At previous events, free shuttle transportation was offered to the airport on the final day of the conference. This year, airport shuttles are only available from noon to 4:30. Plus now you have to pay. Now it will cost $15 to use the shuttle service to the airport.
Mears is providing the shuttles, and you have to make reservations with them. I wonder if the change has something to do with them?
Swag bonus today at check-in. While checking in, the guy at the front desk disappears and comes back with a black box marked IT Hero. I opened the box as soon as I arrived in my room to discover the following swag:
The pins are intended for people to advertise their areas of interest. Mine are on my badge holder.
I need to stop by the Microsoft Across America Bus and see if XL shirts are available or not.
The only swag in the TechEd bag is:
The TechEd Store has been open since 8 am today and they’ve already sold out of an item, at least in my size. They have a black t-shirt with “geek” on one side and a definition of geek on the back. Needless to say I was all over this item.
When I inquired about size, I was told that XL was already sold out. Sold out, on the first day? Apparently people were grabbing them from the table as fast as they were unpacked.
Note to whomever decides how much product to ship for the event: A t-shirt that says “geek” on it will be a big seller at a conference attended by thousands of IT professionals. Why not offer a rain check for sold out items? I can’t imagine Microsoft missing an opportunity to make more money. I was planning on buying four shirts myself. That’s $36 right there. I’d even pay shipping. Hey Microsoft, anyone listening?
Here I am in the CommNet at TechEd 2005 in Orlando. Thought I’d try out my camera phone. Incredibly exciting isn’t it?
Well, it is Sunday afternoon, and I’m sitting in the CommNet, checking mail and getting caught up. Couple thoughts right off the bat…
Layout—Everything is in one location, other than the sessions that is. From where I’m sitting in the CommNet, I can see the Keynote area, TechEd Store, Meal Hall, Exhibitor Area, Cabanas, and Hands On Lab area. I like the fact that we won’t have to wander from one end of the place to another to do get to any of these things. If I recall correctly, the CommNet in San Diego was way on one end. It always seemed like you had to make a special effort to get over there. On the other hand, I’m curious what kind of traffic patterns are going to develop.
Beverages—Pepsi, why does it have to be Pepsi? I’m a Diet Coke drinker, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without my daily fix… or two… or three… or… well, let’s not go there.
The Bag—Big thumbs up on the bag. The bag I received at the final MEC in 2001 was a briefcase/laptop case style bag, and it is still the main bag I use for work. All the rest since have been backpacks or big shoulder bags, all of them too big for regular use, at least for me. This one is just right. After this week, we’ll see if I’ll be switching to this one for day to day use.
