Microsoft (News - Alert) has withdrawn the offer of free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate and Office 2007 in exchange for consumers agreeing to install monitoring software, reportedly stating that it had exhausted the supply of software.

 

Recently, as part of a new program dubbed the Windows Feedback Program, Microsoft had started offering users a free copy of either Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007, Money Plus Premium, Encarta Premium, or Streets and Trips. As per news reports, the offer was scheduled to end on December 31, 2007.

 

The program’s Web site had stated, “If you are a Windows Vista or Windows XP user and decide to join and participate in both programs, we will send you a free Microsoft product when you participate in the program. Limit one gift per person. This offer is nontransferable. This offer expires on 12/31/07, while supplies last and is not redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are your sole responsibility.”

 

Computerworld reports that although the free offer remains viewable in a version of the page cached by Google (News - Alert) Inc.'s search engine, the paragraph was removed from the live site Tuesday afternoon.

 

The report also states that until mid-afternoon Tuesday, the company's Windows Feedback Program was giving copies of Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007 and other software to users who had agreed to complete regular surveys and to install a program that tracked Windows and Office use for three months.

 

Windows Feedback Program—which can still be downloaded and installed on Windows XP or through Vista-powered PCs—collects a wide range of information including , a machine’s processor type and speed, the number of folders and files in locations such as Documents, which software has been opened, and any application or operating system crash reports.