Win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card in the Easiest Contest Ever

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1279693761.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Hey there Thoughts Media community! I was looking through an <a href="http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f397/will-windows-phone-7-save-microsofts-mobile-plans-98976.html" target="_blank">interesting discussion thread</a> the other day, and I found myself realizing it was somewhat difficult to figure out who was saying what. Why? Because I'm a very visual person, and when I look at a discussion thread, I see avatars before I see the posting name. Back in the phpBB days, <em>everyone </em>had an avatar for their profile - but since we migrated to vBulletin a couple of years ago, it seems like adding an avatar to your profile is no longer the cool thing to do. Well, I say we make it cool again!</p><p>Here's all you have to do in order to be in the running to win a $50 gift card for Amazon.com: upload an avatar to your <a href="http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/profile.php?do=editavatar" target="_blank">forum profile</a>, and post a message as a response to this post telling me what you'd use the $50 gift card for. That's it - could you possibly imagine an easier contest? :-) If you don't want to upload a picture of yourself, there are many places to find avatars online (<a href="http://www.avatarist.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.1avatars.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, or <a href="http://avatars.jurko.net/" target="_blank">here</a> for starters). Keep them tasteful, respectful, and a maximum of 100 pixels by 100 pixels in size, and 19.5 KB or smaller. Non-animated GIFs and JPEGs are supported.</p><p>One comment per person, and I'll leave this contest open for a full week, closing it down on Thursday the 29th of July at 12pm GMT -7. Let's see those avatars!</p>

[Kevin Jackson]

I would use the $50 to buy a couple of the books on my wish list. Can't get enough books :)

[murph]

X360 game for $10! :)

[paschott]

Good question, probably board games. The better ones are kind of expensive and I just blew part of my Amazon credits on one of those.

I'd ideally want to save up for a ZuneHD or (better) a WP7 device, but I doubt I'll be buying one of those through Amazon as I'd have to either sign up for new service or sign on some really odd contract terms that would result in me losing either my family plan or my unlimited data plan. Besides, I'm kind of waiting for a "Zune HD 2" that would be compatible w/ WP7 apps/games. *sigh*

Board games and tech books it is. (I'd consider some Unca Scrooge books as well, but there's nothing huge out there I want - in case you can't guess, I'm a fan of the Carl Barks stories. :) )

[jakeb]

I'll buy books for my kids.

[uzziah0]

I'd probably get some books for my son. Maybe some Wii accessories!

[markhartman]

I would pick up a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad...

[dldnh]

Look at all these nice people getting things for their kids. I already spent all my money on my kids, so I'll use this to buy something nice for myself, maybe a downpayment on an android phone -- do they have those at Amazon?

[The Yaz]

I would put this towards an external DVD drive for the Netbook I bought for my daughter :)

Steve

[Stinger]

I'd probably put it towards a new Xbox 360.

[jgiambr]

I would buy the Kindle DX and send Media Thoughts a 10 page review of my experience with the device for free.

[Master Devwi]

Microsoft Points for Zune and Xbox content, of course! :)

[txa1265]

I would buy a combination of MP3 albums and Kindle Books for my iPad ... I love Amazon!

[Dyvim]

MP3 albums most likely (from the $5 albums of the month section!)

[robert_biggs]

I'd use the $50 gift card to help buy a Samsung XL2370-1 monitor to use with my new Dell Studio XPS 1645.

[mcwilliams132]

I'm on-the-ball. Already had an avatar!

anyways... I'd probably use it to get a Xb360 game.

[Phronetix]

More Kindle books for the iPad

:-)

[Toddard]

I'd buy Fallout: New Vegas for the Xbox 360 :-)

[RiverRunsByIt]

I would use it to buy some eBooks for my iPad Kindle reader!

[mja8105]

Either a new pair of shoes or towards a new lens for my dSLR camera.

[Gordo]

Kindle books for my wife :)

[crimsonsky]

For me, XBox game or music.

[rom]

I'll buy those design books that I have on my wishlist, particularly Rockport's Logo Lounge series.

[efjay]

I would use the $50 card to buy Halo Reach.

[mmidgley]

I'd buy a new Leatherman for camping. Yes, I do occasionally spend on non-tech items. :)

m.

[Alber1690]

Definitely use it toward the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 I've had in my cart for some time now. I've been dreaming about that camera for some time now... :rolleyes:

[GallopingCow]

long time lurker, new poster..

i'd use that $50 to hire a small caravan of traveling circus ferrets to juggle ripened plums back and forth over my mother's freshly-steamed carpets.

or buy a video game.

you know, whichever's easiest.

[webbahboy]

Fun contest! I would use the $50 to buy my favorite K-cups. Amazon has the best prices to feed my Keurig K-cup obsession!

[Ploobers]

I'll buy a TV Tuner card for my HTPC.

[jaxim]

I'd buy a kinect game. I heard that they will each be about $50, so that would be perfect.

[hotdram]

Music and books :)

~Rob

[Islanti]

A new mouse.

[V-iPAQ]

towards a new lens!

[fone_fanatic]

i already had an avatar but changed it to the same one i use over at xda-dev ;)

i actually had another tab open browsing amazon before i read this topic so why not huh?

currently i'm looking for an off-air antenna so i can pick up some local HD channels that aren't available from directv

good luck to all :D

[ctmagnus]

More Kindle books. :)

[Killa2dahead]

gonna get me some sick earbuds, books, new laptop keyboard, and perhaps a dvd.

[tsaylor]

Music or Wii games, most likely.

[juttonn]

My Laptop was stolen recently, so probably towards a new laptop or peripherals for the new laptop.

[gregh]

I would put this towards some ebooks

[leslietroyer]

a bike jersey or some sandpaper.

Leslie Troyer

[skossman]

I would use it toward a new smartphone.

[asims]

Music, or a Wii game, or large-capacity SD card.
Actually, I'm not sure. What's on sale?:)

[mtnmedic]

Ebooks for my iPad!

[kvand]

A blu-ray player!

[Philip Colmer]

I'd use it to buy some Blu-Rays off my Amazon wish list. I've come to the (slow) realisation that the cost of going to the cinema is just prohibitively expensive and we'd be better off staying at home.

I've also realised that some of the BRs on my wish list aren't actually being sold by Amazon any more so I need to start buying more of them before they disappear!

Nice competition :-)

[gibson042]

I carried this avatar over from the phpBB days, but have migrated away from the forum somewhat. Would it be blasphemous to admit that I'd use the gift card for Android phone accessories?

[dr-beast]

i could really use some medical books ( like Browse's Introduction - or some Physical Examination books ) or a Rolls HA43 Pro 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier i haven't decided yet :confused:

[Hx4700]

I would get ebooks. I can't remember when the last time I read a physical book.
Ron...

[beestingxox]

If I couldn't restrain myself from saving the gift card to buy books for school, I'd either get a DVD of one of my favorite TV shows or books that I'll actually ENJOY reading. :)

[timmy]

What? Avatars less popular.. I have had mine for some years now, and like it because it reflects me quite good ;)

If I'd win, I will order the new Springsteen Concert DVD!

[Lucy]

I'd put it towards a new laptop or a Zune HD.

[Down8]

William Gibson's new book.

-bZj

[atlantagal]

I'd use the Amazon gift card to buy some books that have been on my Amazon wishlist for forever!

[jacklf]

Tough one.. I'd likely split it between some AmazonMP3s and a book (or two) languishing on my wishlist.

[krom]

Hmmm....I'm thinking Starcraft II at this point.

[peterawest]

I'd use the $50 to buy new parts for my yard tools.

[jgrnt1]

I buy tons of stuff from Amazon. I'd probably use it for the next few DVDs I purchase.

[bigray327]

I'd put it towards my next phone... either an EVO or a WM7 phone.

[pax1121]

i would go half (more like 1/4) on an ipod touch with my mom... that is, if you pick me. hint hint wink.

[Heatwave316]

I would use it to buy a new micro SD card for my HTC Incredible & probably a book or 2.

[karen]

I do the same thing - read posts based on avatars, not names. So great idea to encourage their use.

I'd use the gift card to by more ebooks, most likely.

[Hawaiian]

I would use the $50 Amazon.com Gift Card to buy "American Dad Vol. 5 (http://www.amazon.com/American-Dad-Vol-Seth-MacFarlane/dp/B003CN5B7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1280337703&sr=8-1)" (DVD) . It's not available in my country and with me not having a credit card there's no way of getting it without a Gift Card :) . Thanks for the contest.

[jkovacs]

I'd buy MP3 downloads.

[filjedi]

I'd buy a couple of eBooks, maybe even a "real" book..

[Alexender]

I would use it to buy a GPS Navigator (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=navigation+systems+for+cars&x=0&y=0&sprefix=navigation&ih=10_1_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_1.60_583&fsc=9). I got my driver's licence recently and moved to a new area and had many frustrating wrong turns, so I hope this helps.

[Jason Dunn]

Thanks for joining in everyone! I've done the random drawing, and the winner is...paschott! $50 coming your way paschott...thanks to everyone for entering, it's great to see all those avatars! :D

[paschott]

Cool. Looks like I'll be able to bring home a new game or two. :) Thanks for keeping the site(s) running and bringing us all sorts of different info.

-Peter