14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is ready to offer free upgrades from Windows Vista to the latest iteration of the Windows client for participants in a Windows Media Center testing program. But the prizes go beyond the free Windows 7 upgrades, and include laptops, Xbox Elite consoles and even a PC Home entertainment System. In order to be eligible for the prizes, users must first get accepted into the Windows Media Center TV Ambassador program. The catch, well, there’s always one, Microsoft is accepting participation requests only from UK residents.
“Become one of our TV Ambassadors! If you’ve already got Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, you could receive a free TV tuner valued at £60 so you can enjoy watching and recording live Freeview TV channels on your PC,” revealed Microsoft’s Rob Margel. “Just turn it on, watch and record your favourite TV shows from over 50 Freeview channels including BBC Three, ITV2, Film4, E4 and Dave, and tell us what you think. Spread the word and you could win free stuff: software, games, an XBox 360, and an ultimate home entertainment system. You could even be in our next ad.”
The offer is already well under way, but there’s still plenty of time to jump into the action. The Windows Media Center TV Ambassadors debuted on 08/09/2009 and will be available until 23/09/2009. “The offer is 1 Free TV Tuner to be allocated to each successful applicant, there are 1000 TV Tuners to be given away in total. Prize as stated and non transferable. No cash or other alternatives available. Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. The prize will be sent by 01/10/2009,” Microsoft explained.
But this is just the first phase of the Windows Media Center TV Ambassadors program. In addition to the free TV tuners, the software giant is prepared to offer no less than 30 free Windows 7 upgrades. This part of the initiative will be open only to existing participants in the Windows Media Center TV Ambassadors trial, and will last until 23/11/2009. Participants need to answer at least one of the surveys that will be made available to them.
For those that will answer questions in at least two of the Redmond-based company’s Windows Media Center TV Ambassadors trial survey, “there will be 3 x laptops (worth approximately £600 each) and 5 x Xbox 360 Elite available (worth approximately £220 each),” Microsoft revealed, adding that for completing all three surveys, participants stand to win “1 x PC Home entertainment System available worth approximately £3000.”