jaypl.com - JPL
 

Features > Seattle/Tacoma, Washington (Jul 2009) > Visiting Brad, Alison & Joshua


Sections - Lava Cave | Waterfall, Market & Space Needle Fireworks | Tacoma Glass & Mt. Rainier | Microsoft! | Wine & Ft. Lewis


IMG_0508
I'm not sure if this is "Stupid...prices..." or "STUPID prices!" but funny regardless


IMG_0525
And in the evening, a sing-along


IMG_0527
The next day it was time to visit Redmond and Microsoft (since the Boeing tour didn't allow children), so as an additional thrill we looked up Bill Gates' address (using Brad's iPhone...good thing Bill wasn't home or he'd probably eat it). Here's one of Bill's neighbors up the hill


IMG_0528
Now, this looks nice and quaint but the real deal is behind - a 66,000 square foot house (mostly earth sheltered) with a dining room that's 1,000 sq ft by itself. The house is worth $125 MM and he's got a property tax bill each year of about $1 MM.


IMG_0531
A nearby house...looks very...solid...


IMG_0533
Shuttle Connect - Sounds like a great new product, in this case a shuttle van that goes between buildings?


IMG_0535
Too-nice benches


IMG_0537
So sad...all those eHarmony people are experiencing heartburn on Bing...


IMG_0538
There was a little display with "old" technology and "new" MS products - a GE television was the old, super!


IMG_0539
Ok, so was this before Bing?


IMG_0542
Not good when some of the computers around the MS Experience center have Google as the default/search page...


IMG_0544
This sad little laptop kept rebooting every 3-5 minutes the entire time we were there trying fruitlessly to apply 7,000-some updates...is that the Windows Experience?


IMG_0545
Just like a real-life Zune - nobody's using it


IMG_0546
There's the Bing homepage, it is pretty


IMG_0548
Daniel plays on a computer as the Bing globe keeps spinning...


IMG_0549
After too much mindless video game killing perhaps you could reload your kid?


IMG_0551
It's Microsoft!


IMG_0555
Joshua enjoys his exposure to the main OS in the world (as Brad loves the Mac tax)


IMG_0556
The Surface computing table was really fun though - here's an app for finding nearby attractions/etc, we zoomed over to our condo in Pewaukee


IMG_0557


IMG_0560
The laptop is still restarting...


IMG_1937*
Playing with the surface of MS Surface


IMG_1943*
Brad and Joshua pose with Microsoft Building 92


IMG_0561


IMG_0563
It wasn't a bad idea to put a webcam and place where you could drag some cheesy sample words over to be projected on a giant wall, just a bit too complicated...


IMG_0567
Poor Windows Vista merchandise is on super discount at $5


IMG_0570
Poor logo placement/look of these hats, but at least they're ahead of the Oct 09 Windows 7 launch


IMG_0571
Take a nondescript bear...put a MS ribbon on it...charge a ton extra...I'm not fooled!


IMG_0573
I'm not sure - is it a PC or Mac?


IMG_0574
Not sure the purpose of this lady, she was up the hall from the main receptionist so if you got this far you probably just rushed into the visitor's center


IMG_0576
One last look...


IMG_0578
This kiosk was on the way out but I guess they weren't interested in any more resumes


IMG_0580
This is the outside of Building 92 from the side nearest to the parking garage you're directed to from the website - looks really inviting huh?


IMG_0582
Water...plants...trees...bench - the circle of life


IMG_0585
Numbers, letters, shapes, wacky


IMG_0586
Again more confusion on the wacky sign on the parking garage one is directed to online...


IMG_0587
A fancy car-counting parking structure (and it worked when another car entered and Brad drove out)

Sections - Lava Cave | Waterfall, Market & Space Needle Fireworks | Tacoma Glass & Mt. Rainier | Microsoft! | Wine & Ft. Lewis

Return to Features



JPL - jaypl.com Copyright 2009 Jay Langhurst
[email protected]
This homepage and all the images are copyright Jay Langhurst
and may only be used under the author's express permission.
Photographic Portfolio Features About Jay P. Langhurst Links