Windows 7 Launch Party
Microsoft offering free Windows 7 Ultimate and freebies to enthusiasts who have a launch party
Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, September 4, 2009 with story from ComputerWorld
Microsoft is trying to step up the excitement around the October 22, 2009 launch of Windows 7 by sponsoring Launch Parties.
Launch Party host have to apply to a special site ( in Canada and in the United States )
“You host the party. We’ll bring the favors,” Microsoft declared on the site calling for applications. House Party is a community-based site that helps people around the world host parties that are usually held on the same day and are focused on a corporate event or product launch. ComputerWorld
If accepted, the host gets one license to Windows 7 Ultimate plus a selection of freebies to hand out.
Hand outs follow these themes: PhotoPalooza, Media Mania, Setting up with Ease, and Family Friendly Fun.
“As an extra special party favor, hosts have a good chance of winning a PC worth $750!”
The promotion is being run in the USA, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Spain, UK, Australia, Japan, France, Germany, Hong Kong and India.
Other companies have used this in launching products.
“Microsoft isn’t the first company to ask enthusiasts to throw a geek-themed party in honor of a software launch. Fans of Mozilla’s Firefox browser were asked by the company to host download parties when it released Firefox 3 in June. The company hoped to set a Guinness World Record for the number of software downloads in 24 hours, and claimed to log more than 8 million.” ComputerWorld
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
The process involves an on-line application and the download of Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta. That’s logical since the host should have a computer that will run the software.
The report on my DELL XPS 630i came back clean which is interesting since the video card failed the RTM version of Windows 7. NVidia must have moved their drivers out of beta.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor report for DELL XPS 630i click for larger image
There is a legal agreement. You have to be 18 years of age or older. You have to invite 10 people, host it at your own cost and agree to share some feedback on their website – as in how did it go, pictures, etc.
Applicants will be told by September 17th, 2009 if they are approved and the party must be held between October 22nd and 29th, 2009.
Could be fun and what’s a party but fun, eh?
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