Microsoft has cut the thrills around the edges at this year’s TechEd conference, but it's still offering the high quality educational experience that people came for.

The impact of the worldwide economic downturn is obvious. For starters, the shuttle service running from attendees' hotels to the Los Angeles Convention Center didn't run for the entire afternoon. People were hiring taxis and walking from 10:45-5:45.

Many familiar faces were not in the press room due to reduced travel budgets, and some of the amenities that we enjoyed in previous years were not provided (open bars, buffets). Microsoft even put in extra effort to help press attend remotely.

The industry parties, which TechEd is famous for, were toned down—including Microsoft's own receptions. The company typically rents out all of Universal Studios when it holds a conference in LA, but not this year.

A number of Microsoft employees were also told that their presence at the show did not justify the travel expense, and they could not come. TechEd has always been a break-even event; it had to be scaled down to break even this year

A Microsoft executive told me that the company was being a “good corporate citizen” by not holding extravagant parties when many people are struggling. In my opinion, it also has an obligation to its shareholders to reduce expenses.

Attendees are receiving the training that they came for—Microsoft did not skimp out on that. But the difference between this year and years past is marked.