My Windows 7 party pack just arrived. The Windows 7 House Party is Microsoft’s attempt to create a viral marketing campaign by recruiting everyday people from around the world to host parties during the first week of the Windows 7 launch. Microsoft hired a web service called House Party to handle all the party details including sending out invitations. They even did a video of what they would like your party to look like. You may want to check out the video at the Windows 7 House Party website. This video caused a lot of feedback on the web because everyone thought it too stilted. In fact, if you search YouTube you will find about a million videos making fun of the Microsoft video. But then, I am not sure that Microsoft cares — they are getting plenty of attention off of this.

If you applied to host a party and were chosen, Microsoft promised a party kit, and mine just arrived.

Inside the blue and green box were  streamers, balloons, a deck of Windows 7 cards, a Windows 7 jigsaw puzzle, Windows 7 napkins, and 9 large grocery-type fabric bags. The bags were a nice touch, but they are quite large and the only things that we were sent to give out to the party-goers were cards with special offers.

The offers included things like 40% off Norton 2010 and buy Nero 9 at 20% off and get Nero BackItUP & Burn free. Really, the best offer was a free year of Kaspersky’s Internet Security 2010. Although last time I used Kaspersky (2 years ago), I found it too invasive to recommend to the casual user. Microsoft also included a Zune pass to try the Zune music for free. Only problem is that it is a 14-day pass and I wish it would be a little longer. 14-days is not really long enough to get into the Zune website and get used to all that it offers. ( It is a wonderful site for a music subscriptions).

Although it didn’t get in the picture, Microsoft also included a cardboard table decoration, which really wasn’t worth photographing. Also included was the best part, a copy of Window 7 Ultimate to put on a computer to show off at the party. It was autographed by Steve Ballmer.

I don’t think the party pack was to exciting, but I did like the idea of it all. I just wonder how many people will take the party pack and the free Windows 7 and not have a party at all.

Well, I am committed. We will have a party, show off Windows 7 (which I like) and have some fun. After all, it’s not a bad excuse to have a party. I’ll let you all know how it goes.