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Steve Ballmer Directing "House Party 7"
theodp writes "What are you doing on Oct. 22? Microsoft is putting a Tupperware-style twist on the upcoming Windows 7 rollout, launching a new initiative to encourage thousands of employees, partners and technology enthusiasts to throw parties in their homes and communities to demonstrate and help spread the word about its new OS. People accepted as official launch party hosts will get their own copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, and a chance to win a computer. Host spaces are very limited, so apply now, kids. Hey, what could possibly go wrong?"
You have to be pretty nerdy to consider installing windows on 15-20 of your closest friends laptops a "party."
More like pretty sadistic
aka "good way to lose 15-20 friends"?
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
Geeze, it's an OPERATING SYSTEM. A minor update on Vista. What does he think he's selling?
I'm using the beta, (which is working rather well -- imagine my surprise) and it occurs to me that I'm being asked to pay $200 to $300 (depending on version) for what is essentially an improved TCP stack and a new bunch of drivers. Throw a party? I don't see why they even designed a new box.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
You know, it just occurred to me. Since so many LAN parties turn into Pirate Fests (dude!! you've got the latest (insert_game_or_movie_name_here), I suspect Microsoft is.. well... late to the party on this one.
I'm sure there is, at this very moment, a solid handful of LAN parties where cracked Windows 7 installs are happening.
And I'm sure the host of THOSE parties is receiving a full copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. OK, "full" except the install disc, and artwork, and a shiny hologram logo, and DRM...
Still, kudos to Microsoft for being inventive in their marketing.
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
As a geek, I'm probably more excited about an OS release then most (although I couldn't care less about Windows), but since when is an OS release a party-worthy occasion? I can see if I was on the development team, but for everyone else?
Mac: I'm a Mac
PC: And I'm a PC. Looks like I've got you beat this time. People all over America will be having a party for my new Operating System!
Mac: Wow, Congrats. That's really exciting. So are people going to be exposed to your new product while having fun at the same time.
PC: Well... Not really...
Mac: No? What are you....
PC: You see only the people who really care about Windows 7 will be hosting it... and they only get 1 CD to show all of their friends why they should buy Windows 7...
Mac: Oh, well, whats wrong with that? Wouldn't that mean more people will be buying Windows 7?
PC: The only friends Windows 7 enthusiasts have are other Windows 7 enthusiasts...
He'll be the chairman, correct?
Nah, they're throwing parties, not chairs.
I wonder, though. When I first read this, and the "grass roots" (okay, astroturf) focus, my first thought was, "They must be REALLY desperate to make this one work." It just smacks of fear of it not selling unless they can convince people to buy it and get a buzz going.
Duck when the music stops...
"We live in a global world" - Harvey Pitt, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman
[Relax, it's just a joke. Linux is my main OS.]
This is like making a racist joke and then saying "Relax, I am of the same race..." and expecting that being of the same genre that you mocked makes it okay. Its amazing how that works.
And yet it does work, if you go by people's reactions. I didn't design humans, I just work with what's given to me.
No, this is like making a joke and let everyone know he didn't want to Troll, but he really wanted to make us lough.
As for racist, wtf dude?
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
When Windows 95 was released, there really was a whole bunch of crazy hoopla. Stores were having midnight sales, where they would open at midnight just to sell Windows 95 as soon as they were legally permitted. People were standing in lines outside the stores. (Heck, I read in the newspaper that one guy stood in the line and bought Windows 95, without even owning a computer. He just wanted to join in the hoopla!)
When I read this, my first thought was: they are trying to gin up the Windows 95 excitement again. And my second thought was: good luck with that. The world is a different place now; Windows 7 looks like a nice upgrade to Windows, but it's really hard to imagine people getting really excited about it. And many of the people who could potentially get excited by the improvements in Windows 7 have been running Mac OS X for years now. I predict the hoped-for tidal wave of excitement won't materialize.
You know, though, I have friends who work at Microsoft. If they can get some free goodies by having a "Windows 7" party, and if they invite me, I'll go. Any excuse for a party with my friends is good enough for me. I'll still run Linux on most of my computers, just like I do now, but why wouldn't I go to a party? (In addition to the whole computer thing, we could watch movies! An obvious choice: Se7en.)
steveha
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
Shit, if it's going to be that kind of a party...I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes.
I'll upgrade/downgrade when they have a version without the ridiculous dumbing down of the 'launch' menu and the windows explorer with no opt-out. I tried it and it is impossible, it takes a whole bunch more clicks on non-obvious buttons to get anywhere, and when you just want to see drives and directories, they have idiot icons. Every version of Windows since 95 has had more 'idiot' features to turn off. Even making XP useable is to turn off themes, classic start menu, classic folder view, unhide system folders and put it on detalied view, turn off simple file sharing, security center, firewall, redonkulous services for idiots (uPNP, system restore, firewall service, zero config wireless, web publishing, etc). Install tweakUI and disable animated doggy idiot search, change the IE cache to something less than 100gb, etc.Then the real hacking starts, turn off the 'zip for dummies', image shell extensions, etc. Then after several update reboot cycles, remove the crapware they install in Firefox without your consent. Vista took this to extremes with it's idiot's control panel and useless UI control - and with it's nanny need for signed drivers thanks to DRM, it is Windows ME for the 2000's. Just like Vista, you'll be buying it whether you like it or not though. So many paid-for Vista's have been immediately wiped, it's near criminal to have a monopoly forced it onto computers in the first place.
Now they truly have made an OS for idiots, that only idiots can use.
I applied too.
I have people over for BBQs, dinners, Rock Band, etc. anyway. If they want to give me Windows 7, and want me to have a computer sitting out at a party- then no problem. Yes, I will even use the decorations they send me- why not?
This actually isn't a bad way to get people to see Windows 7. Heck, I even signed up for the Betty Crocker cookie party while I was at it. (Waitlist only) Sounds like fun to me.
That's the point. The whole thing sounds like fun. So I tell my friends; "Hey, this is the geekiest thing ever...but come over for a Windows 7 party. I'll be cooking and we'll have margaritas." Microsoft gets a little more exposure, I get Windows 7, my friends get some food and drink. We all win.
No reason to lie.
So what Apple is charging $29.99 for in Snow Leopard (and people still complain it's a "Service Pack"), Windows users get to pay full price?
Anyone who would live anywhere with a "neighborhood association" deserves what he gets.
Isn't this the way the Roman Empire fell? Lots of partying while the barbarians were pounding on the gates. Gates?
You mean the one I have been using for a year now?
Works great!
No reason to lie.
Except that an ubuntu install takes 10 minutes, then you can frag each other in ioquake3 for the rest of the night. A windows install fest would be everyone bashing their heads against the desks searching for video card drivers :P
HAHA linux finally has driver support high enough above windows to make jokes at windows! BWAHAHAHAHAAH!
Something weird happened - after 15 years of OS twiddling, I got sick of it and decided life is too short. My limited time is better spent playing with my kids or studying science or backpacking, not peculiarities of the latest minor revision of some software package. But unfortunately I am still addicted to the power and control of highly configurable software :/
No, but that does bring an idea to mind. How about a bunch of people install Windows 7 on computers, which should take about an hour, then spend the rest of the night getting drunk and finding new exploits?
You could even have a door prize for the person accumulates the most.
The rules would be simple, install Windows 7 and follow the default prompts, then see how well you can penetrate. The browser used will be internet explorer, and you are allowed to direct the computer to a website to exploit it.
To give it some measure of security, also install a trial copy of norton internet security on it.
Now, All anyone has to do is market the idea of grassroots hacker parties. I am sure Microsoft would love it.
who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
I applied as well, im going to have 2 cakes there for comedy relief(since of course hosting a party like this is ENTIRELY about just getting free crap.), since i use linux, ill just get a blue screen cake, and a pirate bay cake, install win7 on a shitty computer just to satisfy the terms and conditions.....then have a bbq and drink and watch a few movies or something.
-Noc
throw a house party for Windows 7 and invite all of your friends.
Then when they do use Windows 7 and it doesn't live up to the hype and won't run their old games and old software and is annoying with security features and crashes and blue screens of death.
Why don't people throw Linux parties instead? Pass out free CDRs and DVDRs of popular Linux distros. At least that way you get a free operating system and don't have to pay anything for it.
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I'm sorry, but I can't see throwing any party themed around some shit product.
Throwing a party to get together with friends is fine
but to host a party to market M$ windoz? Get a life!
"Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself." Mark Twain
Since when are nerds good party hosts?! Most of my comp-jockey friends get so nervous making public speeches the end up sounding like Beavis on meth!
War as we knew it was obsolete
Nothing could beat complete denial
- Emily Haines
I'm with you, I'm already using it and recommending it. Since most my friends call me for tech support anyway, they'd show up at a BYOB party to hear me point out some things that they'll want to know on the OS that they're gonna end up getting with new machines anyway. I'll bring the pizza and show you some reasons why 7 doesn't blow like Vista did and we'll all get drunk.
Helsinki syndrome?