Free netbooks for 2,300 Microsoft conference goers

Take that, Google: In one of its boldest bids yet to push Windows 7’s netbook-friendliness, the 2,300 who attend the Gold Coast leg of Microsoft’s TechEd event will each go away with a free HP Mini 2140 (pictured)- which sells for around $950. As for the Auckland leg of TechEd ...

... it’s a “no”. While the Aussies are splurging on a $2 million hardware giveaway, Microsoft New Zealand’s Scott Wylie explains:

“Microsoft TechEd’s are held around the world, but are independent events in each country. We took the approach that in tough times our first priority was to keep ticket prices as low as possible (we’ve reduced the individual price this year) - while maintaining the TechEd experience people have come to expect from the event.” Tickets cost $1800 per delegate for the three-day geek-fest, typically attended by more than 2000 IT professionals.

At the Australian TechEd - for which tickets cost $A1999 - delegates will be encouraged to use their netbook straightaway, the better to live demo Windows 7’s networking ability.

Attendees can also expect a preview of the new version of Office, which will be able to run editable versions of Word and Excel files inside a web browser; an in-depth look at Windows 7’s Virtual XP mode; and the chance to participate in a huge Photosyth 3D collage.

HP is the world’s largest PC maker, and while its HP Mini 2140 netbook runs Windows XP, the US giant is still weighing its future options, with a Google Android models under development for possible release later this year.

Acer has already confirmed it will release a netbook that runs on Google Android rather than Windows. Dell is running trials. Last night, Google said it was also developing a Windows alternative, the ChromeOS.

Windows 7 is due to be released on October 23, although a free upgrade programme is already underway for people who buy PC’s today.

Although Microsoft’s new OS is available in a welter of editions, from Starter to Ultimate, and flavour of Windows 7 runs fine on a netbook with the classic 1GHz processor/1GB of memory configuration - and that’s certainly been NBR’s experience running Windows 7 Ultimate on the ultraportable platform.

TechEd is New Zealand’s largest conference. The 2009 event will be held at Auckland’s Sky City, September 14-16. Registrations are open here, but it's looking like a sell-out, no netbook giveaway required.