From: "Rich" 

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   OEM's support their own product as they have in the past.  I'm not =
aware of any change here from Microsoft.  I have no clue if any OEMs = have
changed.  I expect there is variation between OEMs as there was in = the
past.

Rich

  "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message =
news:45c7fcee{at}w3.nls.net...
  It's 90 days free for someone who purchases Vista retail. That doesn't =
include OEM support which means that the majority of Vista users will be =
at the mercy of the computer manufacturer they purchased the product =
from. In my opinion it's just a smokescreen for a rather hefty support =
increase=20

   The kb states that Office 2007 free 90 support starts the first time =
the customer contacts Microsoft support  and not with activation. That =
might prove interesting to see what happens after a customer has the =
product for a few years and finally decides to call=20

  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302878/en-us
  Question 5:  When does the 90-day support timeframe start?=20

  Answer 5:  Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) policy requires that =
products such as Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system be =
activated within 30 days of purchasing the product. For Windows Vista, =
the 90-day support timeframe will start when the customer activates the =
product. For the 2007 Microsoft Office system, the 90 days will be based =
upon the first time that the customer contacts Microsoft support


  "Rich"  wrote in message news:45c7f63d$1{at}w3.nls.net...
       Expanded probably refers to the following from =
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vista_supoffnew.

      Retail product support:  On January 30, 2007, Microsoft's support =
policy for new retail versions of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft = Office
system will change to support Microsoft customers within a 90-day =
timeframe at no charge. By enhancing Microsoft's support benefit =
available to consumers within a 90-day timeframe, we are welcoming =
customers to contact Microsoft as often as they need during this =
important time. Microsoft's existing support policy for Windows XP and =
prior versions of Office will not change.

    Customers previously could call only twice before being charged and =
can now call as often as they need for 90 days.

    Rich

      "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message =
news:45c7da0c$1{at}w3.nls.net...

      A reader tipped me to the change. When I asked Microsoft for =
comment, a=20
      spokeswoman provided me with the following statement:

        "Microsoft has expanded the pricing model for assisted support =
inquiries=20
      for consumers across all supported versions of Windows and Office =
products=20
      with the launch of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system. =
This=20
      change was timed in conjunction with the worldwide launch of =
Windows Vista=20
      and 2007 Microsoft Office system to retail customers."

      (This is a novel use of "expanded," I have to say. How about =
"upped the=20
      price"?)


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   OEM's
support their own =
product as=20
they have in the past.  I'm not aware of any change here from=20
Microsoft.  I have no clue if any OEMs have changed.  I
expect = there=20
is variation between OEMs as there was in the past.
 
Rich
 

  "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com
A>>=20
  wrote in message news:45c7fcee{at}w3.nls.net...
  It's 90 days free for someone who =
purchases Vista=20
  retail. That doesn't include OEM support which means that the majority =
of=20
  Vista users will be at the mercy of the computer manufacturer they =
purchased=20
  the product from. In my opinion it's just a smokescreen for a rather =
hefty=20
  support increase 
   
   The kb states that
Office 2007 =
free 90=20
  support starts the first time the customer contacts Microsoft =
support =20
  and not with activation. That might prove interesting to see what =
happens=20
  after a customer has the product for a few years and finally decides =
to=20
  call 
   
  http://support.micr" target="new">http://support.micr=">http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302878/en-us">http://support.micr=
osoft.com/kb/302878/en-us
  Question 5:  When does the 90-day
support timeframe=20
  start?=20
  Answer 5:  Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) policy =
requires that=20
  products such as Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system be =
activated=20
  within 30 days of purchasing the product. For Windows Vista, the =
90-day=20
  support timeframe will start when the customer activates the product. =
For the=20
  2007 Microsoft Office system, the 90 days will be based upon the first =
time=20
  that the customer contacts Microsoft support
   
   
  "Rich" <{at}> wrote in message news:45c7f63d$1{at}w3.nls.net...
  

      
Expanded probably =
refers to the=20
    following from http://support.m" target="new">http://support.m=">http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vista_supoffnew">http://support.m=
icrosoft.com/gp/vista_supoffnew.
     
    
      Retail product
support:  On January 30, =
2007,=20
      Microsoft=92s support policy for new retail versions of Windows =
Vista and=20
      2007 Microsoft Office system will change to support Microsoft =
customers=20
      within a 90-day timeframe at no charge. By enhancing =
Microsoft=92s=20
      support benefit available to consumers within a 90-day timeframe, =
we are=20
      welcoming customers to contact Microsoft as often as they need =
during this=20
      important time. Microsoft=92s existing support policy for =
Windows XP and=20
      prior versions of Office will not change.
     
    Customers previously could call =
only twice=20
    before being charged and can now call as often as they need for 90=20
    days.
     
    Rich
     
    
      "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com
A>>=20
      wrote in message news:45c7da0c$1{at}w3.nls.net...A=20
      reader tipped me to the change. When I asked Microsoft for =
comment, a=20
      spokeswoman provided me with the following =
statement: =20
      "Microsoft has expanded the pricing model for assisted support =
inquiries=20
      for consumers across all supported versions of Windows and =
Office=20
      products with the launch of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft =
Office=20
      system. This change was timed in conjunction with the =
worldwide launch=20
      of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system to retail=20
      customers."(This is a novel use of
"expanded," I have to =
say. How=20
      about "upped the=20
price"?)=


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