Engadget's 3rd Birthday Giveaway - Day 1

Hard to believe it's already been three years since the launch of Engadget, isn't it? We're celebrating our third birthday this month (Saturday the 3rd to be exact) and so to say thanks for being so awesome to us we're having three days of sweet giveaways. We're kicking things off today with a bunch of nice prizes:

• Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX + Copy of Lego Star Wars II + Xbox 360 for Windows Controller
• SanDisk Sansa e280R
• Netgear WGR101 Wireless Travel Router
• Samsung A920 (Sprint)
• v-moda bass-freq headphones

Here's what you have to do to win:

Make a post in the comments below with links to your favorite Engadget posts from each of the past three years (i.e. post your fave link from 2004, your fave from 2005, and your fave from 2006). Make sure you have one post from each year, as well as why it's your favorite post of that year, otherwise we have to disqualify your entry. It's a little tougher if you haven't been reading the site since 2004, but you gotta give something back to the old school, right? We'll pick five winners at random from among all qualifying entries.


A few rules (yeah, there are always rules):

• You may only enter this specific contest once. If you enter this contest more than once you'll be automatically disqualified and barred from all future giveaways. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You may enter our other Birthday contests, but you can't win more than once; if you happen to win more than once (which is pretty unlikely, but still) we'll ask you to choose just one of your prizes.
  
• You can only win once.
• This contest is open to anyone anywhere.
  
• Contest is open until 11:59pm EST on Sunday, March 4th.

Thanks and good luck to everyone. Stay tuned for our next two giveaways!

[surfgeko @ Mar 5th 2007 8:35PM]

2004- http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/08/how-to-hacking-the-ipod-firmware-changing-the-graphics/
Thanks engadget, mine says "Down with RIAA" now! =)

2005- http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
ELL OH ELL, man, look at how far we have come, i want one of them cell phones!haha

2006- http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/26/how-to-permanently-activate-windows-vista-at-least-for-now/
Huzzah, vista hacking at it's finest!

[x051889 @ Mar 5th 2007 8:48PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/
2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
2006:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/watch-out-smashmystuff-mountain-men-completely-obliterate-a-ps/

[hokie1745 @ Mar 5th 2007 9:12PM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/02/interview-helen-greiner-chairman-and-cofounder-of-irobot/
Forget hilary, if there is going to be a women on top of the world it will be this one and her army of robots.

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/03/the-engadget-amp-joystiq-interview-nintendos-shigeru/
Miyamoto has done more for video games than any other man in the world, without his brilliance we would all be lost in a dark mist of uninnovative crap.

2006: Nintendo Revolution gets real name: http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/27/nintendo-wii-the-revolution-gets-a-real-name/
I remember this day vividly, i frantically called all my friends and we were all going nuts thinking WTF is Wii supposed to mean, but in the end we got over the odd name and embraced the most innovative and fun console the world has ever seen.

[Chris @ Mar 5th 2007 9:26PM]

2004: http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/03/engadget-nominated-for-best-tech-blog-of-2004/
Because you are the best.

2005: http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/26/engadgets-2005-2006-intels-chip-lineup-cheatsheet/
Yes! Intel finally on MAC!

2005: http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/boeings-laser-equipped-747-400f-ready-for-testing/
There's something really cool about a plane with a laser.

[Scott @ Mar 5th 2007 10:03PM]

WOOT! Happy 3rd Birthday, you guys rock! You are my first link in my "random reading" folder of bookmarks. I go here about 8 times a day haha from work mostly.

Grats on keeping up the great work guys...so what do I win?! ;)

Peace and gadget grease!

[Ashley @ Mar 5th 2007 11:24PM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/
2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
2006:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/watch-out-smashmystuff-mountain-men-completely-obliterate-a-ps/

[Tukachinchilla @ Mar 5th 2007 11:33PM]

I'll save you the PS3 hyperbole and the toy of the day, it's been covered. I'll take my trilogy from the tribulations of That Thing Called Vista:

2004: You need to have something on the order of HAL or W.O.P.R. to run this OS: http://www.engadget.com/2004/05/05/longhorn-to-require-pcs-from-the-future/

2005: Forget the Window, look at the pretty Vista http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/21/longhorn-official-name-windows-vista/

2006: Like a broken record, delay...delay.....delay.... http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/24/windows-vista-delayed-again-maybe/ [I'm surprised I couldn't find any more of these]

[Kevin @ Mar 6th 2007 2:13AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/31/ds-lite-us-street-date-broken-now-available/=
- i loved the idea of the ds, but wanted them to make it look less... stupid... and they did! i got mine the day it came out, and the street day breaking made me mad :[

http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/05/nintendo-pushing-ds-wireless-gaming/
-this is just awesome, but also stupid because my favorite game (advance wars ds) came out before the wifi did :[

http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/is-this-a-controller-for-the-xbox-2/
- ha i remember readin this, i was so excited and now that i look back wow that is a sad knockoff

[Prince @ Mar 6th 2007 3:44AM]

Happy B'day!!!!

[Larry X @ Mar 6th 2007 1:34PM]

2006 http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/20/lumenlab-releases-evo-edtv-projector-for-five-benjamins/

Even though I bought one and it sucked ass it did get me into projection, I'm looking at a 10ft screen right now!

2005
http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/13/robocup-2005-pics-and-video-robot-madness/

I'm a fan of robots, so sue me.

2004
http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/20/sony-playstation-portable-psp-hands-on-review/

I know everyone else loves the DS but my PSP widescreen is an awesome portable almost everything machine.

[Andrew @ Mar 6th 2007 4:25PM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/05/11/grizzly-bear-fighting-suits-for-sale-on-ebay/

We all remember the classic video of his testing this thing out yes? One of my favorite stories involving mad Canadian inventors

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/03/the-engadget-amp-joystiq-interview-nintendos-shigeru/

Not only was the interview awesome to read, it was one of those moments where you realize tech blogging has hit the big time (and that engadget might just be legit)

2006:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/enigma-code-cracked-by-m4-project/

Open Source + Nazi code busting = good times.
Also, the comments on this post were pretty amusing e.g. "let's hope this keeps the History Channel alive for a few more years." followed by "Yeah, I was worried that the history channel was going to run out of subject matter..."

[kingnothing2005 @ Mar 6th 2007 8:37PM]

2004 -
http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/02/ipod-altoids-battery-pack/
- whats cooler than DIY and it increases how long I can play my ipod.

2005 -
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
- bbs ftw I remember a handful of these items as well.

2006 -
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/06/another-powerbook-violently-explodes/
- nothing is better than exploding computers.

[jan @ Mar 6th 2007 10:23PM]

Happy B-day!
http://features.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/

[Anthony Sager @ Mar 7th 2007 12:07AM]

2004:
Microsoft wanted to have Xbox 2 ready for xmas 2004
http://www.engadget.com/2004/04/26/microsoft-wanted-to-have-the-xbox-2-ready-by-xmas-2004/
why?: Because from this moment on a savings account was opened to save for my new and now favorite console

2005:
Even better Windows Mobile 2005 screenshots
http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/22/even-better-windows-mobile-2005-screenshots/
why?: got my lips salivating waiting for my now ppc-6700 and motorola q both with wm5

and 2006:
Wii Launch Wrap Up
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/19/wii-launch-wrap-up/
why?: Because I spent the night outside of target to get not 1...not 2...not 3...but 4 WIIS!!! Everyone had a great christmas!

[AAWMAN @ Mar 7th 2007 12:17AM]

Enjoy your B-Day En-Gigidy

Feb 2, 2007
http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/transcends-jetflash-t2k-usb-drives-are-light-duh/

Jun 8, 2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/08/unboxing-the-sony-vaio-ux50/

Spet 14, 2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/14/2g-ipod-nano-gets-splayed/

Aloha

[Vincent Do @ Mar 7th 2007 10:59AM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/14/kryptonite-evolution-2000-u-lock-hacked-by-a-bic-pen/
I like to know low tech methods break any type of security, especially high-tech ones.

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
It's neat to see what kind of technology existed when I was still an infant.

2006:
http://wireless.engadget.com/2006/09/17/rfid-enabled-smart-shelves-heading-into-stores/
I consider myself an early adopter of new technology and see more positives than negatives. I like how posts, such as this, sparks a debate.

[Incom @ Mar 7th 2007 7:35PM]

2004:

Wii :)

http://www.engadget.com/2004/10/11/nintendo-revolution-console-in-2006/

2005:

Nintendo :)

http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/03/the-engadget-amp-joystiq-interview-nintendos-shigeru/

2006:

opps - should not have returned that one.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/walmarts-zunes-now-with-more-porn/

[tyler @ Mar 8th 2007 12:38PM]

2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/20/would-you-trade-your-ps3-for-a-lifetime-of-tacos/
2005
http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/30/nintendo-confirms-revolution-will-debut-for-less-than-300/
2004
http://www.engadget.com/2004/05/05/longhorn-to-require-pcs-from-the-future/

[holeymoley @ Mar 8th 2007 6:52PM]

2004:
http://features.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/
I'm a PC lover, but i love the way macs look.

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/05/bomb-squad-robot-inspects-bank-robbers-mouth/
Funny stuff, the robot owned him.

2006:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/06/breaking-james-kim-may-have-been-found/
Extremely sad news.

[Simon @ Mar 8th 2007 8:18PM]

Happy Birthday!!!

2004: http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/04/man-sends-80-000-text-messages-to-protest-rate-hike/
I live in New Zealand and I can't blame this guy for feeling this way!

2005: http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/28/music-thing-the-zx-spectrum-specdrum-module/
The ZX Spectrum was my first computer so this brought back many memories!

2006: http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/keepin-it-real-fake-ultimate-psp-extravaganza-edition/
I love these fakes!

[feather @ Mar 8th 2007 9:08PM]

2004: http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac
I had always wanted a mac, because i liked the interface, but my main applications arent built for the mac os so this was great news.

2005: http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/14/engadget-nominated-for-best-tech-blog-in-the-2005-weblog-awards/
I agree 110%, this is my favorite blog and I think it deserves the award.

2006: http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/iso-images-dumped-from-ps3-blu-ray-discs-via-linux/
Well, what can i say? I prefer to rent or borrow games from my friends instead of buying them. Hehe *gets a blank dvd-r out of the cabinet*. This brings me one step closer to doing that.

[Brandon @ Mar 14th 2007 1:10PM]

2004: Now all you have to do is pick up Vista!
http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/
2005: One of the funniest posts I've ever read, a true classic.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
2006: If I had $600 bucks to throw around, I at least would have done it right, but it's the thought that counts
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/watch-out-smashmystuff-mountain-men-completely-obliterate-a-ps/

[Jeff @ Mar 14th 2007 9:35PM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/18/is-this-the-t-mobile-sidekick-iii-hiptop-3/

2006: http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/sonys-playstation-3-review-roundup/

[kiwiruss @ Mar 15th 2007 8:14AM]

Here are mine

2004
http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/05/dells-ultrasharp-2005fpw-widescreen-20-inch-lcd-monitor/
- love Dell Flat Panels

2005
http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/14/dells-24-inch-2405fpw-lcd-monitor-is-real/
- Dell does it again

2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/27/nintendo-wii-the-revolution-gets-a-real-name/
- Nintendo hits a home run, Wii trashes the competition
and makes a profit !

[SAM HA @ Mar 16th 2007 1:29PM]

2006 - Tablet PCs still not catching on
http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/08/tablet-pcs-still-not-catching-on/
Always loved the tablet PC

2005 - Apple Goes Intel
http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/06/apple-goes-intel-its-true/
What's not to love now that we are all in the world of Intel:).

2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/01/dell-quietly-announces-2407wfp/
I just love the news on the dell's lcd. I don't konw how many times I have come to the site for this info when I was shopping for hte lcd.

[Garrett @ Mar 20th 2007 8:13PM]

2004- http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/03/the-winners-of-the-2004-engadget-awards/
I loved this post because it reviewed the year of gadgets so well.

2005- http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
Ha, I loved this post. You guys aren’t just smart you can also be funny! Ha

2006- http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/22/engadget-1985/
Another funny post. I can tell you guys worked hard on this one.

Happy Birthday!! And keep up the good Work!!!!!

[Tyler @ Mar 26th 2007 12:47AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/25/uk-scientists-working-on-cloaking-device/
I loved the thought of making light bend to your will, to make you invisible.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/23/the-dirt-on-nintendos-next-gen-revolution-console/
I was so excited to hear that there was a new nintendo system coming out that I almost wet my pants.

http://www.engadget.com/2004/05/20/details-on-the-game-boy-evolution-and-gamecube-next/
I found that the nintendo industry might be coming out with a gameboy that uses disc very intersting

[Mark Robertson @ Apr 19th 2007 9:25PM]

2004 turn your pc into a mac - great article
http://features.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/

2005 turn your minimac into a media center pc
http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/25/how-to-turn-your-mac-mini-into-a-media-center/

2005 how to connect your pc to hdtv
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/02/08/how-to-connect-your-pc-to-your-hdtv/

[Jason @ May 18th 2007 2:41PM]

2004
http://www.engadget.com/2004/03/04/review-of-the-replaytv-5504/

This was one of the first posts I read on here, and I actually decided to get the ReplayTV 5504 after seeing this.

2005
http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/23/the-dirt-on-nintendos-next-gen-revolution-console/

Got me all excited about the next generation nintendo console.

2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/06/dell-xps-600-renegade-supports-quad-graphics/

Got me all excited, first machine I saw that had quad graphics. I shortly later got a job at Dell and had to support this monsters.

[AA @ May 18th 2007 5:00PM]

2006: http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/reuters-debuts-machine-readable-news-for-automatic-stock-trading/
It was funny, the news topic was mildly interesting, but the post was hilarious.

2005: http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/20/how-to-hacks-finalist-controlling-your-home-with-your-psp/
My favourite hack in the series, I had to name the post.

2004: http://www.engadget.com/2004/10/20/jet-engines-on-chips/
The new item was cool, but the post had me laughing.

Keep the posts coming, Engadget rocks.

[timothy kiser @ Jun 4th 2007 1:49PM]

2004:
http://www.engadget.com/2004/03/09/igod/
Why fav - just a little weird to see a pink ipod silouhette of jesus....

2005:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/30/underdog-stinky-robot-beats-mit-in-underwater-bot/
Why fav- b/c i like underdog stories - the highschool students/illegal immigrants beating MIT'rs w/ tampons makes it that much better. And the name Stinky is a plus too.

2006:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/01/is-microsofts-origami-ready-to-take-wing/
Why fav- b/c i really wanted a ultraportable and their hype was exciting for a minute - glad i didn't get one though.

[Hamman @ Jun 29th 2007 11:41PM]

2004 - http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/09/turn-your-pc-into-a-mac/

2005 - http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/06/apple-goes-intel-its-true/

2006 - http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/06/parallels-provides-xp-on-mac-in-virtual-machine/

[Ghurty @ Jul 1st 2007 12:09PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/30/hps-pavilion-dv9000t-media-laptop/
I Believe engadget found out the date from a tip I sent (I spent 3 hours trying to get diffrent reps. to let me know about the release date)

http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/11/ekguard-service-tells-you-if-youre-having-a-heart-attack/
As an EMT, once I read about this, I made sure to mention it to alot of my "frequent flyers".

http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/23/pictures-of-hps-h6315-pocket-pc-phone/
I went right out and got one, this was the first of many pocket pc phones that I have owend


Keep up the good work

[Shaoren @ Sep 15th 2007 6:16AM]

2004 - Sony Ericsson/Microsoft pranks
http://www.engadget.com/2004/04/01/sony-ericsson-microsoft-pranks/

2005 - Nintendo confirms Revolution will debut for less than $300
http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/30/nintendo-confirms-revolution-will-debut-for-less-than-300/

2006 - Cisco -- not apple -- announces iPhone branded VoIP phones
http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/18/cisco-not-apple-announces-iphone-branded-voip-phones/

[Jamshed Khan @ Dec 27th 2007 7:12PM]

2004

http://www.engadget.com/2004/05/05/the-future-is-flexible/

I was completely BLOWN AWAY by this engadget peice of news, and have not stopped telling people about it for the past 3 years. I promise just watch we are going to have pen sized computers and just pull on a tab and a rolled up high res full color screen will roll out, this is gonna ROCK PEOPLES SOCKS! Just imagine the possiblities....

2005

http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/nokia-770-reviewed/

I have loved this gadget since day 1, why internet tablets havent caught on more I'll never understand. I have 3 high powred laptops fo rme and my wife and work, and honestly 90% of the time I am on the computer I am banking, news, weather, engadgeting, and emails. Well the 770 does all that!! and it literally fits in my pocket...



2006

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/07/intel-renames-next-gen-dual-core-chips-core-2-duo-unveils-qua/

I have been a proponent of dual processor systems since late 1997 when I got my first SMP based machine running dual pentium pros and a side smp machine running dual 233MMX chips off a tyan motherboard. then moved on to the BP6 running dual 300s overclocked to 550 and then of course the famous VP6 running PIII 700s overclocked to FSB 133 hitting 933 mhz and now I still ahve my trusty MSI Master K7D running dual Athlon XP1700s modded to MP2800 processors...

sorry for the rant but I love this stuff, and these new articles are finally giving SMP the TRUE attention it needs. There is no single processor computer as snappy and great as a SMP machine running a solid OS.

cheers