free galileo board from MS

[Target]

cross posted from https://www.donation....msg358887#msg358887

[wraith808]

but wait, there's more - free galileo board from MS

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/151720

From other thread, as it seems this would probably be a good place to discuss and to cut down on clicking

[wraith808]

I received the e-mail pretty quickly, sending me to a site to fill in more information.  The landing page for both at the end were the same, though.

[Vurbal]

This is actually the board that has me the most excited due to Intel's inclusion of PCIe. Not worth the price to buy, but too good to pass up for free.

[Edvard]

So, what's the catch?  Are you required to do something with it and the tools provided, to be sent to Microsoft for approval?  Or can you just get it and tinker away, possibly trying to boot something other than Windows on it?  I'd sign up, but oh, the paranoia.

[Target]

you know as much as the rest of us I'm guessing...

[Ath]

They might start twisting my arm once I receive the board, but until now there's no persuasion in any direction other than to start develop anything with it

[Deozaan]

Are they actually sending a board? All I see mentioned is an SDK. Is it just software for the board?

So, what's the catch?

-Edvard (July 08, 2014, 01:18 AM)

https://www.windowso...evices.com/EULA.aspx

[4wd]

Are they actually sending a board? All I see mentioned is an SDK. Is it just software for the board?

-Deozaan (July 08, 2014, 01:44 AM)

Also questioned in the OzB comments, nowhere did/does it say you receive any hardware.

And, while I thought I might sign up on the off chance ... two attempts, two different email addresses ... two lots of SFA in reply.

[mwb1100]

two lots of SFA in reply.

-4wd (July 08, 2014, 04:54 AM)

What's "SFA"?

[4wd]

Sweet Fanny Adams^w is the clean version, Sweet F*** All is the more generic term.

[Deozaan]

Are they actually sending a board? All I see mentioned is an SDK. Is it just software for the board?

-Deozaan (July 08, 2014, 01:44 AM)

Also questioned in the OzB comments, nowhere did/does it say you receive any hardware.

-4wd (July 08, 2014, 04:54 AM)

It does say something about sending a kit and software, but I still couldn't tell if the kit was the board or something else.

[4wd]

It's sufficiently vague in what it says that I suspect no hardware is forthcoming, ie.

Pre-submit:

We’ll provide samples and documentation and we’ll show you how to create your own fun projects ...

This is in reference to the SDK/software.

Post-submit, the wording was along the lines of, (IIRC): "... we'll let you know when your kit has shipped ..."

Still sufficiently vague as it could be just a CD/DVD with requisite documentation/software.

Be that as it may, since I can't get the followup email maybe I'm just skeptical.  

[techidave]

I filled out the form to get one but haven't rec'd any notification yet.  Nor did it ask for a mailing address.   

[wraith808]

I filled out the form to get one but haven't rec'd any notification yet.  Nor did it ask for a mailing address.   

-techidave (July 09, 2014, 04:52 AM)

I did receive the second e-mail- just as a counter example that it does exist.  Maybe they're just overloaded at this point.

[Target]

I can confirm that I also received confirmation emails for both stages of the process.

we'll have to wait and see what, if anything, actually comes in the post

[Deozaan]

It's sufficiently vague in what it says that I suspect no hardware is forthcoming, ie.

Pre-submit:

We’ll provide samples and documentation and we’ll show you how to create your own fun projects ...

This is in reference to the SDK/software.

Post-submit, the wording was along the lines of, (IIRC): "... we'll let you know when your kit has shipped ..."

Still sufficiently vague as it could be just a CD/DVD with requisite documentation/software.

Be that as it may, since I can't get the followup email maybe I'm just skeptical.  

-4wd (July 09, 2014, 03:32 AM)

The post-submit email said essentially the same thing:

Thank you for signing up for the Windows Developer Program for IoT.  We’ll let you know when your kit has shipped.
 
Thank you,

Microsoft IoT Team

Also, the Internet of Things (IoT)? Is that in any way related to this?



Is Microsoft just trolling us all?

[techidave]

I did get the email yesterday.

[Deozaan]

If you're still waiting to hear about your free board from MS, you can stop holding your breath. You're not getting one.

Here's an excerpt from an email I just received from Microsoft (emphasis added):

While we are continuing our program, we have finished allocating all the Intel Galileo boards that we purchased. If you were allocated a kit then you should have received either a tracking number or an email saying a kit was allocated to you. If you haven’t received either of those two emails you will still be able to participate in the Windows Developer Program for IoT using a retail board.