| <mandie> | VOICE would like to thank the Warpstock board of directors for being our guests tonight |
| <TS2> | Projects: Yea : ) |
| <TS2> | We must thank VOICE for having us. |
| <mandie> | I will turn this over to Luc and he can get the intros started :) |
| <Luc> | you're kidding right? |
| <mandie> | lol |
| <mandie> | no, I wasn't :)....we can let the secretary handle it if you so choose :) |
| <Luc> | Well, let's see... |
| <Luc> | Let me start introducing the WS Board members that are present this evening |
| <Luc> | First up is David Ameiss, Secretary for Warpstock, Inc. |
| <Luc> | Second is myself :-), Luc Van Bogaert, Vice President |
| <Luc> | Then we have Jason Kowalczyck, board member at large |
| <Luc> | Of course there's John Ratti , board member at large |
| <Luc> | And finally, there's Tom Stevic, board member at large and last year's secretary |
| <Luc> | I haven't mentioned the other two members who aren't here this evening... |
| <Macgyver> | Projects: here I am ;) |
| <Luc> | Stanley Sidlov, Treasurer |
| <Projects> | Ah, ok :) |
| <Luc> | and Paul Hethmon, President and the guy who has put me up with this fine job for tonight :-) |
| <mandie> | I just sent Paul a reminder |
| <Luc> | That makes all seven of us... |
| <Projects> | Hethmon as in Hethmon brothers? |
| <mandie> | one in the same :) |
| <Luc> | before I forget, I would also like to 'introduce' our advisors... |
| <Luc> | Larry Finkelstein, Judy McDermott, John Hebert, Timur Tabi... |
| <Luc> | have all agreed to be part of the WS advisory board forthe coming year at least |
| <Luc> | and I would like to thank them all for that! |
| <mandie> | :) |
| <mandie> | thanks Luc.... |
| <mandie> | would you like to open the floor for questions |
| <Luc> | OK, I assume most of the people present will already know eachother well enough to get rid of some of the formalities |
| <Luc> | mandie: sure why not... |
| <mandie> | has there been any bid activitiy for WS 2000? |
| <Projects> | are there many bids for w2k? |
| <mandie> | or should we start with a wrap up of ws99? |
| <Projects> | yeah, what mandie said :) |
| <mandie> | :) |
| <TS2> | Nothing offical, as of yet, as far as I know. |
| <Luc> | Let's start with WS99 first... |
| <TS2> | The date for letting us know groups are interested is Dec 1. |
| <mandie> | "unofficially", has there been anyone that's shown interest? |
| <TS2> | OK, sorry Boos. : ) |
| <mandie> | oops :) |
| <Projects> | he's vice-boos :) |
| <TS2> | Boos = Boss : ) |
| <Luc> | unless nobody wants to hear about WS99 anymore :-) |
| <TS2> | It is this #$Y&%$ms Keyboard! |
| <Projects> | Luc: of course we (at least *I*) do! |
| <Sector> | Projects did you let baby get loose on TS2's keyboardł |
| <Projects> | Sector: hehehe |
| <Luc> | Does anyone have questions about WS99? |
| * | Projects has the distinct feeling that he's the only one here tonight who wasn't at ws99... * |
| <Luc> | Projects? |
| <Sector> | Nope your not... |
| <Abraxas> | Luc did you have any money left? |
| <Swanee> | Luc: Yeah, Did everyone get home OK? |
| <Projects> | Luc: no questions... just like to hear about it :) |
| <Projects> | Hey Zoltan |
| <Swanee> | Abraxas: Hi z |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: please don't bring that up, not now :-) |
| <Zoltan> | hello. |
| <Abraxas> | Hi, Wayne |
| <Projects> | Sector: cool... we can form our own club :/ |
| <Swanee> | haha. premature entry |
| <Abraxas> | Luc ok .... :-) |
| <Luc> | Projects: well, does anyone have any thoughts to share aboyt ws99? |
| <mandie> | Luc: is there a final count on attendance? |
| <Projects> | Luc: yeah, it was too damned far away :) |
| <Luc> | mandie: Paul has got the database wioth the registrations.... |
| * | Sector saw Swanee sneak in but was too shocked to say anything... * |
| <mandie> | hehe |
| <Luc> | I think about 280-290 people will be a safe bet |
| <Swanee> | Luc: Tell me about all the seminars etc. I missed them all. Start with saturday morning... :-) |
| <Swanee> | Sector: I noticed... I thought you were ignoring me :-) |
| <Luc> | Swanee: I just wrote an article for OS/2 e-zine about WS99 |
| <Swanee> | Luc: Is it posted yet? |
| <Luc> | It includes some of my own thoughts about the event. |
| <Luc> | Swanee: SURE |
| <mandie> | Swanee: so there! Now you need to rtfm...errr..article :) |
| <Swanee> | I'll be there tonight... |
| <Sector> | Nope: *** #voice Mode change: +o Swanee by Sector |
| <Swanee> | mandie: :-) |
| <Luc> | I personally feel WS99 was a great show |
| <mandie> | I feel the same Luc |
| <Swanee> | Sector: I missed that. I never REALLY thought you forgot. :-) |
| <Abraxas> | Luc I'll agree with that assessment :-) |
| <Swanee> | Agreed |
| <Luc> | I mean almost everything had improved w/r to Chicago... |
| <Luc> | not that Chicago wasn't any good... |
| <Ratti> | No rain indoors, for one thing ;-> |
| <TS2> | I heard only good things, 'cept for that guy on the possi list : ) |
| <mandie> | each year has shown improvements |
| <Abraxas> | Chicago was my 1st Warpstock .... Atlanta was even better |
| <Luc> | The only thing IMO that could have been better was attendance... |
| <Abraxas> | I regret that I missed WS97 |
| <Macgyver> | luc: Come on in the atrim it suppose to rain ;) |
| <Swanee> | I tend to overlook any glitches and enjoy the event. I'd have fun if we were in a warehouse. |
| <mandie> | Luc: considering the "late start" that WS99 got, I think that could be expected |
| <mandie> | I'm actually glad that we had as many as we did |
| <mandie> | Swanee: as long as it had a bar! <G> |
| <Projects> | hahahahaha |
| <Ratti> | luc: I agree. |
| <Swanee> | mandie: It's byob for me... just in case! |
| <Luc> | yes, but we really have to better for WS2000 |
| <Abraxas> | mandie That's the 1st thing *I* found :-) .... and I found you and Wayne an dozens of others had already found it :-) |
| <mandie> | the board is off to a better start then past years...I see nothing but the best ever for WS2000 |
| <TS2> | I think we should work with SCOUG to put a greater length of time between Warpstock and WEW next year. That did hurt us some, I think. |
| <Luc> | When I got home, I realized that many people, not only in the States... |
| <Luc> | are beginning to expect Warpstock to deliver... |
| <mandie> | Abraxas: I had to keep our German friends happy :) |
| <Luc> | It's getting important to a lot of people... |
| <mandie> | Luc: very true! |
| <Ratti> | Luc: That's actually gratifying to hear. |
| <Swanee> | Luc: In what way do you mean? |
| <Luc> | People seem to be very curious about Warpstock and... |
| <Abraxas> | Luc I agree ... and I think the timetable you've all (Board) set is very conducive to a successful WS2K |
| <Luc> | they don't want to see it fail, or become yet another initiative that |
| <Luc> | doesn't help them any further. |
| <Swanee> | Luc: Thanks, just wondering what you meant. (I'm slooow) :-) |
| <Luc> | They want to see Warpstock succeed, and with that have prove that OS/2 is still a viable solution for them |
| <lmaxson> | What do you sense, Luc, that people want out of WarpStock? |
| <Sector> | Insert proof for prove... |
| <Luc> | I think people need one (1) common forum... |
| <Luc> | I think they need WarpStock to reflect everything to like so much about OS/2 |
| <dave> | If WEW continues then I think you will need at least four to six months between WarpStock and WEW. And Warpstock will have to be first |
| <Ratti> | Now there's a _goal_! Make Warpstock as good as Warp! |
| <Projects> | Ratti sets his sights *real* high :-) |
| <mandie> | sky's the limit! :) |
| <Sector> | Now to live up to it... |
| <Sector> | And reach those heights |
| <lmaxson> | First, I have to challenge the idea that WEW put a damper on attendance at WS99. |
| <mandie> | shall we just say it was a "distraction" |
| <Luc> | lmaxson: somehow, i feel the same way |
| <lmaxson> | As a member of SCOUG, one not really in favor of WEW, I attended both and have no knowledge of the attendance at one affecting the other. |
| * | Projects thinks the "distraction" stemmed from hearing 3-4 posts/day regarding wew, and very little regarding ws99 * |
| <mandie> | I am not speaking for SCOUG......but |
| <Abraxas> | I saw WEW as a "distraction" .... there were initial connotations that WEW was competing with WS99 .... (whcih I, personally, don't think was true) |
| <TS2> | I have a couple questions I would like to toss out to everyone, it 'yall don't mind? |
| <lmaxson> | Now Peter Skye did market WEW very well. |
| <Abraxas> | TS2 go for it :-) |
| <mandie> | from the information that I do have...WEW may not be a yearly event |
| <lmaxson> | He could do the same for WarpStock. |
| <Swanee> | I think that may only be a geographical problem in rare cases where they would be within thowing distance |
| <Projects> | hey, that's my line! :) |
| <TS2> | There has been suggestions that Warpstock be made a 'member' org. Any thoughts on that? |
| <lmaxson> | In the order of IFIPS? |
| <mandie> | Paul!!!!!!!11 |
| <phethmon> | Hi Judy, sorry I'm so late. |
| <mandie> | np :) |
| <TS2> | IFIPS? |
| <Luc> | Hey, Paul's here to save me! |
| <mandie> | Paul: do you have figures on attendance for WS99? |
| <lmaxson> | International Federation of Information Processing Societies. |
| <phethmon> | Luc, shouldn't you be in bed ;-) |
| <lmaxson> | Use to sponsor both the Spring and Fall Joint Computer Conferences. |
| <lmaxson> | SJCC and FJCC. |
| <Ratti> | I've volunteered to be a test site for ALLTEL's (my employer) to install ADSL. If it ever happens, it will be: 1) Great! nice and fast and 2) 6 months to get it working... |
| <Luc> | phethmon: you should know by now that I don't sleep. |
| <TS2> | AH, I see. Yes, something like that I would guess. |
| <Swanee> | phethmon: He is... he's talking to his irc client. (You can do that you know) :-) |
| <lmaxson> | I assume then that by member you refer to the various user groups and isv's. |
| <WarpHoss> | Ratti > could u help arrange that for me??? |
| <Ratti> | WarpHoss: Are you in an ALLTEL local phone area or CLEC? |
| <WarpHoss> | Tatti> yes. |
| <WarpHoss> | Rattis> oops. |
| <Sector> | Double oops |
| <Ratti> | some of them already have ADFSL. See www.alltel.com |
| <Luc> | Let's get back to WS guys... thanks |
| <lmaxson> | TS2? |
| <Ratti> | sorry |
| <TS2> | Yes, I'm back |
| <lmaxson> | What constitutes a "member". |
| <TS2> | BRB again... |
| <lmaxson> | Does anyone here go back to data processing before the PC? |
| <TS2> | Ah..kids. |
| <mandie> | I was a IBM certified keypunch operator :) |
| <Ratti> | How does 1401 autocoder sound? |
| <TS2> | Anyway, the 'membership, would provide a solid base of prospective attendees |
| <TS2> | and would be involved in the selection of the BOD. |
| <lmaxson> | Again, TS2, what constitutes a member? |
| <lmaxson> | Is it an individual or a group? |
| <TS2> | That is the question : ) |
| <lmaxson> | What did you have in mind? |
| <TS2> | Individual, I would guess |
| <lmaxson> | I would guess just the opposite. |
| <TS2> | Anything is possiable, |
| <lmaxson> | WarpStock is not getting competition from individuals. |
| <TS2> | I just was wondering what peoples thoughts were. |
| <lmaxson> | You have user groups going their independent ways. |
| <lmaxson> | My thought would have the user groups as members. |
| <Projects> | OT quick question: what's a 10 sided polygon called? (helping with homework here) |
| <lmaxson> | Decagram. |
| <TS2> | Are you in favor of *one* os/2 show per year? |
| <Projects> | thanks |
| <Projects> | TS2: if that's to everyone, then: no |
| <Sector> | Polyheadron (I think) |
| <Ratti> | not me. |
| <Swanee> | Projects: Crooked circle |
| <TS2> | Anyone else? |
| <mandie> | I don't like the idea of only one show a year |
| <Projects> | Swanee: now why does your answer a) not surprise me, and ii) sound exactly like what I would have said? :-) |
| <Sector> | I see no problem with more then one show per hear |
| <lmaxson> | Projects, "decagon". |
| <mandie> | there are those that can't attend because of location |
| * | Projects raises his hand * |
| <Swanee> | TS2: I'm not sure that we have any control over how many shows per year there are unless you mean WS-Spring WS-Fall |
| <mandie> | offering additional shows in alternate locations allows those to possibly attend one or the other |
| <Ratti> | Lynn: no, DEC isn't gone, just fading away.. |
| <lmaxson> | You have numerous previous national examples that had two conferences per year. |
| <Projects> | location was a definate factor for me two years in a row |
| <TS2> | That is true, but I assume WEW will always be in Calif? And the Possi gig in Phoniex? |
| <TS2> | Warpstock does move around.... |
| <lmaxson> | It's decagon, not decagram. |
| <Ratti> | I think they only answer to that is to move WS each year. Try to spread the joy around. |
| <Projects> | lmaxson: doesn't matter... she settled for an octagon 'cause it's easier to draw :) |
| <mandie> | Ratti: agreed |
| <mandie> | and make it worthwhile to attend |
| <Ratti> | Smart girl |
| <Luc> | phethmon: a final number on WS99 attendance? |
| <mandie> | hehe |
| <Swanee> | Projects: Square is easier. Have her draw a picture of me. :-) |
| <phethmon> | Luc: About 360 paid. I didn't think to keep an accurate count of actually attending, but I would guess about 20 to 30 less showed up. |
| <Projects> | Swanee: she has to turn this in tomorrow... and wants to pass! :-) |
| <mandie> | wow! that's great |
| <Swanee> | Projects: hehe |
| <Luc> | mandie: agreed! |
| <Luc> | All:what could we have done better at WS99? Any thoughts? |
| <Projects> | phetmon: is that individuals, or individuals + vendors? |
| <mandie> | we had 190 pay for the social.....which was a great success I might add :) |
| <phethmon> | Projects: Total. Individuals plus vendors. |
| <Swanee> | Out of the 300 or so that were there, 300 or so seemed to be having great fun. |
| <Abraxas> | Luc started with the PR a LOT earlier |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: agreed, definitely. |
| <Abraxas> | Luc I know there were issues with the WS99 Team ... but the lack of info and PR really hurt the attendance, I think |
| <dave> | how many attendies did WS99 have? |
| <Projects> | constant email postings... regardless if they actually said anything or not, would've been welcome |
| <Swanee> | I'd agree with Abraxas. A lot of it had to do with the late starting date but that should be easier with the early start this year |
| <Luc> | Sounds like we just need more 'publicity' and sooner, right? |
| <Projects> | yup |
| <phethmon> | dave: As opposed to vendors? I don't know off the top of my head, but my guess is around 310-320 of the 360 were individual. |
| <Abraxas> | For the record .... (and I know this is being logged) ... I still have the e-mail addresses that all the (late) PR was sent to ... and I'm willing to do it, again, for WS2K |
| <Swanee> | dave: Paul said 360 paid and maybe 20-30 no-shows |
| <dave> | thanks |
| <TS2> | I have to go do my daddy stuff, but I was also wondering if Warpstock should try to get non-os/2 users to attend future shows? I realize that this is supposed to be *for the OS/2 community*, but should we (Warpstock) be showing what OS/2 is and can do to people who would normally not be informed? |
| <TS2> | I'll try to get back, but I have to go for now, bye all. |
| <lmaxson> | TS2, you ask good questions. |
| <DavidA> | You mean <gasp> Marketing? |
| <mandie> | TS2: I don't think a little publicity in the non OS/2 community would hurt... |
| <lmaxson> | I'm not too sure that we are holding up our answering end. |
| <Abraxas> | I do have a comment (or 2) on the "Vendor Pro" initiative |
| <Sector> | Bye TS2 thanks for stopping in and giving us some of your time |
| <lmaxson> | Go for it, Dan. |
| <mandie> | I do think that local user groups would be a better place to start for sparking interest |
| <Swanee> | TS2: That would be a noble cause but I think it would be hard to get a non-OS/2 user to shell out $60-$90 for a computer show that does not cater to anything they use. |
| <MADvirc> | Any idea if there was any followon from the Linux(I think that was what it was) show that preceded WS99? |
| <mandie> | MAD: from what I understand...NONE |
| <lmaxson> | Go for it, Dan. |
| <Abraxas> | The idea and concept behind the "Vendor pro" was good ... a chance for vendors to show off their software ... even if they couldn't, physically, be there |
| <lmaxson> | What about Vendor Pro? |
| <Abraxas> | But the implementation, I think, was a bit flawed. |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: in what way? |
| <Abraxas> | If the Vendors (ISVs) ccan't be there, physically, I feel it would make for a better "presence" to have THEM (the ISVs) hand-pick their representatives ... |
| <mandie> | abraxas: that would be ideal...but in the absence of such representatives |
| <Abraxas> | There is a BIG difference in having a volunteer demo an app ... and having a user who really LOVES that app ... do the demo |
| <mandie> | the volunteers were provided with the software prior to the event so that the could become familiar with it |
| <Swanee> | Abraxas: Ah yes... And STILL have a physical presence in the form of an actual user of the software that knows a bit about it at least. |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: I was even surprised that some of the ISV's that WERE at WS, didn't demo their product in a seperate session! |
| <Swanee> | Luc: I wish I had... but didn't |
| <Abraxas> | mandie in the absence of thoise reps ... then a volunteer would suffice .... but I think that, given enough lead rtime, the ISV could well afford to choose who will represent him at the show |
| <mandie> | abraxas: good point! Maybe this year it can be arranged |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: very good suggestion, thanks. |
| <lmaxson> | This is one volunteer who had the agreement of the ISV. |
| <Abraxas> | I subscribe to many (too many) mailing lists that deal with a specific application ... and there are users on those lists who are passionate about those apps |
| <Swanee> | How large an area did Vendor Pro have this year? (How many machines etc) (forgive my ignorance) |
| <Ratti> | With more lead time for the PR, we should be able to convince more ISVs to show up in person. |
| <Swanee> | Ratti: Agreed |
| <Abraxas> | Ratti tHAT WOULD BE THE ideal SITUATION |
| <Luc> | Swanee: about 5 machines I think, on three booths |
| <Abraxas> | Capslock key ... I HATE it when it does that :-) |
| <Swanee> | Ratti: I think it would help to get ISV's involoved in helping coax their peers into going to the show |
| <lmaxson> | If all volunteers were of the level of Michael Lavender, there would be no argument. |
| <mandie> | and I thought you were just over zealous about his statement :) |
| * | Sector takes away Abraxas's Caps Lock key * |
| <Abraxas> | I also think that the Vendor Pro area .... those Vendors and/or ISV's who are represented by Proxie ... should be in an area all their own .... it will lead to less confusion |
| <mandie> | lmaxson: and the "ignorant" asks..who was Michael Lavender? |
| <Abraxas> | In Atlanta, I wasn't sure who was and wasn't *really* there |
| <lmaxson> | He was in the independent area separate for Serenity Systems. |
| <lmaxson> | for -> from |
| <lmaxson> | A former SCOUG member transplanted to Atlanta. |
| <mandie> | hmm...I must have missed him...John, Kim and Glenn are the only ones I recall |
| <Abraxas> | Basically, it comes down to the fact that Warpstock is a GREAT marketing opportunity for ANY ISV doing dev work for OS/2 apps |
| <lmaxson> | Well, you missed him. He's the one who resembled pictures of JC. |
| <Luc> | mandie: we had a lot of terrific volunteers this year, including michael |
| <mandie> | abraxas: it is, because the attendees are avid OS/2'ers |
| <Abraxas> | From reading the info on the WS99 Website, for example, I knew that PMFax would be shown ... but I never saw it |
| <mandie> | I probably just don't know him by name..would recognize him if I saw him |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: VendorPro originally started as a side project... |
| <mandie> | and grewwwwwwww :) |
| <Swanee> | Serenity was trying to get Keller (Faxworks) to go and in retrospect, I should have stopped in there to help coax them. They joined Vendor Pro I believe but it is possible that another isv dropping in for a short visit on the pro's and con's may have swung the balance for them. Is this something we need to keep in mind? |
| <Luc> | given more time, hopefully we will be able to use your suggestions to make it better |
| <Luc> | I still think it is something we should do again next year. |
| <Abraxas> | I don't mean to take anything at all away from the concept ... or the implementation in Atlanta .... but I think that, if it (Vendor Pro) is going to be a part of WS2K ... that it could be done *better* |
| <mandie> | it's a nice opportunity, but do you think that some of the vendors will choose that route instead of actually attending? |
| <Abraxas> | mandie it depends on how VP is marketed .... |
| <Sector> | It's possible that some would, but I think most would like the excuse to attend... |
| <mandie> | abraxas: and suggestions are welcome. Being the first year for the Vendor Pro exhibit, there is room for improvement |
| <lmaxson> | We have discussed allowing isv's to support Vendor Pro remotely. |
| <Swanee> | mandie: It's much easier and ALOT cheaper to do Vendor Pro. It's a great idea but we need to convince the ISV that it is better to be there in person. |
| <Abraxas> | IMHO ... VP should be a "Last Resort" for ISVs .... in the event that there is no way they can physically attend |
| <mandie> | Swanee: point exactly :) |
| <Abraxas> | But if the ISV chooses the VP ... then they are the ones who need to set it up .... |
| <Luc> | A lot of people simply can't justify the cost :-( |
| <Luc> | of attending, I mean |
| <Abraxas> | Luc maybe they CAN justify it .... |
| <Swanee> | Luc: That's where the isv's that are already involved come in. They need to help convince the new isv that it IS worth the cost and effort |
| <mandie> | especially since they will have more lead time for budgets etc |
| <Abraxas> | For an OS/2 ISV .... the best place to market his/her software *SHOULD* be Warpstock |
| <Swanee> | Abraxas: Amen and.... Amen |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: can I put that up the web site :-) ? |
| <mandie> | he'd be disappointed if you didn't! <G> |
| <Ratti> | Then WS needs to make sure that it is the best place, and that the ISVs know it. |
| <Swanee> | Where else can the OS/2 developer go and reach his targeted audience effectively? |
| <mandie> | can I make a suggestion? |
| <Abraxas> | Swanee shouldn't be anywhere else but WS |
| <Swanee> | Go mandie |
| <Luc> | We need to 'work' more with the ISV's, not wait 'till they finally arrive at WS |
| <Swanee> | Abraxas: Agreed |
| <Luc> | mandie: sorry.. |
| <Swanee> | Luc: Ageed/2 |
| <mandie> | I think the ISV's that attended WS this year should be contacted for comments and those comments posted on the WS website |
| <mandie> | I contacted them all last year and used comments for my EA article on WS98...you get some very good input/comments |
| <Sector> | And solicited for suggestions on things they would like to see... |
| <Swanee> | mandie: Good thinking... then you can point prospective isv attendees to the comment page for more info |
| <Abraxas> | This is based on my personal experience ... but 2 of the most active ISV's in the OS/2 Areana, these days, are Bjarne Jensen (FX Communications) and Peter Nielsen (PMView). |
| <mandie> | Swanee: testimonials of the poor an infamous :) |
| <Abraxas> | Both of these guys are turning out EXCELLENT software |
| <Swanee> | or build a page with relevant comments for prospective isv's |
| <Abraxas> | But they are developers .... not marketing wizards |
| <Abraxas> | Maybe waht Warpstock needs is a Marketing Consultant .... a group whos specific purpose is to assist ISVs in marketing their products |
| <mandie> | welcome Chrissy |
| <|Chrissy|> | hey |
| <mandie> | Abraxas: that's not Warpstock's mission |
| <Abraxas> | And market their products with the eventual taget of actually attending Warpstock and showing the product .... and selling the product ... to a "captive audience" |
| <Abraxas> | mandie I know it isn't ... now ... |
| <Abraxas> | But most Software Developers don't have the "gift of gab" that someone like Brad Wardell has |
| <Luc> | Abraxas: we should at least prepare to offer the ISV's a better framework for the next event |
| <WarpHoss> | Luc> You are correct. |
| <Abraxas> | You all can have any opinion of Brad that want ... but the man KNOWS how to market his products |
| <DavidA> | Abraxas: Or Kim Cheung! |
| <mandie> | Kim is excellent!!! |
| <Abraxas> | DavidA .... another good example |
| <Luc> | So, we had publicity, Vendor Pro, ISV's, .... |
| <DavidA> | Abraxas is right. But this doesn't fall under Warpstock's aegis. |
| <Luc> | any more good suggestions? |
| <DavidA> | But it'd make a hell of a small business opportunity! |
| <Projects> | Bill Gates -- has to be the best marketing guy in the world :p |
| <MADvirc> | gates is scum |
| <ccureau> | Quite. |
| <DavidA> | Proof that development skill and marketing skill are inversely proportional |
| <Projects> | yeah, but he can sell air conditioners to eskimos... faulty ones at that |
| <Abraxas> | Yeah ... well that "scum" is worth $98 BILLION (with a "B") Dollars |
| <Swanee> | Luc: I'd like to see WS find a way to get to the businesses that use OS/2. For them to send their IS department people to WS for the latest in OS/2 software. |
| <MADvirc> | with a gun to their head, he is one whizbang marketer |
| <mandie> | Projects: they're programmed to turn off when the temp falls below 72..what more could you want :) |
| <Projects> | hahahaha |
| <Luc> | Swanee: another good one! |
| <Abraxas> | MADvirc .... his tactics are dirty as hell ... but he *did* get the job done .... |
| <MADvirc> | Abraxas: money can't buy a soul or a conscience |
| <lmaxson> | Luc, a clear definition of the scope of WarpStock, past, present, and future. |
| <Luc> | Swanee: instead of just sending out those PR's, actually go after the target audiance and invite them to the convention... |
| <Ratti> | Hitler got the job done too. |
| <lmaxson> | You have suggestions to extend it into new territory. |
| <Swanee> | There are alot of businesses that use it and have no idea how, what, where or why there is a WarpStock. This would also allow the developers of business based software to justify taking part in WS |
| <Projects> | Abraxas: looks like your answer just appeared in the InJoy mailing list |
| <Abraxas> | MADvirc no ... but with that kind of money .... does it matter *to him)? |
| <Abraxas> | Projects ... to the 111.222.111.0 thingy? |
| <Ratti> | Proj: What is the answer? |
| <Projects> | Abraxas: yup |
| <MADvirc> | Abraxas: not til he hits the gates of Hell |
| <Luc> | Swanee: exactly |
| <Swanee> | How to reach them? I don't know but would like to... |
| <lmaxson> | You should look at WarpStock in much the same sense that we are looking at WarpDoctor: How do you best support the needs of the OS/2 community? |
| <Projects> | Ratti: could be that the sender used the mailer to activate dod |
| <Ratti> | _Gates_ of Hell? |
| <DavidA> | A natural conduit SHOULD be the user groups |
| <Luc> | Anyone suggestions on how to reach bussiness users of OS/2? |
| <Sector> | Maybe some presentations geared towards ISV would help get them to attend in person? (Marketing, ect) |
| <Ratti> | Hmmm... |
| <Luc> | lmaxson: although relatively small, the OS/2 community IMO is rather diverse... that poses a problem... |
| <mandie> | sunny!!! :) |
| <Swanee> | IBM "used" to have a couple of mags they sent out to businesses but the last one I got said that it will be web based from now on. Can we get IBM to throw some blurbs into some of their pages? |
| <lmaxson> | Diversity poses a challenge. |
| <Projects> | Sunny! |
| <SunnyBear> | dandiemandie |
| <SunnyBear> | hey ProjectsSugar |
| <MADvirc> | Was there any local advertizing done for WS99? |
| <Luc> | MADvirc: practically none :-( |
| <thecaptai> | Would you have bet on Apple a few years ago or would you have played it safe with a windows bassed system. Are we at os/2 not in the same spot now? |
| <mandie> | not even a bumper sticker! <G> |
| <Swanee> | I don't go for the "business <separator> soho/desktop" paradigm. I really think that one hand washes the other even though IBM doesn't seem to think so. The business user is important to us too. |
| <WarpHoss> | <WarpHoss> /Luc> I think people need one (1) common forum.../ said it earlier and I couldn't agree more. |
| <DavidA> | Business users will normally buy direct from IBM, right? Why not advertise (other than $$$) in the IBM catalogs or other rags? |
| <mandie> | hmm |
| <Sector> | Hmmmm |
| <Swanee> | DavidA: Ageed |
| <Swanee> | DavidA: haha, AGREED |
| <lmaxson> | Disagree. |
| <Luc> | DavidA: how about contacting those businesses directly? |
| <Luc> | lmaxson ? |
| <Projects> | anyone get PCWeek? |
| <DavidA> | Luc: the problem is identifying them in the first place. |
| <lmaxson> | PCWeek? Yes. |
| <Swanee> | It doesn't change anything for WS except for trying to reach them. They would attend like any other user. ISV's would buy space like any other isv. |
| <DavidA> | Projects: yep |
| <Projects> | article in there about Microsemi using OS/2 |
| <Luc> | DavidA: aren't there any useful resources on the web? |
| * | Swanee dropped PCWeek and PC Computing years ago * |
| * | Projects did too * |
| <Ratti> | Family duty calls. I'll stay online, but I'll be away. |
| <Swanee> | Ratti's kids must have found nintendo controller again. |
| <Swanee> | :-) |
| <DavidA> | Luc: Dunno. It almost seems that businesses are "embarassed" to admit they use OS/2. |
| <MADvirc> | ibm certainly appears to have that problem |
| * | Projects uses OS/2 for business and is proud of it * |
| <mandie> | Projects: shhh..don't tell IBM :) |
| <lmaxson> | I'm with Projects. |
| <Swanee> | DavidA: Hopefully they aren't ALL embarrassed. A business shouldn't have a complex like that. :-) |
| <lmaxson> | IBM knows very well who continues to use OS/2. |
| <Projects> | mandie: heh... too late. I'm on one of their mailing lists, but all I get is win solutions :p |
| <lmaxson> | Luc, I think you need to schedule regular sessions on the #warpstock channel. |
| <DavidA> | Maybe we need a coming-out event: "I'm Joe" "Hi, Joe" "I use OS/2" |
| <Luc> | lmaxson: good suggestion... |
| <lmaxson> | Maybe once a month. |
| <Luc> | maybe following board meetings to communicate progress? |
| <lmaxson> | Reasonable. |
| <MADvirc> | DavidA: hehehe |
| <thecaptai> | quit |
| <lmaxson> | It's a good way to hash out some of the details. |
| * | Projects hands thecaptai an unused / * |
| <MADvirc> | thecaptai: I can't quit |
| <Swanee> | DavidA: LOL!!! |
| <Projects> | hahahahaha |
| <MADvirc> | I'm hooked |
| <lmaxson> | I'm out of here. |
| <WarpHoss> | <thecaptai> quit \\ ??? |
| <Luc> | Anyone knows this list ? http://rover.wiesbaden.netsurf.de/~meile/los2cl.html |
| <mandie> | is that the list of all the businesses that use OS/2? |
| <Luc> | Yes, Large OS/2 Customers List |
| <DavidA> | Luc: Good place to start |
| <Swanee> | hmmm... Neither of my banks is on there and they both use OS/2 |
| <mandie> | swanee: then submit them |
| <Swanee> | I outta' do dat... |
| <mandie> | has there been any inquiries <sp> pertaining to WS2000? |
| <Luc> | mandie: meaning? |
| <mandie> | Luc: has anyone shown interest in ws2000? |
| * | mandie is VERY behind on her email :( * |
| <phethmon> | mandie: Not yet. |
| <mandie> | still pretty early |
| <mandie> | do we have anymore questions for the WS board? |
| <Swanee> | Not off hand. Just do all the things I said and I'll be happy. <BIG grin> |
| <mandie> | VOICE would like to thank you all for being our guests tonight! |
| <Luc> | My pleasure |
| <mandie> | Warpstock has an open invitation and just drop us an email for any future speakups that you'd like scheduled |
| <mandie> | or I'll come "knocking" on your door! :) |
| <Swanee> | Thank you to the WarpStock officers that were able to be here. It's nice to know the kind of people we have working in our interests. |
| <DavidA> | You're welcome |