[Info-vax] 2009 VMS Bootcamp notice

[Hein RMS van den Heuvel]

On Jan 10, 5:27 pm, JF Mezei <jfmezei.spam... at vaxination.ca> wrote:

> Considering that Bootcamp is the only major VMS event left , and
> considering they will have a brand spanking new version of VMS,

Conceivably they could work more aggressively with HPTF (Vegas Tech
Forum) and present some solid OpenVMS value there for a change. Maybe
even a bootcamp like whole day, including the  plenary time slot,
where typically no alternative is offered.

> I don't know how many people the event needs to break even.

That's a good question. Is was supposed to be mildly revenue
generating, if you do not have to count the engineering time too
precisely.
Because the remaining engineers are now much more dispersed then
before (the Nashua office is closed and many have no office in the
Marlboro)  it becomes harder to 'steal' and hour here and there, or
expect them to join after hours in a common location. Integrating gack
into  Connect/HPTF and using that location would make this even
harder.

> But if  enough people show interest, and Sue can go to her superiors and show
> that despite the economic situation, she can get more people than
> necessary to break even, perhaps HP will reconsider.

I doubt it, but it should be tried.
You have hit on the biggest issue I have with Ann's Email.
Maybe I missed an attendance poll, but it certainly seems to me that
'Ann' (HP) decided for us that it is all gloom and doom out there. How
about letting us be the judge of that. HP can speak for itself, but
not for me!
Maybe the gloom and doom translates to several companies nixing
grandiose world-hunger-solving SOA plans and stretching OpenVMS
solutions longer than originally planned and may that even come with
(minor) new sales (itanium)?

> I would urge everyone whose employer would be willing to fund going to
> the bootcamp this year to get in touch with Sue to let her know. The
> more people do it, the more chances of bootcamp happening.

Yes, some letter of intend or something like that.


> If Bootcamp is self funding/revenu neutral, and if HP has every
> intention to continue to develop VMS, then it has no reason to not hold
> the event.

Well, you need engineers.
Those had been hit over the years,  and last week was an other black
week.
Many casualties. Not much left!

But even if several potential bootcamp contributors have been let go
(recently) , then I'd like to think that many (all?!) of those would
be ready to step up to one more show!
It has already happened. Myself, Guy P, Steve L, all ex-OpenVMS
Engineers have presented at the bootcamp 'on their own nickle' for
'the greater good of OpenVMS' as well as (of course) the potential to
drum up business over time.
Recent ex-engineers may well be interested in an opportunity to
network in the hope of scoring a good new job. Bruce E, and Norman L
all come at no cost to HP showing of their skills, companies and
products without turning it into a marketing event. In an other reply
Guy already indicates he and Cmos are ready to come again. Yes they
would mention how Maklee can help you if need be, but you can learn
from their presentations and hallway conversations.

> Does HP really want more "HP is killing VMS" debates to start at this point in time ?

That large HP company does not care. Some fractions do.

> If all else fails, perhaps Sue could organise a pub crawl after hours
> that would bring customers and engineers together to discuss kernel
> issues over a Guiness or two ?

Travel is hard to justify for pub-crawl.
Maybe a 'working breakfast' where most come the night before and
happen to meet up? :-)
A scaled back (2 day) event with social time should be feasible I
would like to think.

Indications from my first two assignments this year suggest that
flights may be priced reasonably (MHT - STL roundtrip was $300) and
hotels may well come down some, or at least not go up further.

[ I already intend(ed) to send an Email roughly with the above (but
not in the "reply to" style) to Ann M,  but figured I'd feel the
waters here first. ]

Cheers,
Hein.