The scheduled start time of the keynote was 6:30pm.  Got to the Hilton Center at 3:30pm thinking I would be the first one there an have to stand around a while.  I was wrong.  Fortunately, as a member of the press, I didn’t have to wait in the general admission line, but there were still over 30 press representatives seated in line waiting when I arrived.  By 4:30pm, the entire lobby was packed with the lines extending outside.

At around 5:15pm, members of the press got seated.  Getting there early paid off because I was able to get a seat in the third row (about 30 feet from the stage) in the center of the theater.  Great seat!  Waited until 6:30pm at which time the lights began to raise to begin the presentation.  Unfortunately, even the Consumer Electronics Association isn’t free from “technical difficulties” because as they brought the stage to full power, most of the room’s power went out.  Come on CEA, remember I=P/V.  At 7pm, after the stage crew rebooted all the computers and got the lights up again, the presentation began.

Gary Shapiro, the President of the Consumer Electronics Association, introduced Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer.  Steve discussed Microsoft’s desire for people have access to all of their content at anytime and anywhere.  He reviewed Microsoft’s accomplishments in 2009, including the release of Windows 7, and demonstrated some forthcoming technologies as well.  Check out the photo gallery for details of his presentation.  The keynote concluded with Robbie Bach, Microsoft’s Entertainment Division President, describing upcoming releases and technological advancements for the XBox360.