This is a pretty insignificant thread, I just felt like telling my story. I have been virtually M$ free for about two months now (my office has and will be using Windoze 2000 for the remainder of its existence). I, for whatever reason, realized recently that I was still using MSN as my "dial-up" ISP. (I don't download very much so stop laughing at my little connection) I naturally, and quickly, decided to rectify this hypocracy by switching to a "nearly free" dial-up ISP.
I called the beast to gracefully bail from my service. I had no long term contract so I figured this would be a pretty easy process. As I filtered myself through the "convenient" menu system on the customer service line, I realized that I was being lead to someone who is aware and prepared to deal with someone that is trying to cancel their service.
I don't want to waste your whole day telling this story so here is the dirt: I was offered two months credit ($44)US immediately placed back on my credit card and an additional two free months ($44)if I stayed with them. That's right, $88 to continue to let the beast massage me. I'm not stupid, and I, like most people, can always use $88 more than I have. But imagine the audacity. Is my loyalty (slavery) worth $88? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! The shakiness in the operators voice was worth $188. "What? You don't like M$?" Is it that hard for these people to believe that we are not and will never be sheep? Today, I am proud. I have faced the beast, and I ran like hell. And I shall fight again another day.

Did you cancel then? Honestly, I wouldn't have. If Bill came to my door, and said "If you will use my <fill in the blank everyday car> to drive to work everyday for free for the next 2 months, we will pay for your car for the last 2 months, and for the next 2 months." I would be like "sure".

Why not let MSFT sport the bill for your internet access, you owe them nothing in return right? Again, as was said in another thread on this site, "click on every MSFT add you see", let them pay for this site to stay open! Then in 2 months call up to cancel, if they want to give it to you free some more, guess what, it's free!

I don't have/never have had MSN internet access, so I don't know if there is an ad bar at the bottom of your screen, or anything like that, but if not, then I would say, let em!

Cool

Trust me C, I thought about it. But I didn't want to feel like I was being bought, especially by someone who would then capitolize by having more people subscribed to their service. (There is no other reason that they would be so willing to give up a little money in this area.) Like I said, the fact that to me it represents a shake up in the M$ world is worth $88. My freedom, as well as myself, is worth a lot more.

i think you did the right thing. why provide ms with at the very least, your viewing habits, given their penchant for making a buck in as many ways as possible, to say nothing of the other information retrieval options they may have at their disposal. call me paranoid, or whatever you like, but i'd just as soon pay for what i get and get what i pay for, no more, no less.

I still think I would have let MS pay for it. IF I went out to lunch, and the mall, and to see a movie, and just as I sat down to lunch, Bill walked up to me and said "Chad, we will pay you for your last 3 meals, the gas money to get here, for your lunch, and whatever else you do this afternoon, if we can just watch you do it." I would say, "Show me the money" (Austin Power's ripoff, not Jerry McGuire). I know that surfing and having BigBrother watching is a bit more, and I can totally see your point. But let Bill sport the bill!

Yes, I would probably be one of those 32 year olds still living with Mommy and Daddy if I hadn't joined up, especially with this mentality it would seem for sure. But screw it, this ain't milkin your parents till they die and you get their house, this is Bill Gates we are talking about. If he was robbed, I am sure that any Redmond cop who uses linux wouldn't give a rats A$$. Milk him till he is broke, and can't even afford the bandwidth to d/l an iso of a boot floppy!

Well now that I am off my soapbox, I guess I must say, good job cutting the cord finally and happily!

Does MS really provide a dial-up? Wow.. I'm learning a new thing every day. brangnutux, I'd agree and quit after 2 months.

There's no such thing as a free lunch - hah! take the two months. Then ask for more - but be ready to cancel in the end. C'serve got me like that a few years ago. I stayed for ages......should've grabbed the free time and ran.

I dont know... there is such thing as morals.

I personally could not let M$ keep me no matter what the cost, simply because I dont want them to think they have a customer. I want them to suffer a horrible loss of custoemr base.

And they would, after paying for someone to post on LQ for 4 months