I went to the Orlando MS Across America launch event for Vista and Office 2007 today. Apparently “Across America” refers to the parking. The event was a logistics disaster with the hotel parking lot full at 6:45a for an 8a start. I paid $20 for valet parking at the Orlando Convention Center next door so that I could walk half a mile in the rain to the hotel. (It really was a half a mile. I checked with the odometer on the way out.) But I’m not bitter.

The venue was overflowing with lots of people, including me, on the floor so Microsoft gets points for getting the word out and loses them on logistics. This was a ticketed event so I’m not sure how they screwed up the logistics so badly.

The presentations themselves were fine, typical Microsoft stuff but not as “Big” as the SQL Server Launch. Little things the way fonts change in a Word document as you pick the font (you won’t be guessing at how your text will look anymore) got the most response from the crowd.

On the UMPC/Tablet side, the Q1/Bluetooth/Blackjack/HSDPA combo was flawless in the hall. In some recent use I’m seeing battery life on the Blackjack to be about 2-2 1/2 hours per battery when using it as a modem via Bluetooth. I’m actually pretty happy with that considering how many battery sucking radios it takes to make that happen and the Blackjack’s poor battery reputation.

I saw one guy using a convertible tablet in slate mode across the room and I had someone lean over an ask me if this was a Q1. I love that question. It means that IT folks at least aren’t asking “what’s that?”. They know enough about a UMPC to ask about the model.

I picked up my copy of Office 2007 on my way out but this one is going to the company. My personal copy is coming with Vista as part of the video training promotion. What’s it going to take for me to upgrade to Vista? Two words, Samsung Drivers. Anybody listening? How do you say Samsung Q1 Drivers in Korean?

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