I haven’t been posting because I’ve been so !@#$ing busy with Stuff that I haven’t had a chance. There are still things about my London trip I’d like to write about, but they’ll have to wait. All modesty aside, I feel that two of my London posts [this and this] were some of the best writing I’ve done all year, and I want to do more. But work comes first.
I’m at MGB right now - that’s “Microsoft Global Briefing.” It’s a Microsoft-only conference (neener, neener) where they stick thousands of us in a huge room and flash strobe lights at the front while playing repetitious messages of submission inspiration. I think it’s a Microsoft-Cyborg-Chip calibration tool. I resisted as long as I could, but after fourteen hours, the mind control units aligned my brain waves in a harmonious note of the Microsoft symphony in the key of Ballmer, and a great light shone forth into the Convention Cathedral, blinding us in bright primary colors, tinted as they were from the delicate shapes of the Stained Glass WindowsTM lining the walls, piercing the darkness and giving us purpose.
What I know now is this: God wants me to sell Microsoft products, and I am His salesman. Come one, come all, and be blessed with the message of His Love.
Seriously, though, aside from the expected pyrotechnics of Company Spirit, we were treated to hours of New Stuff. As has been the case for me since as far back as the original Compaq iPaq, the mobile space at Microsoft is what excites me the most. I know that there are those of you who have grumbles about some issues in the area, but I still think it’s the most exciting stuff happening at Microsoft right now. If I were to engage in any of the “Our products are going to change the universe!” hyperbole that I detest so much, it would be around our mobile offerings. Some of the phones and… other things that are coming out in the coming months are so kick ass that I feel like my Audiovox SMT 5600 is old news (I lost it, by the way – I’m totally phoneless – it sucks – my life has crumbled without that little sonofabitch guiding me through my day and keeping me connected – I just hope that whoever picked it up where I left it gives it a good home).
We were also treated to a nice look at Windows Vista (formerly Longhorn), and if the message we got about its rock-solid stability and security is true, then this release is going to be worth every penny. Some of you may have noticed that I think the tech world has put too much emphasis on innovation. While there’s plenty of new stuff in Vista, I’m just glad to know that, aside from the bells, whistles, and features, the not-quite-as-sexy stuff that most users won’t notice is still hugely important. It’s not that I expected otherwise, but just that I was surprised at the stress put on the integrity of the guts. When a team could distract people with all the shiny graphics, it’s comforting to hear a lot about what’s going on underneath.
Anyway, I’ll be out of here late tonight, getting into Portland around midnight. I’ll have just enough time to fall asleep, wake up, and go to Portland Code Camp.
As of right now, we have 290 people registered, and they’re coming from up and down the west coast.
I expect good times. Any geeks who will pile in a car and drive for ten hours to come to a free conference on a weekend are my kind of people.
After Blog Mint [?] :
If you haven’t bought some Neopoleon gear yet, then you’re a loser, and that means that the vast majority of you are losers.