OSNews sponsor Hewlett-Packard is extending an offer to OSNews readers who register for the upcoming HP Discover conference: “This is HP’s largest global conference for customers and partners attracting 10,000 IT executives, managers, architects, engineers, and solution experts from around the world. Join them to network and explore pivotal technology developments, best practices, and strategies.” Readers can get a $300 discount on registration by using this link and using the discount code: “BLOG.”
Will there be free food?
I think they are serving Roast Fiorina with side of sliced expectations.
Oh, a $300 discount.. on an unspecified price.
Who can seriously justify paying to go to these conferences?
I don’t know, all I know is I never get to go. My first company just sold off the consumer division the year before I was hired, making the trip for all the developers to Comdex just pointless enough to lack any credible reason for anyone to go, least of all a new hire. And likewise with my current job, prior to my hire, everyone always went to Vegas for a trade show.
Maybe I just have bad breath, talk too much about things I shouldn’t in polite company, or just frighten the day walkers too much.
I’ve never gotten to go either. I’d like to experience one if I ever got a chance. I’ve worked for two companies that would pay for technology conferences, but only for upper managers and executives. For all I know these conferences may be intended for executives rather than IT workers. It’s easy to wonder what they’re doing while everyone else is back at the office working at our desks. I have a lingering suspicion that they might be unofficial company-paid vacations.
I have a suspicion that’s there’s more than one reason they’re always in Vegas….
In 1998, I actually attended a conference at the Waikiki Hilton in Hawaii – the sessions were on the top floor, with no walls, overlooking the beach. I’m geek enough not to have missed a single session – but it’s REALLY distracting to try to listen to dry discussions on software engineering and code refactoring when surf’s up.
Well, Vegas actually makes it cheaper to attend a non-local conference. From the states a weekend trip including airfare and hotel at a not terrible hotel is around $500.
That’s one reason but I can think of a few more, most of them involving things not legal in most other places.
Well, the thing about vegas, is a lot of people think much more is legal there than there really is. Its not the Netherlands. Speaking of which, why aren’t more conferences held in Amsterdam?
In research, conferences are one of the main communication channels through which results are made public and discussed. So it’s a good idea to check out those which are related to your area from time to time, and to get to speak at them too.
Here, I guess it’s the same, but more company-esque, so financial discussions and vague long-term plans that will never work out as expected.
Edited 2012-05-16 07:13 UTC
If you have any interest in Python (the programming language, not snakes), you should try a PyCon. It’s inexpensive, held in normal cities, and attended by normal people in casual dress who love creating and using technology. Plus, you actually learn useful things with minimal marketing distractions.
I attend a lot of slick conferences, but I NEVER miss a Pycon!
There’s no PyCon where I live. Heck, there’s hardly any conferences here worth bothering with
Sorry. I sometimes feel similarly about San Francisco – I think people there could attend conventions every single day of the year.
PyCons are held in Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan, though, so you’re surrounded if you have means to travel a bit.
And if not, it’s a community conference – you could always just organize PyCon Philippines yourself if you’re interested enough. Wish I lived a little closer – I’d love to help, but it’s a fair swim from Texas. 😉