Windows VistaAfter the unsuccessful attempt at winning a free copy of Bill Gates-autographed Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition at the launching in Low Yat Plaza early this month, I thought that that was it, there goes the free Vista. I spent about 10 hours in Low Yat Plaza that day, and the parking fee came up to a whopping RM21. That’s twenty-one freakin’ ringgit, a record for me. I came home totally exhausted. As if failing to win any prize wasn’t bad enough, the parking fee sure as hell made it an experience to forget.

Yesterday, however, I had another chance of getting a free copy of the much-hyped Vista. And I got it - but not before having to queue for close to five hours. It was hard-earned indeed. The event, organized by the Microsoft Student Ambassadors, was called the Microsoft Vista Campus Launch. I didn’t intend to get it, actually. I passed the Multi Purpose Hall and noticed a crowd at the entrance. Then I saw Pik Jian. He happened to be there after a class. We had chat and before we knew it, we were already in a queue, with more people standing behind us. We just stood and talked and then the crowd built up. I told myself that I’d have another go at getting the Vista.

It was the Business Edition they were giving away. About 6000 free copies. That’s six-thousand, free, cold-hard copies of Windows Vista Business Edition to be given away in two days. But I didn’t bring along an empty DVD-R. Yes, that’s right. We were supposed to bring our own DVD-R, and burn a copy on the spot. It was the CD-key that was the main focus of this giveaway. What does this mean? It means that we do not get the fancy packaging that normally comes with the Vista CD. What we were there for were simply a copy of Windows Vista in a DVD and an original CD-key. Thankfully, I bumped into Rajah, Murali and Chiva, who had extra DVD-R’s. And hence began our long, hard journey of getting our free copies of Windows Vista.

We were outside the Hall for more than 3 hours. There were too many people in the Hall, so they had to limit the number of students permissible in the hall at any one time. Those who had the all-conquering “VIP Pass” could bypass the queue and enter immediately (like Satkuru!). Lucky for them. I heard the passes were given out randomly throughout the month. I also heard those who knew insiders could easily get one. Once inside the Hall, we had to collect at least five stamps from various booths. And these stamps needed to be earned! We needed to answer some questions on the basic features of Windows Vista before given the stamping. One of the booths offered a hands-on experience on using the Microsoft Word. That was my first time operating in Vista, heh.

Chiva and I encountered a number of queue-cutters, and he gave me the honor of telling one of them off. That dude pretended to look for something when he tried to cut in. He was stupid enough to think that nobody would realize. When apprehended, he smiled and told me I could go first. I thought to myself, “Bastard, of course I’d go first”. I don’t know how the rest of the queue handled him. My turn came soon after.

Next, we had to do some registration, which included the signing of some agreement. I didn’t get to read much, and signed right away. The queue was so long that it had to be bent into a “U”. I queued for more than 40 minutes during that part. Even the VIP Pass holders had to queue for this. Chiva cheekily said, “Oh, so this is where their privilege ends!”. After that, came the moment we had been waiting for. The CD-key. I was already running late for class by then. Fortunately the queue wasn’t very long, as not many people knew about the new counter opening. I got my CD-key, and decided that I would not burn my DVD there. We can easily duplicate it from friends who’ve burnt it. It was the CD-key we were after. I returned the empty DVD to Murali and rushed to class, grinning.

I bet more than half of the students there did not have a Vista-compatible machine. Neither do I - yet. Heck, the Vista was free anyway.

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