MS tempts users with free Office

Software Vendor to send choice of packages to customers who fill in three-hour product quality questionnaire.

Microsoft is giving away free software to users who fill in aill in three-hour product quality questionnaire. questionnaire as part of a scheme designed to test product quality.

The software giant explained it was conducting the survey to ascertain whether it is delivering the features that users want and that its product measures up to their expectations. The survey will be conducted by market research firm Griggs Anderson.

In return for filling in the detailed questionnaire - which Microsoft said would take about three hours to complete - users can choose to receive either Office 2000 or two other software products from a selection that includes Windows 98, Money 99 and Frontpage 98.

One observer estimated that the move was seen as an advantageous package for users, since Office 2000 is expected to cost about $799 when it is released.

Jeremy Gittens, marketing manager at Microsoft Office 2000, said the survey was targeted at US customers who can download the survey from the internet. However, he confirmed that any non-US customers who accessed the survey on the internet and filled it in would also be entitled to the free software.

'The Web is worldwide,' he said. 'If somebody outside the US does complete the survey, we will deliver the software. The bigger the sample, the more meaningful the results. If we get it right, it's worth every free copy of Office 2000 we give away.'

One reseller said: 'The industry does need to up its standards before releasing bug-ridden product. Too many packages have been released that should never have made their way to corporates. It gives developers a bad name. I am slightly concerned that UK users are able to access this site and I hope Microsoft polices it well.'