The Biggest Dot Com Pho To Date With a Side of Bic Promo Pens

This past weekend, we witnessed yet another milestone in Dot Com Pho history. Although the week before, we attracted over 16 people, this week, the total body count was 25! As a result, the whole center of Pho Lan in Richmond was overrun by local bloggers. Dot Com Pho regulars Ed Lau, Michael Kwan, Leo Chiang, and of course, John Chow, were all on the scene. Dot Com Pho part timers, Greg Morgan and Gary Ng were also in attendance.

Tejpal Singh of 1234Pens decided to shower us with pens from his new venture, BicPromoPens. Though over half of them didn’t work, you have to admit, it was a good marketing ploy because we talked about them a lot. I mean, no one talks about a pen that works anyway. Even though we had some pen malfunctions, I’ve never known Tejpal not to take care of his customers so I wouldn’t worry.

This was John’s last Dot Com Pho for a while as he fears for his life and takes off to Shanghai where Mr. Lan won’t find him. Apparently, when John told him that we’d have over 20 people this week, his staff needed to hold him back from strangling him. We’ll see him again when we have our Dot Com Pho: Taipei Edition, when Ed Lau, Michael Kwan and I arrive for the COMPUTEX Computer Show. I’m thinking it will probably be Taiwan Noodle rather than Pho.

This week’s Dot Com Pho will be brought to you by Ed Lau and me so who knows what the turn out will be. If you have any ideas or topics for this week’s Dot Com Pho Episode, please let me know and we’ll consider it for our “Wicked Awesome John Chow Free” edition. Who knows, we might even give Leo Chiang a speaking part. Just make sure you let me or Ed know that you are coming and we’ll reserve a spot for you. See you on Saturday!

Happy Mothers Day!

Since today is Mothers Day, I thought you guys would get a kick out of this one…

I can’t believe the guys in the video could hold a straight face like that. I was gone in the first 10 seconds. Happy Mothers Day and stay away from the Mayo

The Microsoft Zune Party Train Takes a Spill in Vancouver

Yesterday, the Dot Com Pho Crew went out to toast the launch of the Microsoft Zune in Canada. The head of the launch took place in Vancouver and will travel across the country to five other locations including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax. Unfortunately, the Zune train derailed in Vancouver…

Microsoft tried to be “Edgy” and “Extreme” with their Zune launch by renting out a local indoor skatepark known as “The Sweatshop“. At first, I thought it’d be cool to have a live band and some skateboarding demos and that was what I was expecting. Turns out the place had a flood and the whole skatepark is now in ruins. Desperate for cash, Microsoft saved them by renting out the whole place. However, there seemed to be something peculiar about the whole arrangement as the venue didn’t seem too thankful throughout the night.

The invitations said to be there at 9PM, but while it sounded like people were already having a good time inside, we were left outside wondering if we’d ended up at the wrong place. This made Michael Kwan (above) very upset. He may look thin and FOB like, but he’ll whip you like a branch! We got in around 9:30PM only to find that no one was inside. WTF?

The first sign of trouble was when we went to grab our free drinks. The girls behind the counter started demanding tips from all the guests. Wait a sec? Why would you demand tips when you are getting paid? Turns out no one paid them and they kept harassing the guests for tips before they would hand over the booze. Classy. So where did Microsoft’s money go? Obviously not to Yahoo.

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Principal Gets Epic Failing Grade

You know in school how you sometimes get that cool teacher or administrator that can relate to you? Like he’s on your level and your buddy? These individuals are rare and even fewer pull it off successfully. Well, this one did not. They should have seen trouble coming when they saw the “Faux Hawk”. So much FAIL…

Soulja Boy + Principal Skretta = Epic FAIL! I’d rather subject myself to a “Rick Roll”. Pick up your trash kiddies, or he might come back with “My Humps”

The ZUNE Goes From Coming to Arriving in Canada

Microsoft has finally taken the wraps off the launch details for the Microsoft ZUNE Music Players. MegaTechNews reports that the Zune will be hitting most major Canadian retail outlets on June 13th, 2008. Futurelooks did a review of the ZUNE 80 GB player and had some positive things to say, but it’s still no iPod Killer. Microsoft agrees and says that they are really running a marathon here and taking their time.

As part of their Canadian launch efforts, Microsoft is touring the country with a 6 Band, 6 City and 6 Party tour. Starting with Vancouver this evening. Local media and VIP’s (yes, they invited me) will be able to witness some of the cool things the ZUNE can do, coming this June to the Great White North. Though ZUNE has been available to the US market for quite some time now, an official launch should help boost sales and help Microsoft gain badly needed market share in the media player market.

If you’re coming to the event, hope to see you there.  Rumour has it, there will be free drinks, and hopefully, FREE Zunes for everyone! I’ll be in full attendance with the Dot Com Pho Crew which means that John Chow, Ed Lau, Michael Kwan and Leo Chiang will be there. It’s like a Dot Com Whistler Tour…minus the spooning…hopefully…

I’m sure that we’ll have pictures and more after the show so stay tuned