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Microsoft Connects Your Family (with a Canadian Giveaway)

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

When it comes to spending quality time with your friends and family this holiday, it’s easy to think that technology can sometimes get in the way because – let’s face it – it often does. Kids are texting on their mobile phones at the dinner table; Mom can’t step away from all the work she’s trying to get done in her home office; and Dad’s fixated to the TV watching the game.

However, today there are a number of options where PC’s can actually bring you closer together and make family and friend time last longer and allow us to come together more often.

 Microsoft Premium Collection

This holiday, Microsoft is set to launch the New Microsoft Premium Collection – a hot new line up of PCs that fit a variety of lifestyles for any one on your list. From the wife that constantly travels for work, to the teenage son who is an avid gamer, to the stay-at-home dad on the go, there are a series of profiles that make up The Collection:

  • Every day: PCs capable of performing a wide variety of daily tasks.
  • Companion: Lightweight mobile PCs built to go where you go without weighing you down.
  • Entertainment: Awesome PCs that deliver the most immersive HD entertainment and audio experience on a PC. 
  • Professional: Striking design and powerful performance optimized for your personal and professional life.
  • Gaming: Powerful PCs with no compromises designed with the ultimate gamer in mind.

 

Microsoft Products help you do the things you love

I personally love having the ability to use my smartphone to stay connected in every way with my family. I am never without it and my children know I am just a click, text, or video chat away.

My pc has become our favorite way to connect in the evenings. We pull up our video account, find an old movie we want to watch and then snuggle together as we spend some quality family time together.

Here are a few tips from Microsoft  

  • If you want to just make a list of recipe ideas but don’t want to file them as new pages in your notebook until they are tried and tested, you can use Dock to Desktop to take notes side-by-side with Bing. The notes link automatically (You can click on this Internet Explorer logo whenever you want to access the recipe) so you can keep a list of ideas going with no copy/paste required!
  • Window Live Messenger also lets you watch slide shows of your favorite photos, watch online videos together, send files for collaboration or search the web for images, websites and videos you can share.
  • Want to share a homemade movie or slideshow at your holiday gathering? No more having to get everyone to crowd around the computer to watch. The PlayTo feature in Windows 7 allows you to stream content from your PC to your living room TV so you can share and enjoy your favorite photos and movies with your friends and family.

Win your very own copy of Windows 7 Ultimate!

Microsoft is going to give one of our readers a prize pack valued at $350 that includes a copy of  Windows 7 Ultimate. This giveaway is for Canadian residents only.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment letting us know which product Microsoft has that would be most helpful to you this holiday season. How do you intend on staying connected this holiday season?

This giveaway will remain open until December 3rd, 2011.

 

 

This is a promotional campaign for Microsoft Canada. All opinions are our own.

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33 Comments

  1. I’d have to say Microsoft Office! Since I got the 2010 edition, it’s been completely invaluable with everything from creating papers, to getting through Excel and Access training! For Christmas and the holidays, though, it helps me keep track of recipes, and gifts!

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  2. Our family would benefit from a laptop with a camera in it so my kids can talk to their only grandparent who is not quite up to travelling this Christmas.

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  6. A laptop running Windows 7 Ultimate would be awesome for me surfing the net for great new recipes to try and great for the kids when completing reports and playing the odd game and listening to new tunes!

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  8. Sorry, the way I plan to stay connected with my family this Christmas is introducing Skype to my in-laws in Vancouver. We are in Ontario so I think that getting them to video chat will be wonderful and unfortunately, I am the only one with a webcam on my computer so to get a laptop with a webcam and a full MS suite would be great!!! Thanks again.

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  9. I have to say that having an extra computer with a full MS suite on it would be the cat’s meow for my kids. With one teen, one tween & a 10 year old boy, sharing one laptop can be challenging!

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  10. Im going to have to say my Laptop as well. I seriously use it for everything! I use Microsoft Exchange for all my work email… it makes it really easy to organize everything and schedule all my appointments (work and mommy related) in one calender.

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    • I forgot to say how I will syat connected throughout the holidays! I use Skype regularly… My cousin and I have sons the same age and she lives in a different part of the province… we let the boys see each other once a week!

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  17. A microsoft LifeCam would be perfect for me this holiday season. We live 5000 kms away from our families so webcams help us share Christmas even though we are far away.

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  18. OFFICE! Word for writing the Christmas letter (all those templates and easily inserted clip art), Power Point for making a picture slide show to send to family far away, and last but not least Excel – for making and monitoring the holiday budget!

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  19. Oh! A laptop would be the product Microsoft has that would be most helpful to me. Although, I may be the only person in the province without a cell phone, smart or otherwise!

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  22. Our family has added an XBox recently to our Microsoft collection and it’s offered lots of family entertainment. ..

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  23. I think I would have to say a laptop running Windows 7 and Microsoft Office would help me out the most during the holidays. I have a lot of college work and as a mom and a mature student, I have to try and work as and when I can – a laptop with Windows 7 means I can work AND I can stay in touch with family!

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  26. Windows 7 Ultimate has been indispensable since it came out! Love it! Windows Live has also helped me keep in touch with friends and family. LOVE the e-mail Sweep feature and integration with other POP3 accounts.

    However, I don’t have a smartphone to stay connected and organized while on the go. Windows Phones look like the best choice for me. Those live tiles would save me so much time. I wouldn’t have to app jump!

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  27. Microsoft Games is most helpful to me this holiday! I love sitting and relaxing with my sons and playing some games together! Makes the holiday fun!

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  29. Love windows live. Especially not living near my dad it helps to keep him connected with my children and watch them grow.

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  30. The templates on the Microsoft website is what really helps me in the holiday season. Helps me keep track of everything.

    Reply