Posted by Bob Maynard on January 31, 2015 at 12:41 PM
Thanks, Bob!
Posted by Howard Cihak on January 31, 2015 at 4:16 PM
Sorry to rain on the parade, but you need to be VERY careful with this. The offer doesn't come from Google. It comes from a multi-advertiser site that asks you, through a deceptive series of windows, whether you also want several different unrelated "free" software items. These are often the doorway to all sorts of adware, spyware, and malware most computer users would prefer to avoid.
What happens if you decline all of these ostensibly "free" offers? Why, Google Earth Pro won't download.
I'm afraid Howard is right - I fell for something similar last year, and was stupid enough to accept ONE of the other offers (of about 20) and by the next day, the computer was completely frozen with spyware and viruses. cost close to $300 for the computer guy to remove and fix it all.
BEWARE!! Really ratty people sitting up nights trying to find new ways to screw computer users.
Sandy
Posted by Bob Falcone on January 31, 2015 at 10:15 PM
Howard and Sandy, I had NONE of that...I have NO idea what link you were clicking on, but this is the one I used and it worked just fine: https://geoauth.google.com/gev0/free_trial.html
It goes straight to google. I had no pop-ups or anything of the sort.
Posted by Doug Beezley on February 1, 2015 at 12:04 AM
PC Magazine and Gizmodo both have articles saying it's free. And, like Bob says, the link takes you straight to Google. But, always good to be cautious and double check these. Thanks, Bob.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
Posted by Howard Cihak on February 1, 2015 at 1:06 AM
Well, I just tried it, and got an error message stating there was some sort of malfunction. Perhaps it would help if someone would at least explain WHY Google would suddenly, and very quietly, make a $400 software product free for the asking.
Posted by Bob Falcone on February 1, 2015 at 2:16 AM
Howard, I got that message, too. Had to keep trying...my guess is they got over-loaded with requests. As to why...who knows? I'm happy to have it.
Posted by Doug Beezley on February 2, 2015 at 12:44 AM
Anyone still doubting should do the obvious: go to Google.com, type "google earth pro" into the search box and then select the first item. It's a message from Stafford Marquardt, Product Manager, Google Earth Pro inviting you to download Google Earth Pro for free.
Discussion
8 repliesWhat happens if you decline all of these ostensibly "free" offers? Why, Google Earth Pro won't download.
Be careful! Be VERY careful!
BEWARE!! Really ratty people sitting up nights trying to find new ways to screw computer users.
Sandy
It goes straight to google. I had no pop-ups or anything of the sort.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
Thanks, Bob.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA