VMworld.com: Lack of interest in rPath?? ...

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3 Replies Last post: Mar 31, 2008 1:11 PM by martywesley

Marcus Vollmer

28 posts since
Mar 18, 2008

Mar 25, 2008 5:43 AM

Lack of interest in rPath??

I am somewhat disappointed by the lack of third-party interest in this experts discussion.

Is there a slow up take or lack of interest in rPath? The maximum number of views on the discussions, almost a week later, is less than 120. Only one or two other people aside from myself, and Melissa Richards (who appears to be your marketing person), and Marty (sales maybe?).

With the amount of traffic you would expect from vmworld and all the promotional marketing done by rPath (multiple announcements, newsletters etc). I would have expected to see views in the 1000s.

Why do you think that is? Are you disappointed with the uptake?

The reason I ask is that I don't want to recommend a solution that won't be here 18 months from now. I'm seeing dropping prices, no clear-cut pricing, poor security and a lack of answers to the hard questions. rPath has a great package management solution but seems to be missing the other components.

Marcus

ericni25

89 posts since
Sep 10, 2007

1. Mar 29, 2008 12:24 PM

in response to: Marcus Vollmer

Re: Lack of interest in rPath??

This is our third expert session hosted on VMworld.com, we have over 12,000 session downloaded each week, and this expert session has had 500+ session views. We haven't managed to get community members to engage on the discussion boards, although we haven't been going out of our way to market the function either.

I think the this is less a function of rPath and more a function of VMworld.com just getting statarted hosting expert session from industry leaders/thinkers.

If you look at the views of other expert sessions, they are very similiar, each of the expert session have well over 1000 downloads of their PDF documentation. So there is clearly interest in the subject, but not much interest in chatting online I guess. We hope to slowly involve more members as we continue the expert series.

Thanks for your participation.

Eric

Marcus Vollmer

28 posts since
Mar 18, 2008

2. Mar 29, 2008 1:17 PM

in response to: ericni25

Re: Lack of interest in rPath??

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Eric. I would like to thank you for providing such a great platform to learn more about emerging technologies surrounding VMware. Keep up the great work!

I think for this forum to be successful, the "experts" will actually need to answer the questions addressed to them. Obviously they are looking for the increased exposure and free marketing by agreeing to do the session, but to bail like rPath appear to have done when the questions get tough, does not do anyone any favors. For example, in this discussion forum, the initial question was obviously staged by their marketing person, as they had the same name as the marketing contact on the rPath expert session main page! =)

Its a great idea, but the "experts" should stand by their product. rPath heavily marketed this session, I believe I received three different emails about it leading up to it and at least one during it. Hence why I asked about the level of interest in rPath.

I look forward to future sessions.

Thanks

Marcus

martywesley

8 posts since
Sep 10, 2007

3. Mar 31, 2008 1:11 PM

in response to: Marcus Vollmer

Re: Lack of interest in rPath??

Did you ever consider that people in this forum (including Mr. Marshall) might be put off by your antagonistic and badgering questioning style? I'm not saying you are wrong to ask the questions that are asking, but the negative "tone" of your posts certainly isn't inviting.

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This Question is Possibly Answered

Mar 25, 2008 5:43 AM

Lack of interest in rPath??

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