Microsoft gets booed at channel conference

THE CHANNEL EXPO being held in Birmingham is where channel folk are gathering to outdo and out drink each other this week.

The event is in its tenth year and at least its second name. Expo is the new trendy label organisers like to attach to such events these days. It'll be something else in another year or two.

Anyway, the event is slightly smaller than last year but all the better for it, many exhibitors claim.

Ralf Hamann serving beer from a wee keg tucked behind a pile of coolers and fans reckoned that although numbers were down, quality was up. "We have a better response this year than before. This is our third year here," said the sales manager for Listan GMBH, handing out the beer and fags. "We don't have the time-wasters this year. It's encouraging that the vistors are positive. "

AMD's European channel man Andrew Buxton, is more guarded but still vaguely positive. "It's ok," he says. "There' a decent atmosphere, it's worth being here."

Darren Smith from virus-busting AVG is having a good time. He prefered the bigger old days but says he's notched up more business so far this year than in previous outings.

New to the event is Taiwanese KVM switch maker Aten, which only tipped up in the UK last September and is at its first UK show, seeking out partners to flog its high-end Atltuscn-branded switches. "It's going better than we expected," said operations manager Yillin Liao. "It's a good start for us."

After a full first day of flannel and fodder, the assembled masses descended on the National Motorbike Museum last night for the annual awards ceremony. The rather staid affair was notable in a couple of respects.

In a break with tradition that usually sees polite applause greeting gong winners at such events, Microsoft picked up an award for Vista and the announcement was greeted by a muted booing.

"It's the Man United effect," suggested Bolton fan Buxton. Brits love to knock a winner. µ