If selected for beta testing u get a free copy of MS office 2010. Not that I am a fan of MS products, but free sounds good...
chk it out a@
https://connect.microsoft.com/officecustomerstories
Rex.

This post can be edited by most users to provide up-to-date information about developments of this thread based on user responses, and user findings. Feel free to add, change or remove information shown here as it becomes available. This includes new coupons, rebates, ideas, thread summary, and similar items.

Once a Thread Wiki is added to a thread, "Create Wiki" button will disappear. If you would like to learn more about Thread Wiki feature, click here (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=530283).

7/27/09 - this deal is now DEAD
"Thanks for your interest in the Microsoft Real Life Stories program. The deadline for applications has passed, and we are no longer accepting applications."

Signed up, looks like a great opportunity to those who get in!!!

Just saw this posted,

http://lifehacker.com/5302034/test-office-2010-intensively-get-it-free



Microsoft has launched the "Office 2010 Real Life Stories program" on Microsoft Connect. The program is looking for home users, small businesses, and college students that use 5 PCs or fewer on a daily basis and are willing to test Office 2010 extensively. The Web versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel that come with Office 2010 will also be available for testing. For your chance to participate, you'll need to fill out a 13-question nomination survey. Although the program doesn't specify that it is US-only, it asks for a "State" in the survey, suggesting that it probably is. Deadline for submissions is June 30.

This isn't your typical Microsoft beta program; you'll be expected to commit a minimum of six months, use the Microsoft-provided "loaner" laptop for your daily business or personal tasks, participate in training, surveys, and calls, as well as agree to share your experience through marketing and public relations efforts. The last point is the important one: Microsoft says that can mean everything from being featured in case studies and videos to acting as a press reference or even just letting Microsoft use your testimonials about the software. Redmond will be using testers' experiences to figure out how consumers use Microsoft Office and how it impacts their daily routine.

In return for participating you'll receive the following:

* Microsoft Office 2010 pre-installed on a "loaner" laptop PC
* 24-hour unlimited e-mail support Monday through Friday, with phone support for escalations
* Monthly webcast training and Q&A sessions
* Community site access, so you can connect with other participants and easily use resources like feature videos and announcements
* Free copy of Microsoft Office 2010 (once it is available)

Whether that makes it worth it or not is up to you. If it's not, don't worry: the Office 2010 Technical Preview is set to begin next month anyway, so you'll be able to test an official build soon enough if you're in the "normal" beta program. For those that don't get into that beta, there's always the public beta build that is set to arrive this summer.

Microsoft confirmed in April that Office 2010 will be the first release of Microsoft Office to ship in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, possibly on one DVD. Screenshots of the alpha version of Office 2010 (then codenamed Office 14) leaked in January and a Technical Preview build leaked in May.

OH, here is the Ars Technica link as well:
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/get-office-2010-for-free-after-testing-it-extensively.ars

And the application to do this:

https://connect.microsoft.com/OfficeCustomerStories/Survey/Survey.aspx?SurveyID=8611

Cool post. I applied. Here's hoping I get in on it!!

lol...loaner laptops. I hope its not a netbook.

Wouldnt TechNet subscribers get a copy upon launch?

lol...loaner laptops. I hope its not a netbook.

Free is free.

Thanks OP I'm gonna give it a shot.

ehhh sounds interesting, although I hope google come out with their own office!

Applied, repped, and thumbed. Thanks

Free is free.

Thanks OP I'm gonna give it a shot.

Yeah, but you don't get to keep the laptop; just the software when it comes out. That's a lot of work for just software.

Yeah, but you don't get to keep the laptop; just the software when it comes out. That's a lot of work for just software.

Plus, I am sure that they are tracking EVERYTHING you do on the laptop. And it mentions that you HAVE to use the laptop for your daily activities.

Not so sure I want MS tracking everything I do. ;)

How do they make sure you actually do all the activities?

What's to stop you from keeping the laptop and walking away?

interesting...

Too much work and effort for this...rediculous to jump through MS's hoops like a money for a bit of candy

Plus, this is a repost...

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=185269&t=1417623

Thanks OP, just applied.

Thanks OP.

Say at the minimum we need to spend 30 minute per week day for 6 months, and they will be giving Office 10 for free which is worth approx. $300.
That is: 6 months x 20 days x 30 minutes = 60 hours for $300 = $5/hr
And it is a hot deal... LOL...

Say at the minimum we need to spend 30 minute per week day for 6 months, and they will be giving Office 10 for free which is worth approx. $300.
That is: 6 months x 20 days x 30 minutes = 60 hours for $300 = $5/hr
And it is a hot deal... LOL...

Good point. But I guess if you would be using it anyway....

Applied. We'll see what happens. Thanks!

Yeah, but you don't get to keep the laptop; just the software when it comes out. That's a lot of work for just software.

Yeah not to mention you don't really want to keep anything personal on that laptop because it'll eventually go back to MS..... I signed up still, hoping to get in, and have MS give up the laptop after 6 months :lmao:

How do they make sure you actually do all the activities?

What's to stop you from keeping the laptop and walking away?

That follow-up call (if you're selected) will no doubt include some security type of hold like a credit card just in care you don't return the laptop you would get charged etc.

Signed up, what the hell.

I've done Microsoft Usability Studies and it's always fun. Microsoft is a great company to work with...I don't mind doing my work activities on a loaner laptop. If I'm looking at porn (J/K), I'll use my desktop.

Plus, this is a repost...

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=185269&t=1417623


So??? You REALLY felt the need to play post police??? Seriously.....people like you need a life.

So??? You REALLY felt the need to play post police??? Seriously.....people like you need a life.

and you need to calm down

Too much work and effort for this...rediculous to jump through MS's hoops like a money for a bit of candy

and get a spellchecker

gave it a shot! thanks and repped!

Say at the minimum we need to spend 30 minute per week day for 6 months, and they will be giving Office 10 for free which is worth approx. $300.
That is: 6 months x 20 days x 30 minutes = 60 hours for $300 = $5/hr
And it is a hot deal... LOL...

You forget to mention that you get free use of a laptop for 6 months, and I doubt they would require 30 minutes a day (outside of your regular PC activities) anyways.

I spend more than 30 minutes a day just doing emails...and a little *bit* :lol: more than that doing other stuff...so I don't think any requirement they put in place will be hard for any of us to meet.

If people are looking at this as purely a money-making deal, they'd probably be better off getting a job...otherwise this is a great way to get much needed (and FREE) software for those of us that can't otherwise afford it. The laptop for 6 months ain't a bad deal either.

http://www.openoffice.org/

stop using M$ - they have enough money already.

Thanks OP.. Just signed up to give it a try..

way too much work for this ""freebie""

Plus, this is a repost...

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=185269&t=1417623

no need to clutter threads.. just mod-alert it and be done. simple as that.

http://www.openoffice.org/

stop using M$ - they have enough money already.

:rolleyes:

Sounds like a neat deal-signed up-thanks oP!

i agree..too much for the software

thanks

awesome work OP :) Repped for that!

Thanks for the info! Signed up.. Let's see what happens....

Sounds good to me, thanks!

if I get accepted, it will not be the computer I use for 4chan, demonoid, limewire, facebook, or myspace. I would use it for games, e-mail, forums, and other websites though.

Thanks repped ya

Great deal. If I actually get a loaner laptop and the software that will be sweet as shіt

Thanks, it would be fun to just play around with, and hey it's free!

looks like a nice oppertunity

Crossing my fingers. I love beta testing.

I don't quite understand why everybody is complaining about the amount of work. It sounds like you watch a couple of videos, and use a computer that happens to have office 2010 on it. Thats pretty much what I do now(minus office 2010) and nobody gives me 300 dollar software for it.

I did this YEARS ago and got Office 2000 Premium for free. Totally worth it.

danke applied

give it a try-what the heck

I got an email last week stating that I was selected for an interview. I had my telephone interview 30 minutes ago. The program sounds interesting; hopefully I'm selected.:gather:

I got an email last week stating that I was selected for an interview. I had my telephone interview 30 minutes ago. The program sounds interesting; hopefully I'm selected.:gather:

I hope you are too...hope I am too! :lol: Do you live near Microsoft? (oh just saw you are in NJ, guess it's not just local to MS)

Thanks OP, just applied. Thumbs up and repped!

I hope you are too...hope I am too! :lol: Do you live near Microsoft? (oh just saw you are in NJ, guess it's not just local to MS)


I hope you get in as well........ :groupwav: the people here at slickdeals rock :home:

Thank you!

Deadline was June 30th...still was able to submit my request..hope that counted! Thanks!

anyone hear back yet? They said they would start notifying the second week of july. and here we are! :bounce:

thanks

expireed

What kind of loaner laptop is it, dual core?

What kind of loaner laptop is it, dual core?

I don't think anybody knows the answer to that yet.

Someone got a phone interview... anyone else?

Nope, did not get anything from them. oh well!!

End date to sign up was June 30, 2009. You snooze, you lose!

But I applied prior to June 30th. Now I just want to know if they are still selecting people, or if I have already missed out.

End date to sign up was June 30, 2009. You snooze, you lose!

thanks

The FAQ's state that:

Q: When will you make your selections?
A: We will select our program participants by the 2nd week of July 2009.

So there is still a tiny bit of hope that maybe they'll call today!

damn, I just got the invitation by email


edit:
btw, I didn't have any interviews

damn, I just got the invitation by email


edit:
btw, I didn't have any interviews

Was the email's subject line:

1) Welcome to the Microsoft® Office Technical Preview!‏

Or

2) Microsoft’s Office 2010 Real Life Stories program

If it was the first one, then it's a different program and you won't be receiving a loaner laptop.

Just got the rejection email this morning:

"Thank you for your interest in the Microsoft® Office 2010 Real Life Stories Program. The program received an overwhelming number of applications from people all over the U.S. wishing to participate in the Real Life Stories Program. Unfortunately, we did not select you to participate in this initial phase of the program, however, we greatly appreciate your enthusiasm and may contact you about other opportunities with Microsoft Office in the coming months.

We’ll be sure to let you know when the Office 2010 beta software becomes publicly available so that you can try it out. In the meantime, please visit us on the web at http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/

Please note that this is an unmonitored alias and therefore we will not respond to e-mails that are sent to this e-mail alias. Thanks so much for your interest and support.

Regards,

The Microsoft Office 2010 Real Life Stories Team"

Rejected as well, same email as tribblegirl.

Me too, rejected. Oh well, I got in on the Technical Preview.

Rejected as well.

Another reject...

Me too, rejected. Oh well, I got in on the Technical Preview.

That's great that you got in on the technical preview. That must be for the smarter crowd :)

i didn't get a rejection email...maybe theres still hope?! :lol:



edit//got the rejection email as well :(

Rejected.