Microsoft Across America Launch Event

[JDMnAR1]

They aren't having one here locally, so I am contemplating attending one elsewhere. The nearest one is about 2.5 - 3 hours drive from here, and I was hoping to get some feedback from someone who has already attended the event to see if it is worthwhile. I fully expect the usual mix of marketing fluff and high level technical review, but am curious as to what the freebies are. If it is anything like the SQL Server 2005 launch goodies, it would be worth it just for the free exam voucher.

Launch Event signup

 

[Danman]

Hmm, I would like to know too. Maybe a free copy of Vista or Office?! There's one here in Orlando I'll go to if there are any freebies.

 

[JDMnAR1]

There will be freebies, and raffle prizes, just a matter of if the freebies are worth the drive.

 

[FoBoT]

to launch what?

 

[JDMnAR1]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
to launch what?

Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007.

 

[Descartes]

<selfPromotion>I presented at the '02 launch.</selfPromotion>

I'm not going to this one most likely...

 

[JDMnAR1]

Originally posted by: Descartes
<selfPromotion>I presented at the '02 launch.</selfPromotion>

I'm not going to this one most likely...

What did you present, and were you at the one in Little Rock? Maybe I saw you.

 

[TruePaige]

Is it a vista event? Seems likely.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I'm registered for the events in Indy on Jan. 16th, which seem to be some of the earliest in the country. Will report back in two weeks, hehe.

 

[eLiTeGoodGuy]

Sweet I registered for two Ready for a new Day Launch Tour on Jan 30. and the Microsoft Across America Launch tour on 2/22

In the past Microsoft has always given out the full NFR versions of their products. I've gotten Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro, Office 2000, and Office XP in this way. Of course this may be different with Vista I dunno. We'll see on Jan 16 as someone else here seems to be going

 

[eLiTeGoodGuy]

There may be one. This was written at the bottom of the PDF on the main page
"Giveaway: Limit one of each giveaway per registered attendee, per day, while supplies last. Giveaways must be claimed on-site at the end of the event."

Doesn't say what the giveaway is though

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1

Originally posted by: Descartes
<selfPromotion>I presented at the '02 launch.</selfPromotion>

I'm not going to this one most likely...

What did you present, and were you at the one in Little Rock? Maybe I saw you.

Tulsa and Dallas. I was giving a discussion on user groups. At the time they were a relatively new phenomenon with the .NET world, so we were eliciting interest.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I just got back from the morning small business presentation in Indianapolis. It was basically a whirlwind tour of many of the 'new exciting features that will increase productivity' in Office 2007, Vista, & Accounting 2007. I learned a lot about Office 2007's various features (there are many in Excel especially that will be very useful for me), but not much about Vista (since I've been using various releases of it for a while now), and didn't pay much attention to the Accounting part aside from its new integrated eBay & PayPal features (which should save me some time). The speaker was better than competent, the self-deprecating humor about some of the previous Microsoft OSs was amusing.

The freebie bag contained a light-up pen (mine doesn't work!), a pad of paper, a black Microsoft "Ready for a New Day" launch tshirt, some informational flyers, two 30% off Microsoft certification exam vouchers (no free vouchers this time - but it looks like anyone can get the discount by going to www.microsoft.com/learning/launch), and the resource kit with the resource CD, a link to download Office 2007 Pro, and a full-version key.

There were also a slew of vendors with drawings for a Zune & various Microsoft products.

If you don't know much about the new software & OS, it'd be worth your while to go. If you do, then it's probably not worth your time, unless you just want Office 2007 Pro free.

Edit: If anyone wants the link & key for Groove 2007, just PM me.
Edit: GONE!

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Descartes
<selfPromotion>I presented at the '02 launch.</selfPromotion>

I'm not going to this one most likely...

Why, did you blow it?