Visual Studio 2008 InstallFests in the Northeast!

VS08-pro_h_rgb_thumb Visual Studio 2008 has now been released to manufacturing, and as a "thank you" to the community, we're collaborating with area user groups to host a series of Visual Studio InstallFests. 

I'm happy to announce that we'll have four InstallFests in the Northeast over the coming two weeks!

  • 12/4 - Rochester, NY
  • 12/6 - Burlington, VT
  • 12/10 - Hartford, CT
  • 12/12 - Waltham, MA

Partnering with area user groups, we're offering attendees a chance to install the release version Visual Studio 2008, enjoy some food, conversation, and gaming!  Since the packaged product hasn't been released yet, here's what will happen:

  • Bring your laptops (or heck, a desktop!) and your festive selves
  • Grab a DVD with the Visual Studio 2008 Pro Trial Edition bits
  • Install and be happy
  • Play some Halo 3 or Guitar Hero, munch on some food, chat with people
  • Go home and enjoy VS2008
  • ...wait...
  • When the packaged product ships, you'll get a copy of Visual Studio 2008 Professional in the mail!  (Which will *not* require a reinstall of the trial version.)

zune-8gb-thumb As an added incentive to get VS2008 installed that evening, we're giving away T-shirts and raffling off a new 8GB Zune among the people who get VS2008 on their machines!

"Free Sounds Good! So, Where? When? How Do I Sign Up?"

You may notice that the events are generally on our MSDN Roadshow days (except for Waltham, where the Roadshow will be the following day.)  That's of course no coincidence, we'd like to take advantage of our passing through various areas in the northeast to run these special events. 

Each event has its own timing, registration, and logistics, detailed below.

As you can guess, we have limited quantities of giveaways (and "free" always draws a crowd) so we can't guarantee everyone will walk away with something.

 

Rochester, NY
December 4th, 4:30 to 6:30 PM
RIT, Building 70, Room 1400,
20 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY
In partnership with
Visual Developers of Upstate New York (VDUNY) and the NJ/NY Microsoft Developers Group

Right after the Roadshow ends, we'll jump into the InstallFest, staying in the same room on the RIT campus we're using for the Roadshow.  The event will run from about 4:30 to 6:30 (at which time we encourage you to head downtown and check out Digital Rochester's Festivus!)

Priority for giveaways will be given to everyone who attends (not just registers for) the Rochester Roadshow event. Remaining materials are available, while they last, to any walk-ins.

Burlington (Williston), VT
December 6th, 4:15 to 6:00 PM
Vermont Technical College, 201 Lawrence Place, Room 401, Williston, VT

In partnership with the Vermont .NET User Group

Like Rochester, we're running this InstallFest in the same room as the Roadshow event that day.  Stay with us from 4:15 until 6:00 and enjoy some food, camaraderie, and gaming.

Priority for giveaways will be given to everyone who attends (not just registers for) the Burlington Roadshow event. Remaining materials are available, while they last, to any walk-ins.

Hartford (Farmington), CT
December 10th, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Microsoft, 74 Batterson Park Road, Farmington, CT

In partnership with the Connecticut .NET User Group

Though there's a Roadshow event that day at UConn in Hartford, we're holding the InstallFest down the road at the Farmington Microsoft office.

You must register by sending a note to [CTDOTNET [at] gmail [dot] com]. Remaining materials will be available while they last to people who have not RSVPed.

Waltham, MA
December 12th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Microsoft, 201 Jones Road, 6th Floor, Waltham, MA

In partnership with the Boston .NET User Group

The InstallFest is being held as the traditional holiday pot luck social event for the Boston .NET User Group. 

So, remember to bring food or drink to share with others!

Registration is required and will be available soon is available now via the Boston .NET User Group web site.  

The event is now on waitlist registration. You can still register, but copies of VS2008 will be made available to waitlisted people at 7:00 if some of the first 150 people are no-shows.

"I Have a Question..."

No problem, ask away (in the comments or directly to me,) but first check out my Texas-based colleague Chris Koenig's great summary of the events for that area.  Many of the same details apply to our events.

See you at the Roadshows and InstallFests!

-Chris

 

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