What is sad is the fact that I have seen mention that there were only 5000
people to attended HPWorld this year. Is this truly a fact? If so, where are
all the Compaq and DECies as well as the hp-UX users? Has it crossed
anyone's mind that maybe the budgets and the timing are just very poor. This
was only one of 4 years since the late 80's that I have missed HPWorld.

Just wondering

-----Original Message-----
From: OpenMPE Support Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
VANCE,JEFF (HP-Cupertino,ex1)
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 7:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HP World 2003 Conference Survey


Ron wrote:
> Here is something to consider.  I was not at HP World, but I
> have heard stories from people who were.  The stories center
> around the feeling that Interex has moved away from the MPE
> users.

I was there and did hear similar concerns. I personally don't believe
it at all. I believe that Interex has a very tough balancing job:
balancing MPE (their original members and the group that really
launched Interex) vs. all of the other tracts, balancing their own
members' needs/wants vs. HP's desires and stipulations, balancing
their own view of what the conference should be vs. Encompass'
(Compaq/DEC users group) view, etc.  From what I heard it was a LOT
of additional work to combine the two large users groups at this
event.  I believe that HP wants the user groups combined, which
makes sense to me. At the same time, there are lots politics,
membership, monetary issues, etc. to be resolved -- and I think
I am probably just scratching the surface.  So, all in all, given
the circumstances and constraints, it was a pretty good show.

Personally, my biggest concern is that the conference is becoming
a trade show. From what I've been told this is how COMPAQ ran things.
COMPAQ had control of the content (like Sun does today), and the
vendors, and about everything else.  In the past, even though HP
is always a major sponsor, HP has not exercised this level of control.
I believe HP, Interex and all of the members are best served by a
technical and business oriented CONFERENCE -- not trade show. It
is beneficial to see HP competitors there providing sessions and in
the Expo hall. We(HP) should not be afraid to compare our products
face-to-face with IBM, EMC, CISCO, etc. This is good for our
customers, shows we are confident, lets our customers make "A" vs.
"B" comparisons on the spot -- isn't that what you want to do?, and
demonstrates the slogan that HP wants to be your business partner.

If you do not want HP World to morph into a full-fledged HP trade
show then you need to let HP, Interex, and Encompass know. Voice
your opinion on:
  http://www.hpworld2003.com/survey/displaySurvey.do

This survey is for people who attended, but maybe there is a way
to communicate why you did NOT attend in this form too.

Well, I guess I've written enough for now...

 Jeff Vance, vCSY

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