A Space Ride: The Ultimate Promotional Item

So with the new Windows operating system, Vista being launched today, I simply had to do a little research. Yesterday, my helpful IT buddy alerted me to the fact that Vista was launching today, and I'm not going to lie, I had no idea. But once he mentioned it, it did make sense. I mean, I'm never up to date with new computer technology, but I've also never seen a new Window's update since XP. And it's very rare that I'm ever caught up with operating systems, but I have been since XP came out.

But with Vista now coming out, an operating system that has a more Mac like design and feel, (apparently it's being called "Window's answer to OS X"), one has to wonder, how does Bill Gates promote his product?

Does he use stress relievers? No. T-shirts? Afraid not. He uses the ultimate promotional prize. A trip into space.

Microsoft teamed with a computer chip maker to create a new online game called Vanshing Point for the Vista system. It's being touted as a large scale online and offline game that challenges players across the globe to "decipher clues from spectacular events at various locations." The game began at the Consumer Electronics Show, where the launch of Vista was the subject of many people's attention.

It's first clue was a video image of numbers and symbols, with the phrase "It's About Time!" projected on to the world famous Bellagio Casino, after one of their classic water fountain shows.

Microsoft also plans to give away computers with the Vista Operating System, their new Zune MP3 Players, and XBox 360's as prizes with Vanishing Point. But the ultimate prize for the grand prize winner is a trip just around the Earth's orbit, which Gates calls "The Ultimate Vista."

Well firstly, someone call Lance Bass from N'Sync, because I have a feeling he might want to try for the prize. And secondly, for all of you who need promotional products that don't involve NASA training, there's always Motivators.com!