I just got back from the Windows Vista Launch Party at the Best Buy store in Glendale, AZ. This was the only Best Buy store in AZ to host one of these launch parties, so I was expecting a decent turnout.

I got there about 11:15, and there were probably about 100-150 people milling around inside and outside the store. I was told that there was a line of about 150 people at 10:00 when the doors opened and they started handing out raffle tickets.

Out in front of the store, there was a small tent with hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks, etc.



Inside, there was a small HP booth, where HP employees were handing out 256MB USB keys. Not a bad freebie.

There were a few people hanging around some of the PCs on the showroom floor, which had Windows Vista installed on them.



At 12:00, they announced that Windows Vista was now available and a few Best Buy employees stocked the shelves with copies. It was pretty weird. Most people just sort of stood there and stared at it for a while. They weren’t exactly flying off of the shelves.



Ron Wolfley, former Arizona Cardinals football player, was there. People were having their pictures taken with him.

At about 12:15, everyone started congregating around the exit, where they were about to announce the winners of the HP laptop and Windows Vista Ultimate.



They announced the two winners, and the place cleared out pretty fast. I know that these launch events were much bigger in other cities. All in all, this one was pretty uneventful.
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tags: Windows Vista, Best Buy, MVP