Bradosaur

On MS's site, you can download VMs for use with an existing Virtualization Platform like Parallels or Virtual Box. The VMs are guest operating systems with limited trial time. MS's docs suggest you use your VM manager to roll back when time runs out.

With the USB key promo, you get a full license for parallels and a full license for Win8.

Yep, we plan to write a blog post all about it, and what we'll fix going forward.

Mostly what failed was outbound bandwidth. Users weren't getting the JSON response from the payment page, though sometimes the payments went through. Confirmation emails were very reliable, though, (thanks Amazon SES!).

MS may do another run of these, but we don't know. The other tools on modern.ie are genuinely useful too. We tested Swish using browserstack to resolve a thorny IE8 problem.

To be fair, the headaches today were our (Swish's) fault, not Microsoft's. If MS decides to run another set of these, we'll make sure we are better prepared.

Unless you mean the disabled "I'm a developer" button -- that was intentional and supposed to be fun.

Fortunately, it sold out before that became a problem.

We upped the number available by 10% after it sold out, but then it sold out again in a few minutes. It's sold out for good now, I promise.

We have international shipping too for this promo. Click the "International" button in the shopping card on the Shipping line. A Country field should pop up.

I'm pleased to see that slickdeals and fatwallet both have threads about this deal, but no one has spoiled the puzzle yet.

Create an account with the same email you checked out with.

We wanted to make checkout easy, but maybe went a little too far. I'll add some more language to the confirmation email explaining what's going on. Thanks for posting the solution.

Nope, you just have to solve a small easy "puzzle" to "prove" you're a developer.

When you list on Swish, you don't get the money until you deliver the product. Much like dealing with Target or Wal-Mart. If it never shows up, shoppers automatically get refunds after 1 year. This also really changes the incentives for creators... only list if you're sure it'll succeed.

Some creators need the money up front, but most don't. (Creating the prototype was comparably expensive, and they found a way.) Once you have the Purchase Order, it's a lot easier to get VC funding, a bank loan, or use friends/family/savings. If your project is very successful, you can deliver in batches and we will release your money accordingly.

One of the weird things about Kickstarter is that every product needs to explain why they need the money, even the ones that don't.