Thank you, Microsoft! Thank you, Adobe!

Monday, August 27. 2007

As is common on the wide open internet, there are often simple online contests that people may enter to win some sort of software (or other) prize, and it can be as simple as signing up for a free service, entering an email, coming up with a catchy comment in a blog post, etc...

Microsoft recently had a contest that I was made aware of due to having a specific type of profile with my Microsoft Live! account. In order to enter the contest, all that had to be done was either subscribe to the Microsoft MSDN Flash Newsletter, or customize my MSDN Flash Newsletter. Since I was already subscribed to the newsletter and wanted to enter the contest (the grand prize was a trip to New Zealand), I decided a customization was in order...

Well, a couple weeks ago, I got the following in the mail:
Enclosed is your copy of Microsoft Windows Vista™ Business.

Congratulations again on being a winner in the Microsoft MSDN Flash Promotion sweepstakes for signing up and/or customizing your MSDN newsletter.

Thank you for being a part of the MSDN community!

Sincerely,

Mike Hartmann
Microsoft Corporation

...and of course, there was also a thin cardboard CD booklet that contained my very own Vista OS. I can also use this to upgrade to Vista Ultimate (which I plan to do, I've seen Business Edition, there's no Solitaire!) later on. I wasn't originally planning on upgrading when I created my new computer, but thanks to Microsoft's contest, I now will not only install Vista, but they'll be getting another ~$170 from me for the Vista Ultimate upgrade. Win/Win! Thanks, Microsoft!

Adobe: I'm in love with Photoshop CS3. I got my copy of the Adobe Creative Suite CS3 (why do they call it Creative Suite CS...seems a bit monotonous) Web Premium. So far I've only tried out Photoshop and Acrobat (though not purposefully with Acrobat, it loaded a PDF by default). Regardless, I was able to learn at least 5 new things right from the start to make my photographs look even more stunning than they were. I'm very pleased. It's much better than my old Photoshop version 5.1 that I was using. So: Thank you, Adobe! I'll be sure to try out the rest of the suite (and get my money's worth)!

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Comments


    #1 Robert on 08/29/07 at 03:32 PM [Reply]
    What is special about your windows live profile
    ? How do I set mine up like that?
    #1.1 Brendon Kozlowski on 08/30/07 at 06:39 AM [Reply]
    Robert, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this. By updating my live account's information during a specific time period, I was automatically entered in a drawing to possibly win a prize. I was lucky enough to win. There's nothing "special" about my profile.

    Do you need help with anything dealing with your Microsoft Live experience?
    #2 Dan Grossman on 09/07/07 at 04:41 PM [Reply]
    Lucky you. Freebies are the best. I try to enter any contest I run across :)
    #3 Justus on 09/10/07 at 05:56 AM [Reply]
    Hi Brendon,
    There is Solitaire in Vista Business, you find in something like Programs and Functions -> Windows-Features. I do not know the proper English names for them, mine is German.
    Have fun

    Justus
    #3.1 Brendon Kozlowski on 09/11/07 at 07:33 AM [Reply]
    Justus, thanks. The "Games" folder was empty - I simply thought it did not exist. I'll still be happy to upgrade to Ultimate for the small price difference. However, I very much appreciate your feedback!

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