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View Full Version : 31 Days Of The Dragon: The HP-Sponsored $160,000+ Giveaway


Jason Dunn
04-28-2008, 05:36 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/</a><br /><br /></div><img border="5" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/dht/auto/1209341260.usr1.jpg" /><br /><br />I can't express how thrilled I am to announce this jaw-dropping contest to Digital Home Thoughts readers: HP has partnered with 31 bloggers (via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buzzcorps.com">Buzz Corps</a>) to sponsor a giveaway of 31 of their audacious <a target="_blank" href="http://h20219.www2.hp.com/hho/cache/545097-0-0-225-121.html">HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC</a> (a.k.a. the &quot;Dragon&quot;). This laptop is one of the most jaw-dropping pieces of hardware on the market - when you see it in person you can only say &quot;Wow!&quot;. It's a beast of a laptop, more of a portable PC than something you'd think of as being a laptop - although I should point out that earlier this month when I was at the Seattle airport I actually saw a traveller with one of these out on a restaurant table!<br /><br />Retail value? $4500 USD. Multiply that by 31, and you get $139,500 worth of prizes spread amongst 31 different winners. This is 31 day contest where each day one of these prize bundles will be given away. Many of the sites involved, including yours truly, will be receiving the laptop first for review, then polishing it up and shipping it off to the winner. I get to review it, but you get to keep it - good deal, right?<br /><br /><strong>But wait, it gets even better:</strong> other partners have gotten involved and the prize package includes a great software and movie bundle (detailed below) that if purchased at retail would cost an additional $696 USD. So each prize bundle has a retail value of $5196. Getting excited yet? Yeah, I thought so! Let's take a closer look at what's being given away, and how you can enter a potential 31 different times across all the sites that are involved. <MORE /><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/dht/auto/1209355223.usr1.jpg" /><br />The specifications for the Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook that HP is giving away is as follows:<br /><br /><strong>Operating system: </strong>Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)<br /><strong>Processor:</strong> Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)<br /><strong>Display:</strong> 20.1&quot; diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920x1200)-&quot;True HD&quot; 1080p resolution<br /><strong>Memory: </strong>4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)<br /><strong>Graphics Card:</strong> 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS<br /><strong>Personalization: </strong>HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone<br /><strong>Networking: </strong>Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)<br /><strong>Hard Drive: </strong>500GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2)<br /><strong>Primary CD/DVD Drive: </strong>Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer<br /><strong>TV &amp; Entertainment Experience: </strong>Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers + the HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer<br /><strong>Primary Battery: </strong>9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery<br /><br />In addition to the ass-whupping laptop, the winners will also receive copies of:<br /><br />Microsoft Office - $225 retail value (eval copy)<br />Corel PaintShop Pro X2 - $73.99 retail value (eval copy)<br />Corel Painter Essentials - $79.99 retail value (eval copy)<br />Corel Ulead Video Studio Plus 11.5 - $79.95 retail value (eval copy)<br />Symantec Norton Internet Security - $69.99 retail value (eval copy)<br /><br />Viva Pi&ntilde;ata - $37.99 retail value (eval copy)<br />Microsoft Flight Sim - $44.99 retail value (eval copy)<br />Microsoft Flight Sim Expansion Pack - $34.99 retail value (eval copy)<br />Gears of War - $49.99 retail value (eval copy)<br /><br />Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl - Blu Ray - $22.95 retail value (eval copy)<br />Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest- Blu Ray - $22.95 retail value (eval copy)<br />Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End - Blue Ray - $22.95 retail value (eval copy)<br /><br /><strong> Now which sites are involved?</strong> Each of the sites below will be giving away one of the prize bundles, one per day, with their respective contests starting seven days prior to the giveaway. Every site will be doing their own thing - some will be a random giveaway, others might do an &quot;easter egg hunt&quot;, and some might ask you why you should win this contest and pick the best answer. There's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/">a complete list of the dates on a simple site</a> that Mauricio from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.geekzone.co.nz">Geekzone</a> put together (thanks Mauricio!), but in short if you want to maximize your chances of winning one of these prize bundles, you should check out each of these sites at least one day prior to the giveaway date.<br /><ul> <li><a href="http://www.absolutevista.com" target="_blank">AbsoluteVista.com</a> (contest starts May 2nd, giveaway occurs May 9th)<br /> </li> <li><a href="http://www.arstechnica.com" target="_blank">Ars Technica</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.osnn.net" target="_blank">OSNN.net</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jkontherun.com" target="_blank">JKontherun.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/default.aspx" target="_blank">Barbs Connected World </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bostonpocketpc.com" target="_blank">BostonPocketPC.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com" target="_blank">The-Gadgeteer.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.thedigitallifestyle.com" target="_blank">TheDigitalLifesetyle.com</a></li> <li>Digital Home Thoughts (yeah, right here baby - our contest will start on the 10th of May)<br /> </li> <li><a href="http://www.windows-now.com" target="_blank">Windows-now.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.windowsconnected.com" target="_blank">WindowsConnected.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.geekstogo.com" target="_blank">Geekstogo.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bink.nu" target="_blank">Bink.nu</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.medialab.com" target="_blank">MediabLab.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.last100.com" target="_blank">Last 100</a></li> <li><a href="http://labnol.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Digital Inspiration</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.notebooks.com" target="_blank">Notebooks.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.slashdotreview.com" target="_blank">SlashdotReview.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.neowin.net" target="_blank">Neowin.net</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.geek.com" target="_blank">Geek.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.lockergnome.com" target="_blank">Lockergnome.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.planetx64.com" target="_blank">Planet x64.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.TheGreenButton.com" target="_blank">TheGreenButton.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.istartedsomething.com" target="_blank">Istartedsomething.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com" target="_blank">BleepingComputer.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.hardwaregeeks.com" target="_blank">HardwareGeeks.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.GeekNewsCentral.com" target="_blank">GeekNewsCentral.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.geekzone.co.nz" target="_blank">Geekzone.co.nz</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.thetabletpc.net" target="_blank">TheTabletPC.net</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.gearlive.com" target="_blank">GearLive.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com" target="_blank">GottaBeMobile.com</a> (contest starts May 2nd, giveaway occurs May 9th)</li></ul>So let me reiterate for Digital Home Thoughts readers: our contest here does not start until the 10th of May, and our actual giveaway of the prize bundle will occur on the 17th of May. This contest is open to anyone in the world. In terms of the exact nature of the giveaway, stay tuned - I'm trying to think of something creative, yet still simple and fun, for you to do in this contest. Any suggestions?<br /><br />Huge thanks to HP, Buzz Corps, Microsoft, Corel, and all the other companies involved in this giveaway - it's amazing to see them supporting sites like ours in such a big way. I appreciate it, and whichever Digital Home Thoughts reader wins this laptop will appreciate it even more!

makicr
04-28-2008, 06:39 AM
I will take one, please.

spacehippie2k
04-28-2008, 07:11 AM
Odd that this post would come just as I was packing up my Pavilion dv6700t notebook to ship back to HP for a return. I had purchased this, hoping it would serve as a Blu-Ray, HDTV, Media Center machine, but it just couldn't cut it. This Dragon series might be just the thing I'm looking for...

Filip Norrgard
04-28-2008, 08:15 AM
Wow! That is awesome! :)
I would, however, call that monster of a notebook anything else than a laptop... :D It looked heavy when I last saw it in real life. ;)

David Horn
04-28-2008, 09:54 AM
For a contest idea, since this is a Digital Home site, why not ask for photographs of dragons? Pick the most interesting / amusing / architecturally significant picture. I'm only saying this because I reckon I have an absolutely awesome picture of a dragon in my photo collection, but I digress...

knightk
04-28-2008, 12:53 PM
Wait wait - I'm against uploading pictures of dragons - because I don't have one :)

My suggestion is doing some wordplay. or some puzzles. or you can make everyone say why they should NOT get the prize. or you can set a secret number, say n, and see who's on the nth floor to reply to this post.

Or you can just simplify the process and pick me. :)

bcre8v2
04-28-2008, 12:57 PM
Wow... very exciting to see the marketing efforts by HP!
I am glad that DHT is participating.

Nice snag Jason!

Chris Gohlke
04-28-2008, 01:43 PM
How about writing haiku's about dragons?

txa1265
04-28-2008, 01:48 PM
Or just something creative and dragon related - let everyone show something cool so we can look rather than just ignoring the posts in contest threads!

karen
04-28-2008, 08:01 PM
...anyone seeing inappropriate ads being served on this article?

The Yaz
04-28-2008, 09:06 PM
I think Jason ought to roll this prize into the current giveaway contest.

It would be "lucky" prize #21!

The contest should be: "Explain in your post either

1) how much equipment in your home/office the dragon will replace (making your techie world a happier place)

or

2)note how the dragon will embolden you to change the way you live"

Either way I have to hand it to HP for stepping up and investing corporate dollar to raise awareness about their product in such an unsual manner!

Great job to Jason for once again having such great sites to attract HP's attention for inclusion in the program!!

Steve:)

Alber1690
04-29-2008, 09:49 PM
Nice...how exciting! :D

David Horn
05-05-2008, 05:08 PM
Jason,

I'm sure you've already picked out an excellent competition strategy for the Dragon giveaway, but after visiting the other blogs participating in this I'd like to make a plea:- please don't do what nearly every other blog so far has done and effectively limit it to either their readers or a specific subset of their audience.

Ars Technica has instantly slashed anyone who doesn't have professional game and graphic development tools on their computer out of the competition, and JK and OSNN are asking such convoluted and site specific questions it's unlikely that anyone but a reader who's been following their site for years will know the answers.

To give an example, the JK giveaway is asking the names of family members (which even Google can't find on their website, and I don't think have ever been posted there), along with other esoteric stuff.

To reiterate, I have no objection to putting in a bit of work for each entry, but so far all that's happened is that I've seen three competitions I've got virtually no chance in, and developed a fair bit of resentment for three excellent sites.

Cheers,

David.

(PS - please feel free to delete this post if you don't think it should be in this thread!)

txa1265
05-05-2008, 07:19 PM
David:

I completely agree. The first site had you do some writing: that was great! The others are basically 'prove you are a site insider'. Heck, why not just say 'must have been a member before May1st to enter'. I added 'absolutevista' to the list of sites I visit, but the other three have been nuked for me.

Mike

05-10-2008, 06:49 PM
I have looked high and low and can't find the page telling me what to do in order to win this beast...what am I overlooking?

tescott
05-10-2008, 07:14 PM
I stopped by to enter the contest. While here, I have registered and would like to find out more about this site. I think a little scavenger hunt would be a nice way to discover some of the site's features and to get to know the members.

I don't know if I will stay or go, but I would like to see what's here.

BTW, it's May 10. Where are the contest rules?

Jason Dunn
05-12-2008, 04:46 PM
I'm sure you've already picked out an excellent competition strategy for the Dragon giveaway, but after visiting the other blogs participating in this I'd like to make a plea:- please don't do what nearly every other blog so far has done and effectively limit it to either their readers or a specific subset of their audience.

I agree with you David - hopefully you've found my contest to be quite simple. I wanted to do something a bit more interesting than "post your comment here", and I wanted it to involve YouTube, but I still wanted to keep it fast and easy for everyone involved. The worst anyone has to do is register a YouTube account, which I don't think is so bad. :D

I can't speak to why some Web sites have chosen to do their contests in a more...complex fashion. Every Web site owner has their own viewpoint about how they want to use this contest to generate traffic, awareness, etc. HP and Buzzcorps left it up to each site owner to decide how they wanted to give the Dragon away, and for better or worse, here's where we are.

05-12-2008, 07:30 PM
I agree with you David - hopefully you've found my contest to be quite simple.

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

I think you did an awsome job indeed Jason...you didn't need anybody's help if you ask me. Why, I would have never thought of something like this. Thank goodness I already had an account-I just hadn't visited there in a while.

Whether I win or not (which I really hope I do); I had about the most fun doing it.

Barb

JonnoB
05-12-2008, 08:22 PM
I suggest picking a random poster from this thread... Say for example, pick the 20th post....

:D

tianh
05-13-2008, 03:30 AM
Hey Jason Dunn, yes I love your giveaway so much. Other sites ask you to post the birthdate the OS of the servers they use and such. What a drag! Also I posted on the thread on the give away to doubly my chance, but I don't see it show up? Is something wrong?


Thanks

Jason Dunn
05-13-2008, 05:23 AM
Also I posted on the thread on the give away to doubly my chance, but I don't see it show up? Is something wrong?

Nope, nothing is wrong. I explained it in the post:

"*** UPDATE: PLEASE READ THIS. *** I just finished approving 65 (!!) new posts for this contest, and over 10 of them were duplicates. ONLY POST ONCE. You will not see your post right away if it's your first post to this site. It's held in moderation, then will be approved and will show up. Post ONCE, then come back in 24 hours and confirm your post is here (it will be). Anyone who has more than one post in this thread will be disqualified."

NoYouAre
05-13-2008, 09:27 AM
Digitalmediaphile has announced a winner (http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com/)

I offer my congratulations to Sharon.