Mar 8, 2008 4:13 pm US/Central
SXSW: Laptops As Far As The Eye Can See
Anna Gonzalez, Web Producer
AUSTIN (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
CBS11TV.com Web Producer Anna Gonzalez is attending SXSW. She's there covering it as a journalist, but she's also a fan of a lot of the stuff there. These reports are her impressions of what she's seeing.
Walking into the Austin Convention Center Friday afternoon, the first thing I noticed were several dozen young people spread out on white couches and chairs. Cow skin rugs lay underneath them. Seven out of every eight were working on their laptops; the ACC is equipped with WiFi.
The entire lobby was filled with people starting their journey at the Interactive and Film Festivals at South By Southwest.
Most of the people waiting in line to register didn't look older than 30 -- and even that's probably an overestimate. The two people in front of me talked about their own start up companies. A woman read funny stories to her friend from her Blackberry. Volunteers in light blue shirts were shouting to herd the crowds through the line.
Nearly three hours later, I was handed my photo badge and an envelope. In it were colorful cards, each highlighting a different party throughout the week.
Because the festival draws so many people, gatherings of various kinds of artists occur all throughout the ten-day festival.
After I was cleared for entry, I looked at my options. I had a color-coded guide, my thoroughly researched schedule, highlight with notes, and my laptop.
I put it all away and decided to just roam the building. What were people up to?
The first thing I noticed was that people were expressing themselves and making bold statements with their clothes.
The next thing I noticed was the time, so I moved into the first of four experiences of the night. Click here to read more.
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