Microsoft's marketing department is getting ready to go into overdrive. Not only is the software vendor slowly turning up the noise around the upcoming version of its Longhorn operating system (which won't hit stores until late 2006), the company is also gearing up for a big launch for its Xbox 360 late 2005.

Although the device isn't expected in stores until the end of this year (the exact launch date hasn't yet been revealed), Microsoft will start giving away some units as early as August 28. The contest will give away an Xbox every ten minutes for a period of nine weeks – making for a total of 9072 free Xbox computers to hit the streets prior to the launch.

If you can't wait and fear you won't be lucky enough to get your hands on one of the consoles, scavenge Craigslist and eBay. As some of the units are sure to end up there.