Microsoft postpones Windows hardware conference

Windows hardware makers will get an extra week next spring to work on their products. Microsoft said Thursday that it is shifting the timing of its WinHEC conference--practically a spring ritual--to the fall.

The conference will be held next year at a West Coast location, but Microsoft didn't say which one. (Can Hawaii please be considered West Coast?)

"We rescheduled WinHEC for the fall in response to industry feedback," Microsoft said in an e-mail. The company promised that the event will offer "Microsoft vision for Windows and the future of PC computing" along with the usual sorts of industry initiatives and in-depth discussions of how best to incorporate Windows into PCs and other devices.

This leaves open the question of whether Microsoft will have a separate Professional Developer Conference. It canceled this year's event, which was to have taken place last month in Los Angeles.

[whizkid454]

Perhaps to introduce something new....

And hopefully exciting. Vista SP2 anyone?

[timber2005]

Na

Its much easier to create a new confrence to announce something. As they say, Industry feedback is quite true. Espically if you consider how hard it is to meet deadlines for the spring show after the downtime of the Winterneemas holidays (including thanksgiving, christmas, new years, etc). Theres lots of productivity over the summer to get a new product out.<br /><br />But, maybe the industry wanted it so they could unveal holiday items then too.

[The_happy_switcher]

postponed

because nobody signed up.

[dragon.nocturnus]

All boils down to WGA

Microsoft were apparently laying on free buses, but lack of drivers crippled the Microsoft event. WGA is to blame, the driver's licenses were deemed invalid and all drivers were given three days to prove their authenticity. Transport unions are in discussions with Microsoft Support who are trying to resolve the issue by getting the drivers to wear a patch on their uniforms.