Top 10 Software Freebies

Stepping slightly outside the core areas that I normally blog on I thought I’d be slightly light hearted for a moment. As we’re in the midst of conference season and I don’t seem to out of a software symposium or conference for more than five minutes this month, I wanted to list the top ten best freebies I’ve picked up this year.

In no particular order of ranking, here’s what my travel bag seems to have become cluttered with over the last few weeks:

1 – Moleskinned notebook (oh so geeky, but nice)
2 – Inflatable head pillow for plane travel (dribble resistant)
3 – Victorinox laptop protector (posh)
4 – Drinking flask (basic, but always good)
5 – Oidz magnets (great to give to nephews)
6 – Gel hand warmers (pointless, but interesting)
7 – Post it note holder/wallet
8 – Pedometer (how far have I walked between sessions?)
9 – International electric plug adapter
10 – Mints (boring, but you always need them)

NB – you’ll notice that I haven’t included T-shirts in this list despite their ubiquitous presence at every software industry event from Seattle to Sydney. If you’re wondering why, well, let me just say that I had to wait 20 minutes in a queue to get into the Microsoft Tech.Ed conference one year just to get around the glut of developers blocking the entrance hall trying to get their hands on a free t-shirt. Even I have my limits.

Have you noticed these kind of freebies? Do you like them or do they annoy the hell out of you? Maybe you have one of your own to add – or your least favourite perhaps?