The developer web site, CodeProject, are running a competition throughout February* to encourage people to try Windows Azure.

The first prize is a funky HP TouchSmart multimedia laptop, with 20 copies of Windows 7 Ultimate as runner-up prizes.

All you have to do to enter is sign up for a trial Windows Azure account, then upload and deploy the special sample application that you can download from the competition page on the CodeProject web site.

The instructions are easy to follow and I was surprised by how easy it was to publish a real application to “the cloud”. My sample application can be viewed here.

* competition closing date is 28th February 2010.

I’ll be attending a free 1-day event dedicated to Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud computing platform on Saturday 27th February.

The event is being held at the iCentrum Conference Centre, Aston Science Park, Birmingham and runs all day from 9am to 5pm. It is very much a hands-on session, so attendees need to bring their own laptops, with the Windows Azure SDK already installed, so that they can follow the demos and sample projects.

More information can be found on the iCentrum website.