Free “Dream PC for Life” Sweepstakes

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 27, 2001 — Can’t wait to get your new PC with the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system? Microsoft Corp. and Sony® Corp. are holding a sweepstakes in which a few lucky winners will receive a Sony VAIO PC with Windows XP and a new Sony PC or its equivalent price every three years for 33 years.* Millions of people can’t wait until the Oct. 25 launch of the Windows XP operating system to buy a new PC with Windows XP that unlocks the full potential of personal computing and enables them to do amazing things with digital photography, music, video and more. But a lucky few will get that computing experience without paying a single penny.

Microsoft and Sony today announced their monthlong Dream PC for Life sweepstakes, an unprecedented event that will give 52 winners a state-of-the-art PC or its equivalent every three years for 36 years. The prize will be awarded as follows: Each winner will initially receive a fully equipped VAIO® PC with Windows XP. Three years after their initial award, they will receive a new Sony VAIO PC. Three years after that, they’ll begin receiving a $1,500 PC Purchase Allowance to be used toward the purchase of a new Sony PC every three years for a total of 10 Allowances awarded over 30 years.

“Windows XP and the VAIO PC add up to an incredible digital entertainment experience,”
said Chris Jones, vice president of Windows at Microsoft.
“The VAIO PC with Windows XP is a state-of-the-art home entertainment center, gaming center, digital film studio and more. For millions of people, this will be the computing experience they’ve always wanted. And for 52 lucky people, it will be free.”

“The VAIO PC with Windows XP is the hands-down ultimate computing experience,”
said Mark Hanson, vice president and general manager of VAIO marketing at Sony.
“We’ve teamed up with Microsoft to make it easy to create, download, personalize, store and share the universe of digital media — photography, video, CD-quality audio, 3-D games and more.”

Winners will initially receive one of four prize bundles featuring a suite of Sony VAIO PCs and various Sony digital devices:

  • Wireless system. Sony VAIO R505 SuperSlim Pro™ notebook, complementary SlimDock™
    mobile docking solution, Go America modem and one year of Go America wireless communications service

  • Music system. Sony C1 PictureBook™ ultra-light mobile PC with built-in digital camera and a NW-MS9 Memory Stick® Walkman

  • Digital photo system. Sony VAIO RX Digital Studio series (PCV-RX540) desktop PC and DSC-P50 digital still camera

  • Digital video system. Sony VAIO RX Digital Studio series (PCV-RX540) and DCR-TRV17 digital camcorder

Consumers who want to enter should visit the main sweepstakes Web site at http://www.dreampcforlife.com/ , where 50 of the 52 winners will be chosen. Contestants will need to complete the sweepstakes registration form, including three simple questions about their PC use. In addition, two remaining winners will be chosen by entering at the following participating retailer Web sites: http://www.windowsxppromo.com/officedepot/ ; http://www.windowsxppromo.com/compusa/ ; http://www.windowsxppromo.com/bestbuy/ ; http://www.windowsxppromo.com/circuitcity/ ; http://www.windowsxppromo.com/staples/ ; and http://www.windowsxppromo.com/officemax/ . All 52 winners of the Sony VAIO PCs with Windows XP will be announced on Oct. 22.

Sony VAIO PCs are designed to provide Video Audio Integrated Operation and offer superior digital device connectivity with the incorporation of i.LINK® and USB interfaces, Memory Stick media slot and more, along with the best creative software tools designed to maximize digital content, including exclusive MovieShaker™ , PictureGear™ , DVgate™ , Smart Capture and VisualFlow™
applications.

Windows XP, the new standard for efficient, dependable computing, gives users the freedom to experience the digital world. It builds on the momentum of the Internet and digital media with improvements that increase productivity and provide both business and home users with an easy-to-use and exciting PC experience. Windows XP puts the exciting experiences of the digital age at users’ fingertips by uniting PCs, devices and services, and brings the solid foundation of Windows 2000 to home PC users, with enhanced reliability, security and performance.

The sweepstakes PCs also come with Microsoft Office XP, the latest edition of the world’s most popular productivity suite for personal and business productivity. Microsoft Office helps people complete common business tasks, including word processing, e-mail, presentations, data management and analysis. The newest version, Office XP — with features including smart tags, task panes, integrated e-mail, document recovery and send for review — can help people work smarter, faster and more productively.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

* No purchase necessary. Game ends Oct. 22, 2001. Open to legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older. See site for full rules.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

For online information:

Visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ .

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages .

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