Let your inner geek loose: Windows 7 parties start this week |
Register here for our next TechFlash Live networking event, March 23, featuring an expert panel discussing the future of online advertising.
Let your inner geek loose: Windows 7 parties start this week
Planning a party for your friends and neighbors to learn about Windows 7, but not sure how to decorate or entertain the guests? Never fear. Microsoft has begun sending party packs -- complete with posters, tote bags, playing cards, Microsoft trivia questions and more -- to party hosts around the globe.
A throw back to the Tupperware parties of yesteryear, the Windows 7 party concept has to be one of the strangest marketing efforts (some say dumbest) in recent tech history. Microsoft has already taken tons of flack about it, and this corny video certainly didn't help matters. But the idea is so odd, it might even work.
The Windows 7 parties actually begin tomorrow when Microsoft employees start hosting their own gatherings at homes, clubs and other venues. We're aware of at least one shin dig planned for Thursday night in Bellevue, and we know other Microsofties who were considering hosting them too.
Apparently, Microsoft is not funding any of the employee-led parties, but they are providing the posters, streamers, balloons and -- of course -- a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. The company expects employees in the U.K, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Italy and India to host parties.
Then, beginning October 22, non-Microsoft employees who applied to be party hosts get their shot. What's going to happen at these parties?
In addition to learning the ins and outs of the new operating system, guests can participate in a Microsoft trivia quiz where -- according to the party pack -- people can try to answer true or false questions such as: “Microsoft is short for microcomputer software" or "Microsoft is exploring building an elevator to space."
Windows 7 officially launches on October 22nd, with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hosting an event in New York.
Are you going to a Windows 7 party?
Based on some of the posters, they sure look like fun.
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Seattle University Software Engineering
Chinwe Okeke (MSE’08) pursued her graduate degree while working as a developer and technical analyst for the Boeing Company. She picked the SU-MSE program for small class sizes and real world learning opportunities offered through the academic service-learning and capstone projects.
The MSE program at Seattle University is geared for working professionals with classes offered in the evenings. The program builds upon the computing experience of its students and offers courses in a variety of technical and management areas of software engineering, with an emphasis on teamwork and a disciplined approach to problem solving.
Marchex is one of Seattle’s largest ad technology companies with 300+ employees providing call and click based performance marketing products, and managing over $100m in ad budget for tens of thousands of advertisers. Our customers range from local businesses to the Fortune 500.
Our talented and creative product engineering group is hiring.
If you are an innovative software design engineer interested in solving difficult problems at scale, across a wide array of technologies from Lucene to Hadoop to Asterisk and SIP then we’d love to hear from you!
Apply now.
Technology Tax Planning – Did You Take The Deduction?
Technology companies require professional advisors who can assist in all aspects of the business. The BDO Technology Practice provides a full range of services tailored to help address the changing needs of domestic and international companies. In addition to core audit and tax services, BDO professionals can assist technology companies with:
· Revenue recognition
· Business combination accounting
· R&D tax credits
· Compensation and benefits
· Business valuations
Backed by 38 national offices and an international network in 110 countries, we have the domestic and global footprint to serve growing technology companies. Contact sphilpott@bdo.com (audit partner), mreeves@bdo.com (audit partner), psmith@bdo.com (tax partner), tzambito@bdovaluation.us.com (valuation), tfiscus@bdo.com, Director, 206.624.2020
Job Listings
- Software Development Engineer - Display Advertising
- Business Services Company
- Director Enterprise Architecture - IT
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Senior Program Manager - External - 713665
- Microsoft Corporation
- Quality Improvement Specialist
- HCR ManorCare
- Senior Software Development Engineer - eXtreme Computing Group - 708427
- Microsoft Corporation
