Last night could've been a tech geeks wildest dream. The Palm Pre launch party was held on the grounds of Raleigh Studios, where a private, wine country-esque farmers market was followed by a suprise comedy performance to fete the phone's release.

The only thing missing? The Pre. Plenty of flat screens were set up in between the wood booths where a looped video of the Pre played, and where guests could send troops in Iraq a shout out--the farmers market was a donation-based benefit for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America--but a hands-on experience? That was kept under wraps.

Such a low-key night for such an anticipated release had us thinking that this must have been a pre Pre launch party, more about the night's charity than the new technology. Especially since the Pre seemed nowhere in sight.

However, we discovered that there was a VIP room where the Pre was hiding, available only to elite party guests. Or to those willing to grease the palms of a chain smoking security guard who was selling access coupons on the sly.

We witnessed such an exchange between musician Ray Toro (from My Chemical Romance) and his pals, who passed a couple of coupons on to him saying "the guy with the cigarette is selling these. Here you go. Shhhh." How scandalous!

Maybe the party throwers thought that a surprise appearance from Jerry Seinfeld was enough to appease rest of us? Well, they were right. The nearly false launch was elevated to a sputter thanks to Seinfeld's 20 minute set equating compulsive, mid-conversation phone checking to opening up and reading a magazine right in someone's face, and a bit about public restrooms. "I'm not a horse! I don't want to be in a stall!"