QFT. There were about 3 conflicting sides to the coin. What you quoted was not the only story given.

Gets confuing when 3 different people tell us three different things. who is to know what is true or not.

<rant>It sure looks like a lot of people are upset over such a little thing.  I suspect it's just the vocal minority, but here's a thought.

Why would anyone feel cheated because of a giveaway like this?  Does some random person getting something affect you somehow?  Did you not get value for money when you made your purchase?  Talk about a sense of entitlement. 

If you want the same chance of winning this machine as this random unknown does, just download Impulse under a new name and email and buy something.  Problem solved.  There's no guarantee though. You'll only have the same chance as anyone else.

You might also want to complain about some random person winning the lottery.  Sucks to be you, huh? </rant>

Other thoughts - Congrats to whomever wins the machine.  And congrats to Stardock for reaching this milestone.   

At last....the voice of reason....

Jafo posts some Karma points...

No, I don't. I wouldn't be a new customer. And you're actually condoning fraud by suggesting this.

Not at all the same thing, I can buy a lottery ticket too.

Someone will be getting a $4000 computer because I was one of 999'998 other people who bought something from impulse.... Yes, I think it's wrong, minority or not.

Aye but it makes be wonder, that that millionth customer might not want the computer, they might not even know that they're competing. Maybe they're an office user who wants windowblinds and has no need for a big gaming rig Better have a raffle

Not really.  Just use one of your other personalities.  

I'm not actually upset over anything, I just wanted clarification on who was eligible.  If I were eligible, I might consider buying Demigod right now instead of waiting, on the off chance I might win the PC.  If I didn't, no big whoop, as I still got something I wanted.  It was all about clarification to me.  Jafo says it was so clear but it wasn't.  3 different people said three different things.

I don't have a sense of entitlement in regards to this or anything else.  I simply wanted to clearly understand who was or was not eligible.  JAFO made the clearest answer and so I understand and consider the matter closed.

Speaking for myself, I do not feel I am entitled to anything.  I did get value for my money spent.  I was merely trying to convey the fact that you do not see existing customer appreciation too much anymore.  The appreciation goes to new or prospected customers.  But that is business.

Everyone will be fine and this will pass.  But a forum is in part for speaking your mind.

Well said, messiah1 and picardsm.  My rant wasn't directed at you.  It was just a general feeling that the thread seemed to be taking on.

For me, I already have a system virtually identical to the one mentioned.  Except mine's a lot slower.  And cheaper.  And not nearly as good.

I'm not upset either, just disappointed. I still think the products and people (at least the people I've been in contact with) are great, but the Stardock way to handle PR is horrible. I knew that before, this thing just enforced my opinion.

LMAO!  I think I have the same PC you are talking about...  It is lightning fast except when it is processing.

Just to make my point clear... Imagine sitting by your desk at work, and receive this PM:

"We just hired the 1000th employee in our company. We decided to give him $4000 to celebrate this occasion. Good job everyone."

Would you be HAPPY?

Actually, yes.  I'd feel real happy for that person and would suggest that they buy the wine at the inevitable lunch.  Or the company could do so.  Either way, I'm having a Merlot. 

Someone else's fortune doesn't take away from your own.  You make your own success and can make an opportunity out of an otherwise unrelated incident.  Worst case is that it doesn't affect you.  Best case is a new friend buying the drinks.

It's cool for a company to offer prizes like this. They do not have to.

I've been a registered user for a while now. I won't win but Stardock gives me so much on a regular basis so it's ok.

Way cool PC by the way.... Gimme gimme mine mine...  hehe

In this case, you'll most likely never even meet the guy though.

I just thought of something else... I'm not very productive and humane with my posts... I'm sorry about that. I'll not post more on this topic. Because in the end... "Ignorance is bliss". The end result of these posts can really only put people down...

I sometimes wish I didn't see things as clearly as I tend to do, and I sometimes wish I could see the other things more clear sooner than I tend to do.... Hmmm... I barely understand what I'm trying to say here myself...

No kidding.  In today's economy, if your company can hire someone new AND give them a signing bonus, you should be happy your company can afford to do it.  Look at the flip side, they could have fired you instead.  Be happy you have a job and don't worry about what someone else got that you didn't

This is why you don't see many companies doing giveaways much anymore.  No matter what, someone's going to throw a fit because they didn't/can't win.

That's not why. And I was looking at this from a strictly moral/ethical point of view. I don't really care if I can win or not, I just think the bulk of the prize is misdirected.

From Matthew 20:1–15:

¹ "For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; ⁴ and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. <sup>5</sup> Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. <sup>6</sup> And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' ⁷ They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' ⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' <sup>9</sup> And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. <sup>10</sup> Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. <sup>11</sup> And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, <sup>12</sup> saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' ¹³ But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'"

From a strictly moral/ethical point of view, it's Stardock's money and their decision on whatever they choose to do with it.  Giving something away doesn't sound immoral to me.  Nobody deserves the prize.  Not you, me nor the winner.  It's being given away, not earned.  That's the nature of a prize.

Like I said before... At the very worst, it doesn't affect you.  It makes as much impact on your life and mine as the choice of curtain color that my brother-in-law's friend's cousin picked out.