get back some $$ from Micro$oft (if purchased M$ products between 2/18/1995 - 15/12/2001; CA, FL only)

[Frykun]

A preliminary settlement has been reached between Micro$oft and the state of California. If you have purchased Windows, Office or other big software from M$ between February 18, 1995 and December 15, 2001, you may qualify for a rebate. Get details (and request a package) here.
The story has been covered here and here.
Voucher vales are listed here

Microsoft operating system software(MS-DOS or Windows)
$16.00 per license
Microsoft Office
$29.00 per license
Microsoft Excel (if purchased separately from Office)
$26.00 per license
Microsoft Word (if purchased separately from Office)
$5.00 per license
Microsoft Works
$5.00 per license

Breaking news: Florida residents can join the settlement here. Note, however, that there are some restrictions imposed on the FL vouchers, while CA's vouchers are "nearly equivalent to cash". Other differences include the dates of purchase of MS products: 11/16/1995 - 12/31/2002. Voucher values listed on this page

A voucher for $12.00 for each license of Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition (specified in Appendix A1)*.
A voucher for $5.00 for each license of Office (specified in Appendix A2)*.
A voucher for $5.00 for each license for Word, Excel, MS-DOS, Windows versions 1.0 to 3.2, Windows NT Workstation, and Windows 2000 Professional (specified in Appendix A3)*.

Edit: added CA to the title
Edit: added link to the FL settlement
Edit: added voucher values

 

[ianbergman]

and, of course, if you happen to live in California...

 

[SpideyCU]

Yes, you might want to mention the California thing in the title. Got my hopes up for nothing.

 

[DanFungus]

woohoo!

 

[thenein]

Thanks for the info Frykun...

It's not much, $16 for Windows, but I'll take it...

 

[SLOviper]

Bump for the "free money" thing...

Deals don't get much hotter than that!

 

[iwearnosox]

Oh, I'm about to git paid. :beer: for everyone!

 

[allisolm]

Apparently you can claim up to 5 purchases without showing any proof. Supposedly you get $16 for each OS, $29 for Office, $26 for Excel (if purchased separately from Office), $5 for Word (also if purchased separately) and $5 for Works. All this comes in the form of vouchers which can be used to purchase computers, software or hardware peripherals from any manufacturer. There are certain cases where you can get money instead of vouchers, but you will have had to buy the computer stuff and submit receipts. Read the FAQ at the settling lawyers' site for further clarification here.

 

[iamjn]

Wow, thanks to the State of California! For helping to fuel the increase of goods and services, in this case software. What happened to free-enterprise? Y'all had the choice to NOT purchase MS software, but instead chose to buy, then sue for some $$ back.

I do not see where the people in CA paid any more for their software than I, who does not live in CA, did. !@#$ lawyers.

Sorry for the rant, and for the record this is not meant as a thread crap-please don't take it that way.

 

[sat4fun]

Cool, $90 for me. Better than nothing. I'll claim four OS's and Office.

It's about time us Californians get a break, it gets more expensive everyday to live here. First break that I have had in years.

 

[Paranoid2k]

Originally posted by: iamjn
Wow, thanks to the State of California! For helping to fuel the increase of goods and services, in this case software. What happened to free-enterprise? Y'all had the choice to NOT purchase MS software, but instead chose to buy, then sue for some $$ back.

The whole point of the suit is that no, you didn't have a choice to not buy the MS software when buying a new name-brand PC. Just try to buy a desktop or notebook without Windows installed back then. Even today, it's still hard to buy a new system without paying the Microsoft tax. Sure, the knowledgable type will build their own system, giving them the choice to buy MS products or not - but that's not most of the PC-buying population.

 

[kindest]

wow it finally pays off to live in california

 

[allisolm]

Also going on in Florida (YES!):

Microsoft Products Settlement Florida

Doesn't list any amounts yet. Claim forms available there.

 

[TheWart]

This is awesome! It even counts for OS's that came on your computer.....they said up to 5 things ($100) max can be given as "sworn" with no more than your word to prove that you bought them.

Looks like $98 for me.....

 

[Frykun]

added FL info

 

[BUSTaMOD]

I would do it if I had the proof of purchase. This sucks!

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: iamjn
Wow, thanks to the State of California! For helping to fuel the increase of goods and services, in this case software. What happened to free-enterprise? Y'all had the choice to NOT purchase MS software, but instead chose to buy, then sue for some $$ back.

I do not see where the people in CA paid any more for their software than I, who does not live in CA, did. !@#$ lawyers.

Sorry for the rant, and for the record this is not meant as a thread crap-please don't take it that way.

True, I had the choice, I could have installed Linux or BeOS, or another OS (free or not) but M$ swindled me by lying and not disclosing Windows had bugs they knew about but somehow manage to keep hush hush about. And, not everyone has a net connection to update their Win to fix the bugs

somehow I feel if I send off for this money it's going to take 3-4 years to get here.

I understand ALL software has bugs, but MS is known for hiding flaws until they figure out a work around, which I find to be shotty at best.

 

[DestruyaUR]

I'm an MS Action Pack subscriber:

10 Licenses of Windows XP Pro
10 Licenses of Office XP Pro
10 Licenses of Frontpage
1 License Win2k Adv. Server
1 License Win2k3 Enterprise Edition

Amongst others.

C'MON VIRGINIA!

 

[ir0nw0lf]

Originally posted by: kindest
wow it finally pays off to live in california

Depends, how much electricity did it take to file the claim?

Us FL people are getting the shaft, but I guess $60 for all the damn 95/98's I got lying around isn't too bad. :beer:

 

[Frykun]

Originally posted by: BUSTaMOD
I would do it if I had the proof of purchase. This sucks!

lucky for you, you're wrong
up to $100 can be claimed without any proof other than your word.
read the details ^_^

 

[BUSTaMOD]

lucky for you, you're wrong
up to $100 can be claimed without any proof other than your word.
read the details ^_^[/quote]

In Florida?

 

[weepul]

do licenses which came with computers u purchased count? also, does licenses for upgrades count?

also, is it limited for 1 per household or person? cause it's going to be pretty hard to find the proof/licenses for years ago. might wanna split it up between family members.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: weepul
do licenses which came with computers u purchased count? also, does licenses for upgrades count?

also, is it limited for 1 per household or person? cause it's going to be pretty hard to find the proof/licenses for years ago. might wanna split it up between family members.

//krunk (^_^x)

YES!!! OEM SOFTWARE DOES COUNT!!

I have 4 OS's (95, 98, NT, 2k), Office, and Works!! I still have all their original CD's!!! HOT HOT DEAL!!!

 

[magomago]

Yosh!

2x win2kpro, 1x win98se, 1x Win95 that CAME with HP (just want to reaffirm that if we have a store bought PC with Windows that counts too...b/c if not then no win95 ) and 1x office97

93 dolla!

I love CA

If this is true then I got a new PSU!

 

[weepul]

lol, awesome, i have tons.

first packard bell came with win3.11 + works + win95 upgrade
second acer came with win95 + works
then a series of compaq/toshiba laptops w/ win98 and winme
now a laptop w/ winxp and a compaq desktop w/ winxp.

nice!

//krunk (^_^x)