jw@pan.UUCP (Jamie Watson) (09/02/88)
Since returning to Europe from Xhibition 88 a few days ago, I've been debating whether to post a summary of my impressions of the conference. On one hand, it is easy to indulge in bashing the organizers of something like this; on the other, I wouldn't want to be in the position of having to do it. I've finally decided to speak up, because I'm afraid that too many people might be deceived by what they were exposed to there. My major complaint is about the "Strategic Seminar". This semainar was presented by two people, one of whom was touted as the "European expert" from the "European Leaders" in X, a company called IXI Ltd. This guy was proud to announce to us that he (and his company) had 9 whole months of experience with X!?!?!? NINE MONTHS?!?!? This qualifies him to be an instructor in a "Strategic Seminar"? Obviously, I'm living in Europe, and have been for a number of years, and the only time I've ever heard of this company is when they offered to distribute the V11R2 tape - for a fee. Now, I've been distributing the MIT tape in Europe for over a year, and I do it for free, if the recipient will simply agree to send my tape back. Jordan Hubbard is now working in Munich, and offering to send out large amounts of X software to anyone who will send him a tape, which is pretty much the same deal I am offering. Does making money off a copying a tape make someone an X expert now? Sigh. The content of the "Strategic Seminar" was essentially a bad joke. I have been attending X classes and tutorials for two years now - since Usenix in Atlanta - so I decided that there wasn't a lot for me to gain by attending yet another such class. So I opted for the "Strategic" track. Much to my surprise and disappointment, the "Strategic Seminar" turned out to be "A Beginner's Introduction to X" in disguise - and not a very good one at that. The technical information presented was far too sketchy to be of any real use to anyone, and the "marketing" info was warmed-over guesses from the X conference six months ago. I really don't see how anyone could have benefited from this "Seminar". Perhaps it would be worthwhile to mention what I was hoping would be discussed at a "Strategic Seminar". Things like overviews of what the major companies are offering now, and in the near future, that relates to X. Considered opinions of what is going on with widget sets and UIMS standards. This is obviously of great concern for the immediate future to anyone interested in X, since there were no less than six different proposals for a "standard" UIMS being touted in the technical sessions and exhibit hall. Do the people who put on this "Seminar" know what the word "Strategic" means? It should mean presenting some information that can be of use in making future decisions about X and X related products, NOT "A Moron's Introduction to X". There are lots more obvious things that should have been discussed. Like NeWS, and what its potential impact on the X market is. Display PostScript, what it is, and how it might be merged into X in the future. In summary, I want to stress that the real problem was the very poor level of the courses, seminars, and presentations. It is easy to be forgiving of poor organization and poor execution when the conference is worth the trip. Unfortunately, that was not the case this time. jw