When I came to Microsoft booth I was negatively surprised. I expected the biggest booth, the most visitors, and the greatest show by Microsoft. First looks, was a table, two uncomfortable seats (one for the Microsoft staff and the other for the visitor), and small little PC stations with information on MSN. The Microsoft Staff seemed well rehearsed as they launch into a spill about MSN.
Positive was a little hardware corner, where Microsoft presented their new Bluetooth Wireless Desktop and another stylishly designed Wireless Desktop, which I had never seen before. It appears to be a new design white with chrome hotkeys and included a wireless mouse. At this writing it is simply called Wireless Desktop being new or possibly an unreleased item.
Another thing at the booth was the gaming corner with lots of X-Box paraphernalia in glass vitrines, but nothing really new and exciting. One thing that did impress me was an X-Box tunnel with surround sound and X-Box vitrines. They put the future in glass vitrines, like smart displays, Tablet PCs. I filmed the walk through the tunnel. You can see that on a very short video clip on Sunday.
Leaving the annoying Microsoft main booth I came across the Microsoft Business Solution booth, where they made a show in German in front of what they categorized as Movies/Cinemas. In my opinion these were just small presentation rooms without much space. No one wanted to see the business show, which sounded to me like a soap opera. Bad actors (presentators in this case) and no free speaking. Every sentence was well rehearsed and somewhat annoying. I could take one of their catalogs with me, read it, and it would be the same.
To sum it up, Microsoft was a big disappointment. In my opinion the whole Microsoft area is not really worth the visit. There are lots more exciting booths with much more to see. Microsoft had no big shows, no multimedia, no special booth, and sadly nothing to play with.
The Smart Display Pavilion was much better. But that's another story, which will follow soon ...
MSFN Roving Reporter, Amplier
MSFN.org.
Another thing at the booth was the gaming corner with lots of X-Box paraphernalia in glass vitrines, but nothing really new and exciting. One thing that did impress me was an X-Box tunnel with surround sound and X-Box vitrines. They put the future in glass vitrines, like smart displays, Tablet PCs. I filmed the walk through the tunnel. You can see that on a very short video clip on Sunday.
Leaving the annoying Microsoft main booth I came across the Microsoft Business Solution booth, where they made a show in German in front of what they categorized as Movies/Cinemas. In my opinion these were just small presentation rooms without much space. No one wanted to see the business show, which sounded to me like a soap opera. Bad actors (presentators in this case) and no free speaking. Every sentence was well rehearsed and somewhat annoying. I could take one of their catalogs with me, read it, and it would be the same.
To sum it up, Microsoft was a big disappointment. In my opinion the whole Microsoft area is not really worth the visit. There are lots more exciting booths with much more to see. Microsoft had no big shows, no multimedia, no special booth, and sadly nothing to play with.
The Smart Display Pavilion was much better. But that's another story, which will follow soon ...
MSFN Roving Reporter, Amplier
MSFN.org.
