Microsoft Gives Bloggers A Free Ride At CES (Literally)

Bloggers covering the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas can skip the taxi lines while getting in some Halo 3 time, courtesy of Microsoft.The software maker has partnered with PodTech to operate a bus that will transport bloggers around town to the show's various venues.

Onboard the 'Media Center Express': Playable demos of the Xbox 360 smash hit Halo 3, as well as assorted hardware running Windows Vista. Microsoft also will provide "refreshments" for the riders.

The bus will depart for Vegas from Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus on Saturday (carrying PodTech's Scoble and a few other bloggers), and start its show route on Sunday.

Bloggers just need to register at CES's 'Bloghaus' to get a ticket to ride.

As a general rule, the blogosphere never misses a chance to trash Microsoft, so this may be the company's way of courting favor with the e-stained wretches.

Presumably they're just as vulnerable as MSM are to the siren song of finger sandwiches and free (as in beer) beer.