VMworld


58 Replies Last post: Oct 2, 2008 1:03 PM by Paul Huml   1 2 3 4 Previous Next
djoman30 Candidate 7 posts since
Jul 4, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 15, 2008 5:14 PM

VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

The conference being in Las Vegas is cool and all, but the ratio of people to space is rediculous.  The coference rooms are too small, the hallways are too crowded, and people lined up for sessions is stopping traffice.  How rediculous.  Whoever planned this thing should be "taken out" old Vegas style.  They were not even going to let me in a session because it was over capacity.  How is that my fault?  I paid to be able to sit confortably in any seat in any session at any given time.  Now Microsoft TechEd knows how to have a conference and its on the scale of 60000 people.  There are always snacks and stuff in the halls when the sessions are over....you never go thirsty or hungry.  I have yet to see that kind of setup here.  The sessions and hallways were NEVER overcrowded.   I am VERY disapointed so far.  I hope you all agree as well.  Where can we go to complain?

mrehere Accomplice 40 posts since
Jun 3, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
1. Sep 15, 2008 6:20 PM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference IS AMAZING

 

I absolutely DISAGREE with virtually (no pun intended) everything you said. This is my first VMworld conference and I think everything has been executed commendably.

 

 

My hat is off to VMWare for an outstanding conference.

 

 

Scott Walker Apprentice 11 posts since
May 3, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
2. Sep 16, 2008 11:36 AM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

I agree the lack of planning here is a joke!

Hallways are crowded.  The conference rooms are too small!  I register for a session then see people getting in who are not and seating is brutal. And they give me grief to get in.  Excuse me if you didn't registet then to bad roam the hallways.  I've been to Tech Ed and Windows connections they are far better organized events.

yan pritzker Candidate 1 posts since
Sep 2, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
3. Sep 16, 2008 11:43 AM in response to: Scott Walker
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

Wifi appears to be either over capacity or maybe badly distributed as well. BOF sessions are overcrowded and hard to hear or have a group discussion with background noise. They should have gotten their own rooms.

Lance Bishop Candidate 1 posts since
Aug 6, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
4. Sep 16, 2008 12:25 PM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

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This has been a horrible experience!!! I have spent more

time feeling like herded cattle than anything else.  I have attended MANY conferences over the past

10 year, including several IBM, Linux World, and Microsoft. By far this is the

worst planned and executed conference that I have ever attended. You cannot

walk in the hall; all the sessions are full, if you do get in one you cannot

hear.

 

 

All the sessions that I wanted to attend are full. The

Support Desk has told me some of those classes will be rescheduled…WHEN? I

actually asked to have my week passed changed to a 2 day pass and I was told

no.  I will probably leave anyways; my

time is more valuable than this.

 

 

James Richter Apprentice 4 posts since
Sep 10, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
5. Sep 16, 2008 1:37 PM in response to: mrehere
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference IS AMAZING

 

Clearly you've never been to a TechEd conference.  If it's any consolation for the original poster, last year at SF was even worse.  The crush of humanity was shoulder to shoulder for 15 minutes while people were trying to get into sessions.

 

 

TechEd doesn't use convention centers that are this small, that's why it work so much better.  It's not so much the individual rooms, but the whole area having people crammed in like sardines.  New Orleans, Orlando, San Diego, they spread stuff out much better so it's not all 17,000 attendees standing in 4 hallways like it is here.

 

 

I totally agree about the snacks/drinks as well.  It'd be nice if we could get some water that isn't in an open cup.

 

 

cneal Candidate 1 posts since
Sep 10, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
6. Sep 16, 2008 2:29 PM in response to: James Richter
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference IS AMAZING

Why don't you fill the big (BPA-free) plastic bottle you were given in your bag?

David Youngberg Candidate 1 posts since
Sep 8, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
8. Sep 16, 2008 5:57 PM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

Wow, this doesn't feel crowded to me at all- you obviously never went to COMDEX.  Oh, the humanity.  Sure, there are lots of people here, but seriously, they have handled the crowds extremely well.  If you miss a session, just grab the slides online later.  The wifi has been difficult to associate in spots- but just go sit down at the couches and grab some Cat5 if you need to get on.

Bruce Hartmann Candidate 1 posts since
May 22, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
9. Sep 16, 2008 6:04 PM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

I agree. It's a little overwhelming. 

 

 

I gave up on the wireless and just use my Cingular card.

Dmitri Fedorov Apprentice 16 posts since
Jun 27, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
10. Sep 17, 2008 5:10 PM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

 

completely agree with David.

 

 

Peter Harms Candidate 1 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
11. Sep 17, 2008 5:30 PM in response to: mrehere
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference IS AMAZING

I agree - this is my first and I'm totally impressed. I have no complaints about the venue, the food or the sessions. Sure there are lots of people, but I've never felt crowded or hearded. Hat's off to VMware for a great convention.

Steve Bailey Candidate 2 posts since
Dec 18, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
12. Sep 18, 2008 7:17 AM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

Disagree wholeheartedly.  They've done a tremendous job to keep 14,000 people moving.  Sure it's busy... Sure I feel like herding cattle but I expected that because of the number of people.

 

People who aren't happy should not come next year.. That way those of us who are OK with things have less people to deal with.

 

the only complaint I do have is that there should be at least a few minute break between sessions.  When you have a 9am-10am session and then a 10am-11am session it's very difficult to get from one to another and still get a seat.  I just started leaving about 5-10 minutes before the end of the session and all was good.

Aurelio Barranco Candidate 2 posts since
Aug 26, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
13. Sep 18, 2008 8:29 AM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

 

I can see where you're coming from, but I can't entirely agree.

 

 

The conference is pretty packed, but it's not like I havn't been able to find a quiet spot for contemplation when necessary.

 

 

The venue is at capacity, but then it's compact enough that getting between back to back sessions is not impossible and I'm not spending all my time wandering from place to place.

 

 

I think that catering has been excellent, I'd probably be a little annoyed if I had any major food allergies since the range of food at lunch is restrictive to some (any comments from sufferers ?), but I think it's very impressive that I've been able to have a sit down warm lunch every day in 15 minutes.

 

 

If I had to level a criticism somewhere it would be with the organisation of the Lab sessions. I failed miserably to get onto any on Monday, and for the rest of the week I am forced to go to sessions that conflict with the Labs. In an ideal world, Lab sessions that ran into the evenings would have suited me, but I don't know how people feel.

 

 

 

 

 

A

 

 

Paul Kaufmann Apprentice 1 posts since
Jul 27, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
14. Sep 18, 2008 8:32 AM in response to: djoman30
Re: VMWare 2008 Conference capacity is a joke!!!

 

It is commendable when someone organises a venue for 14000 people and so far I haven't seen some major problems.

I only feel sorry for all those who didn't register for the sessions and hence had to wait.

Me for my part - I said no to the beer at the bar and spent instead my time building a schedule. Therefore I also expected to be well seated in those sessions and that is exactly what happened. The only disturbing thing was people chatting and playing PC during the sessions.

 

 

About the "cattle" experience may I suggest that you start behaving like business people and dress accordingly and you maybe you will be treated differently?

 

 

Many thanks to the organisers having made it possible to attend such a great venue.

 

 

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