Wow, I'm so surprised by how many entries we've had so far for my 31 Days of the Dragon contest to win the HP HDX laptop package. We're up to 86 entries at the time I'm writing this. I'm having a lot of fun seeing each new entry. Please keep get your entries in by 12am EST 5/15/08...

Other contests that have recently started include ones at the following sites...

TheDigitalLifeStyle.com - You have to hunt around in their forums to find the details.
Digital Home Thoughts - Their contest has you leaving a comment on their YouTube unboxing video.
Windows-Now.com - Their contest starts today, but so far they do not have the details posted. Be sure to check back.

I've decided to create a set on my Flickr account to post the contest entries. You can see them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegadgeteer/sets/72157604952613117/.

For almost a week now, you've been reading about the 31 Days of the Dragon contest being sponsored by the great people at HP and BuzzCorps. Thirty-one different mobile news, reviews and info web sites are launching their own individual seven day contests one a day starting on May 2nd. Today it's finally The Gadgeteer's turn and I'm very excited to share the details of the contest...

How do you win?

All you have to do is display The Gadgeteer's URL (use the-gadgeteer.com) in a public place where other people can see it, take a picture and email it to me. The whole idea is to help me advertise the site. Entries that are visible to lots of people, will have a much better chance at winning the prize. Some example ideas would be to print out the-gadgeteer.com on a 10 ft long piece of paper and tape it on the outside of a building, form the letters the-gadgeteer.com in whip cream on a sidewalk, or maybe climb up the Statue of Liberty and ...

Ok, I know you're not going to be able to get that crazy with this, but please do use your imagination!!! The picture has to be real, not fabricated and the crazier the display, the better chance you will have at winning the prize pack.

Here are a couple of very simple rules that I ask you to follow:

1. Don't destroy or harm public or private property unless you have permission
2. No photoshop fake pics like the one I just posted above as an example. The image you send me can't be an existing picture where you have used photoshop to paste the words the-gadgeteer.com over the top of it
3. The picture has to be in good taste please. No public restrooms pics, etc.
4. Email me (julie@the-gadgeteer.com) your picture before 12am EST on 5/15/08
5. Winner has to be willing to send me a picture of themselves with all the prizes, that I'll post here on the site
6. Enter as many times as you like
7. Contest open to any one living anywhere in the world

All entries will be posted for everyone to see on my Flickr account. The winner will be chosen by me by no specific criteria other than it will be the entry that I like best. I will contact and post the winner at some point during the day on 5/15/08.

What's included in the prize pack?

HP HDX Dragon Notebook (Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
500GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2)
20.1" diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920x1200) 1080p
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers with HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer
HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone, Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth
Cell Lithium Ion Battery.

Software:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
Microsoft Office
Corel PaintShop Pro X2
Corel Painter Essentials
Corel Ulead Video Studio Plus 11.5
Symantec Norton Internet Security
Viva Piñata
Microsoft Flight Sim
Microsoft Flight Sim Expansion Pack
Gears of War

Blu-Ray Movies:
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End.

The total retail value of this prize pack is over $5,000!

This contest is sponsored by HP and BuzzCorps.

Today we have yet another 31 Days of the Dragon Contest starting at BostonPocketPC.com. Their contest to win the awesome HDX Notebook package requires their readers to send an email and a picture telling about the contents of their gear bag. I love stuff like that! Be sure to come back here tomorrow as I'll be posting the details on my own contest :o)

HP and Buzzcorp's 31 Days of the Dragon Contest is trucking right along with another contest in full swing from digitalmediaphile. Their contest to win the awesome HDX Notebook package on digitalmediaphile consists of a scavenger hunt on the site for a post that has an image of a dragon, along with the search for some other info pertaining to the site itself. Go enter and good luck! Be sure to come back here tomorrow as I'll be posting the details on my own contest :o)

Another day, another 31 Days of the Dragon contest to win an HP HDX Entertainment notebook system. Today you need to visit jkontherun. Their contest consists of answering 11 questions. Go check it out now. You know you want to...

Have you entered the first two 31 Days of the Dragon contests? I've got another one for you. Today OSNN joins the mix with their contest. Their contest consists of a survey and then verification that they are an active member of the OSNN forums. Head on over and check it out!

Ars Technica launches their 31 Days of the Dragon contest to give away an HDX Entertainment notebook package from HP. They are asking their readers to create something for a game that involves Ars Technica. A skin, a level, etc. For full details check their contest page.

Today we start off wtih the first website to launch their 31 Days of the Dragon contest to give away an HDX Entertainment notebook package from HP. AbsoluteVista is asking their readers to submit a story telling why this prize will enhance their entertainment options. Head on over to their site for the full details and good luck!

Today (May 1st) is RSS Awareness Day. I personally read almost all my daily sites via Google's RSS reader. I find it so much easier and faster to use than going to each individual site looking for new articles. Back in 2004, I wrote a short RSS Primer article to introduce people to the concept.

Do you use an RSS reader, and if so, which is your favorite one to use?

Please consider subscribing to The Gadgeteer's main feed, or the user comments feed.