RE: Soundoff in San Antonio (was: Anyone going to AS/400 Connection)

["DeVries, Barbara" <BDeVries@xxxxxxxxx>]

Contrast this with Microsoft TechEd 99 in Dallas this week.
We get a briefcase, certification testing discounts. Lots of sessions.
MCP's were rewarded with a dinner, booze, Business card holder, cap,
followed by free night at THE Speed Zone (car racing) with more food and
more booze.

All I get from IBM is dumb commercials with "executives" walking with their
toes in the sand or people holding up incomprehensible "I AM" signs.  What
is that crap supposed to do for us?

You can sneer all you want about the seduction of professionals by cheap
entertainment, physical pleasures and gaudy goodies, but the fact of the
matter is that our peer professionals ARE SEDUCED.  You can make all the
snide remarks you want about AS400 downtime versus NT problems, but if IBM
doesn't get real about marketing, it's all for naught, as people develop
application on the cool environment.  In the final analysis, needed
applications and the recommendations of IT professionals drive the selling
of the hardware.
 
Barbara 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Bolhuis [mailto:lbolhui@ibm.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 1:53 PM
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: Soundoff in San Antonio (was: Anyone going to AS/400
> Connection)
> 
> 
> While I agree with Al that it could be a "duh" IBM move to shorten
> Sound Off, I have heard other things are gone from San Antone as
> well.  There will be no certification testing, live or diagnostic
> assessments, at that conference.  This despite the fact that a nearly
> constant stream of attendees were taking tests in SanFran and
> following up with sessions aimed at filling their deficiencies!
> 
> What goes next???
> 
>  - Larry
> 
> Al Barsa, Jr. wrote:
> > 
> > At 09:01 AM 5/25/99 -0500, you wrote:
> > >This ANOTHER Common "duh" move ?
> > 
> > Maybe, maybe not.  It's possible that it's a "duh" IBM 
> move.  Keep in mind
> > that there are many at IBM who would like to have the dirty 
> laundry swept
> > under the rug as much as possible.
> 
> -- 
> Larry Bolhuis         | What do you want to reload today?
> Arbor Solutions, Inc  | 
> (616) 451-2500        | Two rules to success in life:
> lbolhui@ibm.net       | 1. Never tell people everything you know.
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