Microsoft Gives Free Vista To Some Testers
Multiple Windows bloggers and enthusiasts reported on Thursday that both the 32- and 64-bit versions of most Windows Vista's editions had been deployed for download. Valid product keys were also provided to MSDN (Microsoft Software Developers Network) subscribers.
The Vista final code downloads had been expected to appear on MSDN and TechNet Friday.
Microsoft, however, took users by surprise as it also announced that some Connect beta testers will be able to download and install the final code of either Vista Business or Vista Ultimate free of charge. According to Windows blogger Robert McLaws, Microsoft said that the free Vista offer was open to "any invited technical beta tester who submitted a bug. Period."
Connect is the official Microsoft beta site and service. Users who tested -- or even submitted bugs from -- the broader Customer Preview Program (CPP) that began with Beta 2 are not eligible for a free copy of Vista. That irked some users.
"If they were being fair, they would also give a copy to CPP members who submitted bug reports because they *also* contributed to the success of Vista," wrote a user identified as "Fairness" in a comment to McLaws' blog.
Another wrote: "I submitted 20+ bug reports... But I'm not an official beta tester. No free Vista for poor Simon?"
Windows Vista, which is being launched Nov. 30, will be available to retail customers on Jan. 30, 2007. The new operating system price ranges from $199 to $399.