Microsoft handing out Windows 7 Launch Party host confirmations

"Congratulations."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[kibbledbits Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:36PM]

I'm going to pretend to have a party and fake it, then sell my copy on Ebay. Yes that pic at the top is ultra lame. I've tried showing people on my POS Dell Latitude and people have issues hearing it at max volume let alone seeing it from different angles.

[sporkinum Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:46PM]

They actively watch Ebay for such things. I had an auction for a freebee office package shotdown on Ebay. Craig's list is a better bet. I still have a free Vista Ultimate package I haven't installed. I suppose I'll get around to making a media center with it sometime.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 3:12PM]

I got my invite yesterday around 2pm Mountain time.

Fun fact The package includes

-1 Windows 7 ultimate limited signature edition 32 & 64 bit OS
-Sample OS discs
-A windows 7 tabletop center piece
-One deck of Windows 7 Playing Cards
-10 Win 7 Tote bags
-Pack of Win 7 napkins
-Pack of Win 7 Balloons
-Plus reading material

I am going to do my "party" on Media since I have been using the RC of 7 with the new Media Center and my Xbox 360 fro streaming media. (BTW new Media center kicks *** when dealing with codecs, but Microsoft is still is dicking with the touchy controller usage so it makes you want to buy the remote just to manage the interface.) Ahhh well se la Vie

[AcumenProbitas Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:43PM]

I'm gonna hook my PC up to my 55" LCD and let people explore with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

I'm mostly excited about the free copy of the OS.

[Jay Evans Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:44PM]

Don't forget...

Subject to the terms and conditions of these Official Rules, sixty-four (64) prizes will be awarded in this Sweepstakes. The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of a prize is at least seven hundred fifty dollars ($750), and the aggregate ARV of all prizes to be awarded in this Sweepstakes is at least forty-eight thousand dollars ($48,000). A “prize” consists of and is limited only to one (1) mini-notebook laptop personal computer (manufacturer, make and model as determined by Microsoft, the prize supplier for the Sweepstakes).

[NiCk0dEmUs Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:50PM]

I got the email at 12:00 a.m. and signed into the site to confirm my spot at 12:54 a.m. and got a spot. I did all the necessary steps to get it going.

I'm excited to get some free swag and more importantly, a free copy of Windows 7. This saves me a few hundred bucks on my new build next year.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:05PM]

So the party site says im a confirmed host, but i didnt get that email?

[rjs Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:09PM]

Two doors down
They're laughing and drinkin', and having a party
Two doors down

by dolly parton

Win7 parties rule!!!

[kevout Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:19PM]

Turns out my weeks-old application was "incomplete" for some reason. Finished it, now marked as "received on September 2" and "under review". Meh.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:25PM]

never goin to ever have to buy windows, got vista for free last time from and engadget post and now I will be getting windows 7 for free, sweet

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:44PM]

Confirmed as a host. Hooah!

It must make the apple kool-aid drinkers furious that Windows users are happy about something.

[im2fools Posted Sep 22nd 2009 1:51PM]

Oh, no room for Bender, huh? Fine! I'll go build my own Windows 7! With keygens and hookers! In fact, forget the Windows 7 and the keygens! Ah, screw the whole thing.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 2:41PM]

Hosting a party and inviting a few friends/family is the least I would do to get a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition. I'm already using Win 7 for the past year on 6 computers at home. This is going to be amazing...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 2:21PM]

I'm excited about being picked. This is the rundown of my Win7 Party:

Friends
Food (Pizza, Chips, Baked Goods, Liquors)
Video Games
Multiple Test Machines with Win 7 RC and Win 7 Pro
Full Q & A Session presented by myself
Win 7 Pro Giveaway

Basically just a good time with friends and others who want to attend.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 2:44PM]

I spent the whole day (Monday), trying to sign up for the house party. I recieved an email saying that they recieved my application in the time frame needed. Today, I go to the site and they show my applications as being incomplete. I finish the application today and now says pending. The sign up site has been down most of the time, it is unreal slow, and much of the time when filling out the application it seems to take but, it does not. This house party site is a joke. They are unprepaired for the traffic. Microsoft should be ashamed. This is getting to be a real PR disaster in typical Microsoft fashion. If I get screwed out of Windows 7 party and the copy of the operating system, I will go Apple in the future. The whole experience is a joke and Microsoft should have went with a partner that could handle the traffic and be a reputable company. I am upset and thousand of others are as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 2:47PM]

Congratulations... You are a Windows® 7 Launch Party host!!

Because you were among the first host finalists to set up your party online, you are confirmed as a host and will be receiving a free party package to share with your guests shortly before the party.

Packages will be mailed in time to arrive before your party date. Check your free party site regularly for news on what's in your package, when it's been shipped, and when you can expect it to arrive.

Meanwhile, don't forget to use the free Guest Manager tool to manage your invite list.

Use it to send invitations via email so your guests can join your online site when they RSVP. Don't have their email address? No problem -- use the print option, or just create a name-only record for them so they still appear on your party list.

And while you're online, be sure to check out and upload fun photos and videos, post comments to the national party blog, and look around for other cool features.

Please remember that information you post on the House Party website may be visible to the general public, so we advise you not to post any personally identifying information (such as last name, address, email or phone number). However, the information in your party invitations will only be visible to your guests.

Thank you for hosting a Windows® 7 Launch Party!
_____________________________

I got an email saying I was a finalist to host, all I had to do was set up my party. Then after I did that I got this confirmation, I am making mine more of an Xbox 360/Multimedia capabilites of Windows 7 party.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 3:33PM]

Got my host confirmation! Already got 4 confirmed guests. :-)

[collindow Posted Sep 22nd 2009 4:01PM]

Thanks to the loving gaze of Engadget I learned of, applied, and, ultimately, got accepted. Anyone in Portland want to party down like...ummm...people who like Windows? Hit me up, I'm in SW Portland.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 4:34PM]

Could anyone confirm for me: If I am a confirmed host of a Windows 7 Launch Party but haven't received a "Congratulations" email, am I definitely going to get Windows 7 Ultimate for free?

Cheers,

Henry

[Legator91 Posted Sep 22nd 2009 6:05PM]

I still cant believe I was actually chosen to be a host. I am so excited!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 5:24PM]

When do they photoshop the Black people out?

[SwiTch Posted Sep 22nd 2009 6:32PM]

how do i sign up
?

[nhojyelbom Posted Sep 22nd 2009 7:30PM]

i guess i did not get one..... what a bummer

[blender45 Posted Sep 22nd 2009 7:49PM]

I am confirmed for the 22nd. I am so psyched. I have a friend who is still using Win98 coming. I think she might faint! ha ha.

[Mikerman Posted Sep 22nd 2009 7:59PM]

In the end, it means that 50,000-100,000+ people will be attending W7 parties.

Wow!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 4:30AM]

LOL @ Microsoft's lens flare!

[Biotite Posted Sep 23rd 2009 10:08AM]

I'm a host! Yay for free Windows 7 ultimate and windows 7 napkins!

[telstar Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:18PM]

Their site is smoldering .... 500 - Internal Server Error

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:32PM]

woohoo, I got accepted.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 6:18AM]

also, what's with all the negativity? Windows 7 has been doing great and this is a neat marketing idea with a nice reward.

[anthonyqld Posted Sep 25th 2009 8:46AM]

Someone stuffed up. I was a confirmed host, then changed to "Inactive finalist" after inviting 100 people with 78 confirmed. It's quite difficult to cancel the party now (as no doubt some people will still turn up), so I'll have to have a Windows 7 RC party(and hope they don't notice), then send my invoice to either Microsoft or House Party (whichever one stuffed up) (say AUS$70 per hour + cost of food/drinks). I didn't invite any of my tech friends as they all know about Win 7 - mainly people that I tutor on weekends, friends of parents, etc.

[Michael Pollard Posted Sep 25th 2009 2:43PM]

Thanks for the post, Engadget! I somehow missed the original post on the 2nd, but saw this one when it was new.

I went online, registered, and got an email to confirm my email address within a few minutes, and I clicked the confirmation link. The website said that my application was entered on 9/22, and that I should receive a decision on or about 9/21...

I then got another email to confirm that I can receive their emails, and I clicked the confirmation link. Then I got an email that I am a finalist, and that I need to do some things on my party site; the first people to complete all the items get parties. I then got a confirmation that I'm an approved host before I had even added my guest list, and that was only the second item on the list, after logging in to create the site itself. Now, I did complete the other steps, because I don't want to be disqualified later, but it's all done now.

Yay - free Windows 7 Ultimate! (And totebags... and napkins... and balloons...)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 22nd 2009 10:19AM]

Windows 7? May be a good news!