Windows Vista, Microsoft's proprietary Windows client, is at the opposite pole of Linux and the open source software business model. But still, the operating system is an integer part of numerous Microsoft initiatives, where the price tag is no longer a concern. Such is the case of the Windows Vista VHDs that Microsoft is offering as free trial downloads via these links: here and here. But most importantly, outside of the company's marketing attempts, Vista along with additional products are offered as software donations tailored on specific situations.

The latest such action from Microsoft involves a donation of developer software that will benefit the educational chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers in the U.S. The NSBE Region VI Fall Regional Conference, an event sponsored by Microsoft, was the stage where Chairman Bill Gates announced that the NSBE educational chapters would receive a three-year membership subscription to the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance.

"Tet me make one particular announcement that I'm excited about, and that's a software grant that we're doing specifically to the NSBE Educational Chapters. This is a free subscription for three years to what we call our Microsoft Developers Network Academic Alliance. What this means, if you get the subscription, you get Vista and Server and SQL and Visual Studio, you get basically most of the software we do. So, all the NSBE member students will get to build their skills and use these tools that are being provided on a free basis. So, that's an investment in all of your future with the opportunities to be IT leaders", Gates stated during the event.

The conference was also synonymous with Microsoft being named the No. 1 employer of preference for the National Society of Black Engineers. The award is meant to illustrate the Redmond company's commitment to diversity in the high-tech industry.