Click on an empty area in the right pane first before deleting anything.

Source

[king007]

^^^ WOW, thats cool from Microsoft, though I didnt get any mail... I am so sad now....

i didnt even submit one bug when i found many just because i thought it must be filed already, my bad, i feel like crying now....

I missed it....

[kumarmohit]

Microsoft did this this with Windows XP x64 edtion too. I was testing Office and I hope I will get a copy of that cuz I did send some stuff.

[hemant_mathur]

Great news ... sad am not one of them.

[jz2linkinpark]

awesome,,!!
are there any other beta products at present which require testing???

[PrinceHeart]

sadly i only posted here on programs that worked and didn't worked with vista beta, should had posted to microsoft also.

[aryayush]

"Ab pachtaaye hote kya jab chidiya chug gayi khet!"

[abhijit_reddevil]

Too bad, I did not receive the mail. That's indeed great on MS's part. I too tested the Beta-2 and submitted only one bug.. Windows Vista Ultimate being distributed for free...8). That's indeed great on Bill Gates's part...

I did not receive the mail.
I too tested the rc1 and submitted three bug.

[king007]

visit the newsgroups and send a email to wendy with ur Connect ID and feedback code which u get after submitting the bug.

Feedback code, u can get on Connect site.

BTW, Free Vista offer applies only to official beta testers who have connect access and not to those who downloaded public beta...

[PrinceHeart]

I wonder.. why u guys go for anything that comes new in the market ??
I am sure lots here use winxp or win98 still.. With winVista - u sure have to upgrade the system in a major way cause its system requirement is very heavy. Still for users like me who are already capable of using Vista.. why worry so much.. let it launch nicely 1st and im sure everyone will get their shares

Have Fun !

[aryayush]

Umm... they are getting an OS costing Rs. 20,000 for free. Anyone who gets it would be excited. Even if they do not have the hardware to install it, they can always preserve the installation media and use it when they upgrade their hardware.

[azaad_shri75]

good move on the part of micr$oft.

[ravi_9793]

gud news...but feel sad .I hv also nt sent any bug repoet.Felling very sad.

[PrinceHeart]

nothing good abt getting a 20000 OS for free. its just released. and if i know microsoft they release bugfixes every month in heaps .. so that will be the same case with Vista.. Lets say - microsoft wants the beta testers to still keep testing .. lol

[mehra.rakesh]

Hey , vishal do they give any stuff like certificates of appreciation or something like that to the selected beta testers (dwnld doesn't matter to me neways ) .

[king007]

Guys its an official release. This same OS will be released to masses in Jan 2007 and would be sold at retail prices.

Originally Posted by PrinceHeart

nothing good abt getting a 20000 OS for free. its just released. and if i know microsoft they release bugfixes every month in heaps .. so that will be the same case with Vista.. Lets say - microsoft wants the beta testers to still keep testing ..

The RTM is no more a beta product, its the final released product. Bug fixes, patches etc are part of any software, even till today we have updates to XP, don't we? So Vista is no more into testing. And the big deal is beta testers are getting an Genuine Licence costing around 20k so they don't have to use pirated copies like u would do later on, after its release.

Originally Posted by mehra.rakesh

Hey , vishal do they give any stuff like certificates of appreciation or something like that to the selected beta testers (dwnld doesn't matter to me neways ) .

No, Beta testers won't be getting any certificates or anything. Getting a Genuine copy of Vista with price tag of $399(Ultimate Version) is much more than getting a certificate. I am sure u are not part of beta testers otherwise u would not even talk about this point of getting certificate in lieu of Genuine Licence....

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by PrinceHeart

nothing good abt getting a 20000 OS for free. its just released. and if i know microsoft they release bugfixes every month in heaps .. so that will be the same case with Vista.. Lets say - microsoft wants the beta testers to still keep testing .. lol

What, are you joking, man! They are getting the official retail version which costs Rs. 20,000 for free! Any updates to the product that will follow do not play into the equation because those will be free for every user of Vista. What are you trying to say! I don't use Windows but if I had the option, I would surely like to get a copy for free, and so would you.

[PrinceHeart]

I won't say no if someone give it to me as an xmas present

And nah .. im a Microsoft user since `96. I like it lots. But when it comes to distributing a 20k software to beta testers, well .. they know .. almost 80% of this planet's population will use cracks and patches after the release anyway, so why not give it free to as many as we can, just to advertise it thru them free of cost. Microsoft is not dumb, im sure they got plans and know what they are doing.

Did any beta tester here get their free copy yet ? Im sure they are gonna ask for shipping charges or maybe they can take care of that also.. i dunno. All I know, that im not amongst them, so its a lil disapointment. I can see myself using Vista after a couple of yrs in the future when all my pc component got its drivers and when the price will get low also.

So it really depends, if microsoft succeeded in making vista a major hot product, then it will take time for the prices to drop. same like ps3 right now. that ppl are fighting for that video game and paying abt 4 lakhs indian rupees for 1 console. Then if Vista is not a hot product, prices will drop and normal ppl can afford it also. That's what i think its all about - To make money and make it BIG !!

[mehra.rakesh]

Hey imran don't mind buddy but why do you guys always have to act as Mr. Know All , i was actually a beta-tester and i checked and i had received my e-mail yesterday .

I was asking because I am in college and i have no proof to brag to my friends and more importantly to any teachers or companies . Also i have a laptop which vista rates as being lousy. So i have to wait anyways for my b'day which happens to be on 29th of jan for an upgrade .

I knew that something was in store but not something like this
Neways a BIG THANKS TO THE GR8 PHILANTHROPIST MR.BILL GATES ...

[king007]

Originally Posted by mehra.rakesh

Hey imran don't mind buddy but why do you guys always have to act as Mr. Know All , i was actually a beta-tester and i checked and i had received my e-mail yesterday .

Care to explain that statement of ur's dear? The reason I said what i said in my earlier post was because if you read Newsgroups of Vista, there are many people who are cribbing about MS giving them only 1 license even though they submitted 100+ bugs and other people who submitted only 1 bug are also getting same reward. But out of so many people nobody wanted a certificate for beta testing Vista .

Well maybe because you are just a college student and want to showoff to ur classmates and teachers and prove ur superiority, its understandable at ur age....

[PrinceHeart]

now now guys !!!
See what this Vista is doing to all you guys ?
Think we all now know this news and Good Luck to those beta testers who will get free Windows Vista Have Fun !

[aryayush]

Just a quick question, will Vista be available for free download to the beta testers or will a physical copy be shipped to them by Microsoft? I suppose it will be the latter, right?

[PrinceHeart]

I think it will be a free download.. or microsoft can ship it for a cost.

[aryayush]

They won't charge you for the shipping. That's rubbish.

[king007]

Originally Posted by aryayush

Just a quick question, will Vista be available for free download to the beta testers or will a physical copy be shipped to them by Microsoft? I suppose it will be the latter, right?

Vista is available to beta testers for download only. No physical copy is available even if one is ready to pay for shipping cost....

What is important is the License Key, anyone can get the OS if not via legal download than otherwise but won't be able to activate his/her copy without a valid license key.

[PrinceHeart]

Well microsoft sure looks very clearcut with the os validation these days .. even with winxp.. so for winvista .. its surely gonna be tough working on a cracked version of the winvista .. so better be in the safe side and try to get a valid genuine product key.

it is not for cpp beta tester
i give three bug to ms but no mail in my inbox

[PrinceHeart]

ankitsagwekar .. cause bill gates saw that u don't love microsoft so much and u use linux as ur forum avatar

[mehra.rakesh]

^^ Good one prince . .

I think the CPP userz will also get something , otherwise why wud they open up their servers for users to dwnld Vista and ship away CD's .
You may say that MS wanted people to try out Vista so that they do not think twice buying a 20k OS .but people will buy it neways either by paying Rs.20k or Rs.20 .

@imranais i tried submitting bugs under different names . but sadly got only one copy .
Though no downloads for me until my tests are over .
I still can't believe that i wud actually be using a Windows .

Hey is anyone generous enough to send me their ID and pswd for BSNL brdband . i have 250 plan from BSNL .