Lenovo, like the rest of the PC industry, is set to make some news announcements when Microsoft launches Windows 7 on Oct. 22. But in the meantime, Lenovo is going viral with a free Windows 7 Professional license offer for channel partners. Here’s the scoop.
According to Jay McBain, director of SMB for Lenovo, the PC giant is offering 4,000 free copies of Windows 7 Professional to partners, through the Lenovo Partner Network Website. The offer requires registered Lenovo partners to complete a quick online training course. There’s also a link that allows non-Lenovo partners to register and participate in the offer.
McBain says the Sweepstakes and Training effort attempts to ensure Windows 7 has broad adoption among influencers, who can help to guide end-user system purchase decisions.
The VAR Guy and his blogger team will be back soon with more thoughts from McBain — including the five reasons Windows Vista struggled, and the steps Lenovo took to ensure Windows 7 didn’t suffer the same setbacks.
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Will they be supplying invoices to go with those “free” copies? Otherwise, when the BSA comes an-auditing, they will flag them as illegal copies (no proof of purchse) and demand payment.
Lawrence: The program is in partnership with MSFT so The VAR Guy suspects all is well. But just to be extra safe our resident blogger will check in with Lenovo for an answer on this Wednesday.
Bear in mind the BSA operates independently of the software companies that it’s supposed to be representing. So don’t assume “all is well” unless you have printed proof of purchase, explicitly listing the software in question, and with the actual name of the person/company receiving the software, not somebody else’s name. Otherwise they’ll make you pay.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20091015/0251156547.shtml
Lawrence: The Lenovo offer is a legitimate offer that includes the legitimate software license. No worries here.
Just so long as the paperwork is up to the required standards.
How do you go about getting the free copy of Windows 7? I signed up on their site. Watched a training video but I see nothing about how to obtain the Windows 7 copy.
Hi Harold: Please send The VAR Guy a private email (TheVARguy [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com) and our resident blogger will put you in touch with Lenovo. Thanks for reaading.
-TVG