A project leader from Houston, Texas, is the lucky winner of MC Press Online's “Where You Want, When You Want” Giveaway and free Apple iPad. The contest was named for the fact readers of MC Press Online can find the most comprehensive collection of IBM Power Systems solutions "where you want and when you want" them from www.mcpressonline.com. 

Mike Gold won the new Apple iPad, a $500 value, after entering the MC Press Online contest that was open to readers who downloaded white papers, webcasts, or software from the MC Resource Centers. 

Gold's name was picked in a random drawing from among a large number of entrants who participated in the contest that ran from October 1 until just before Christmas. Kara Keating-Stuart, MC Press Advertising sales manager, chose the winner in the drawing conducted December 20, 2010. 

Gold, who works for Mincron Software Systems of Houston, was delighted with the lavish prize and expressed appreciation for the benefits that many readers experience using the MC Press Online website: “I was ecstatic to hear that I had won an iPad, especially just days before Christmas!" he said. "What a nice unexpected present!  Now I’ll be able to use my iPad to check out the latest MC Press Online tips and articles.  Thanks for everything, MC Press!” 

Jeff Phillips, MC Press director of Marketing, noted Gold's good luck saying, "We had a large number of entrants vying for this year's most popular high-tech item—an Apple iPad," he said. "Partly because of the great prizes at MC Press Online, we are seeing a very strong response by readers in the course of downloading white papers and other materials from the MC Resource Centers." Phillips stressed that readers only have to check a single box before registering to enter the contest. 

"While we can't give an iPad  to every visitor, we hope nevertheless that people appreciate the free information that is available from the MC Resource Centers and realize the value of the on-demand webcasts, free-trial software, and complimentary white papers—the cost of which is borne by the IBM Business Partners who support the program," said Keating-Stuart. 

Those who entered the iPad contest but didn't win this time can take heart in the fact that MC Press already has launched a new contest, the "Cut Through the Noise" giveaway (U.S. and Canada Only).  The prize? A pair of Bose Q15 noise-cancelling headphones with a suggested retail value of more than $300. The random drawing to determine the winner of the headphones will take place March 31, 2011, and a winner will be notified by email. Just submit a completed registration form, available from the MC Resource Centers, for your chance to win. 

"Throughout the contest period, we will be encouraging everyone in the IBM space to visit all of the many MC Press Web sites, including the MC Press Online news portal and home page," said Phillips, who reminded contestants that when entering the giveaway, only one entry per visitor can be accepted; duplicate, incomplete, or otherwise invalid entries will be discarded.