Getting My Game On At BlogHaus (01/11/2007 9:00 AM)
Audio and video podcast company PodTech (featuring Robert Scoble), along with a few sponsors, hosted BlogHaus at the Bellagio. It really was the eye at the center of the storm, a calm location (during daylight hours, anyway) to mingle with our blogger peers in a both fun and productive environment.
The BlogHaus was composed of three distinct areas, which I’ll call the lounge, the office, and the game room. The game room featured a humongous flat panel TV and a PS3. I think there may have also been an Xbox 360 on a smaller set. The office held a long table and Ethernet to jack in to, again with a huge TV. The lounge consisted of two seating areas, plus the bar. And, yes, another large microdisplay was present! Most important, speedy WiFi permeated the suite. I’d much rather work from a plush chair than at a desk.
My lunch at BlogHaus may have been the first CES meal I had while sitting down. Trays of lunch foods and deserts, plus all sorts of beverages (coffee, juice, soda, alcohol) were available. The bean bags looked super comfortable, but given the amount of walking I’ve done with my 15lb backpack, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get back up – instead I ate from a large comfy chair while watching the flat panel TV. A far cry from the “official” CES press room with lines for box lunches and about 1/20 of the seating needed. Not to mention the fluorescent glare and NOISE.
BlogHaus was a great success, offering a chance for bloggers to relax, work, and party amongst our peers. I met several folks I’ve interacted with online, but haven’t actually met in person. Just as importantly, I was able to eat, write, and organize my photos in a civilized fashion. I’d be willing to pay a membership fee next year, though I’d gladly trade Bellagio’s opulence for a location a closer to the Sands or the Las Vegas Convention Center.