See what’s in the Vista roadshow swag bag
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Microsoft Across America Launch Event goody bag and admission wristband
Microsoft Across America Launch Event goody bag and admission wristband
While reporters and VIPs attended Microsoft’s Time Square launch party, ordinary network admins, IT consultants, IT managers, and developers attended Microsoft Across America Launch Events held around the country. Several TechRepublic editors attended the event in Louisville, Kentucky. Here is what we walked away with.
Event admission wristband
Event admission wristband
Even attendees were given different color wristbands for each even track they were scheduled to attend. This blue band was for the IT Professionals track.
Now, I admire the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s efforts to fight cancer and their yellow wristband campaign. But, I really hate how popular this rubber wrist wear has become. Does Microsoft really think anyone will proudly wear this thing around the office?
Bag contents
Bag contents
According to CNET News.com, attendees of the Times Square party received a very nice bag filled with “Vista Ultimate, Office 2007 (Home and Student edition), an Xbox 360 controller and a Games for Windows title.”
Microsoft gave me a drawstring nylon sack, t-shirt, pen, note pad, some marketing material (always love that), and copy of Office 2007 Professional (sort of).
Not my size
Not my size
Microsoft must assume everyone wears and extra-large.
Microsoft logo pen and note pad
Microsoft logo pen and note pad
What, no Windows Tablet PC?
Wow, it glows in the dark!
Wow, it glows in the dark!
I’m sure this bright red glow will come in handy the next time I need to write in the dark.
Microsoft Office 2007 Professional and Groove Keys
Microsoft Office 2007 Professional and Groove Keys
Finally, this is the bag’s only real prize. This Launch 2007 Resource Kit includes product keys for Microsoft Office 2007 Professional and Groove. Each bag contained a special card, that you turned in after the event to receive this kit. Unfortunately, you have to download the software from Microsoft’s launch event Web site.
In my opinion, Microsoft showed very poor form giving members of the press and select VIPs Vista Ultimate and Office 2007, but not IT pros. IT professionals are the ones who use Microsoft products, support Microsoft products, and to a great extent, drive the acceptance of Microsoft products within their organizations. Why would Microsoft not want that audience to have Vista? Perhaps Ballmer and company are more concerned with selling Vista to the press than they are to IT pros?
