Microsoft To Give Away 30,000 Copies Of Vista, Office 2007Microsoft To Give Away 30,000 Copies Of Vista, Office 2007

A new Microsoft Web site targeting Windows Vista and Office 2007 developers will give away 30,000 copies of the new operating system and application suite to users who register for at least three Webcast training sessions.

The Power Together site, says a Microsoft spokesperson, aims to spread the word about Vista and Office 2007; both launched Thursday to business customers at a New York event hosted by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

"The site was designed for software developers and architects to provide them with the tools and training they'll need to take advantage of the new features on the 2007 Office system and Windows Vista," the spokesperson says.

To qualify for the free copies of Vista Business and/or Office Professional 2007, developers must complete three or more of the Web-based training sessions for each product. The fine print also limits the offer to residents of the United States and bars employees of companies that already participate in the Microsoft Partner Program or the Microsoft Developer Network.

Most of the Webcasts are on-demand, but a smattering are live events.

The Power Together site went live Wednesday night; as of Thursday morning, it was running sluggishly.