The story begins few days ago when Microsoft started to give away free next-generation OS – Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 on one of their web site powertogether.com. The main target group of the web site supposes to be business viewers. A free copy of Vista or Office 2007 will be given out to users to fulfill the minimum requirement of watching 3 of the videos. But in the end, it ended up the news spreading so fast throughout the internet. Not only business group, all the people knowing the news would rush to get their own free genuine copy of Vista.

CNET reported that there will be 30,000 copies will be given out. But the “gift” doesn’t really mean free, because people who getting the copies will need to fill up the IRA tax form and eventually the money will end up going to the country.

“Since the combined retail value of the products is above $600 retail for developers who chose to participate in both offers, the IRS requires Microsoft to have the developers send back a signed W9 form before they receive the second item,” a Microsoft representative said.

Thus, if miss out this freebies, you could only get yours until next January.