When I go to trade shows I collect a lot of information about companies and their products. Typically this information comes in the convenient form of digital media on CDs. Now I am looking at stacks of CDs, wondering what to do with them all.

I took an informal poll (I asked friends, family and co-workers) for ideas (some good and some bad) about what to do with CDs, without breaking or melting them (for safety reasons).

Sun catcher: I was once nearly blinded by a tree on the side of the road that had dozens of CDs reflecting the sun's rays.
Christmas ornaments: My son glued a ton of glitter to CDs and hung them on the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, glue doesn't stick to the slick surface of the plastic disc for long. I've been plagued with green and red glitter ever since.
Wall décor: Teens who like to see their reflections in the shiny surface can wallpaper their rooms (or ceilings) with CDs.
Wild animal repellant: Stick CDs to fence posts around the chicken coop to deter hawks and other predators. Hanging from bushes to keep deer away. Placed around the garden to keep rabbits out. Are domesticated animals scared of CDs too?
Coasters: How many coasters does a person really need?
Drop spindle for spinning wool: I have no idea what this is, but I will consider it the next time I spin wool.

Help me out here. What do you do with all of your old CDs?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Will trade shows go the way of the 8-track tape?

May 30, 2008

Due to rising fuel costs and airfare hikes, along with an increasing focus on carbon footprints and global warming, many businesses are reassessing the need for and frequency of business travel, asking, "Is this trip necessary?"

Many companies are using technology, in the form of teleconferencing and online collaboration, to reduce travel budgets and help the company's efforts to be green. Businesses have the option of using social networking, remote and video solutions to replace some travel, but conferences and trade shows are different.

Even in this age of webinars and virtual trade shows, people are still willing to subject themselves to the expense and hassles of traveling to go to live trade shows, because they have value. At live trade shows, attendees focus on and listen intently to the seminar speakers, meet and speak with experts face to face, network with colleagues, interact with and learn about the subject of the event.

I know online events fit easily into busy schedules and don't require you to remove your shoes and empty your pockets for inspection. But a virtual or online event allows attendees' attention to wander. They can continue to answer e-mails, send and receive instant messages, chat with people walking by, answer the phone and get up to pour a cup of coffee. Eventually the online event is simply a distraction from the regular work that needs to be done. Where exactly is the value in this experience?

While the Sony Walkman, rotary phone and manual typewriter have become museum pieces, replaced by more modern technology, movie theaters did not cease to exist with the advent of the VCR, and television has not made radio obsolete. I don't believe live conferences and trade shows are facing extinction either. The face-to-face interaction cannot be duplicated online. You really do have to be there.

There are sacrifices to be made though. I will have to curb my enthusiasm for trade show tchotchkies, because I don't think my boss is going to agree to pay the airline an extra $25 so I can drag home a bag of logo-laden letter openers, kazoos and squeezable coin purses.

Has the rising cost or hassle of travel changed your trade show plans?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

King of cabling

May 8, 2008

The 2008 BICSI Spring Conference in Nashville, Tenn., was one of the most successful spring conferences in BICSI history. And on top of that, BICSI crowned its very first BICSI Installer of the Year after a competition of cabling know-how that could outstrip today's "reality" TV shows. And the winner is ...

Jessie Spearman Jessie Spearman, BICSI ITS Technician, with Vision Technologies, in Glen Burnie, Md. Spearman won the BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge, a three-day competition with various cabling challenges that tested the skills and knowledge of 23 ITS installers and technicians, and he earned a $5,000 prize for his efforts. Congratulations! You can see photos of the event here.

The next BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge will be at the 2009 BICSI Spring Conference in Baltimore, so there isn't much time to plan my reality show starring cabling installers and technicians.

The show could put a few dozen cabling installers together in a big building with a variety of major cabling requirements and give them all kinds of projects to complete. To win the competition, contestants will need to watch their backbone, avoid crosstalk and make a home run.

First, we need a host. Who better to be the star of "Down to the Wire" than the first-ever BICSI Installer of the Year? How about it, Jessie?

We will need a celebrity judge (Larry the Cable Guy?), a theme song ("Hook Me Up" by Bon Jovi?), a mascot (a couple of snakes named Jitter and Jabber?) and team names (Twisted Pair and Fast Ethernet?).

Can I sign you up?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Interop stays in Vegas

May 6, 2008

Interop Las Vegas 2008 was a whirlwind of activity. Interop is a good place to learn about real technologies that are already producing benefits and emerging technologies, like virtualization and software-as-a-service, that are changing the face of IT.

Most companies were launching a new product or releasing an updated version of a popular solution. I saw dozens of interesting products at Interop. You can see some of them in our Interop Spotlight newsletter. If you like slideshows, Interop has gathered nearly 300 photos taken at the show; maybe you can spot yourself in one of them.

I heard a lot about simplifying IT departments' tasks, automating processes, network management and saving money by way of power conservation, consolidation and optimizing already owned equipment. There was a lot of talk about green IT, network security and 802.11n implementations.

Of course I gathered a few trinkets to squeeze into my suitcase. But even with all the talk of Green, I still haven't come across the novelty I long for: a Turf 'n' Tin. Maybe next year.

And in case you are already planning for next year, Interop will stay in Las Vegas for next spring's show. As the saying goes, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Once again it will be held at Mandalay Bay, which is a bonus, because now I know my way around, thanks to the helpful folks in the dazzling yellow vests at the show.

What caught your eye at Interop? Did you find what you were looking for?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

IT happens in Vegas

April 24, 2008

Educational opportunities and finding new products rank as the top reasons for attending Interop by IT professionals, so with more than 500 exhibitors and 250 educational sessions, Interop Las Vegas 2008 is THE place to be, so gather your energy, pack your comfortable shoes and join us there next week.

Interop Las Vegas 2008, April 27 to May 2, 2008, features a variety of full-day and two-day workshops, keynotes from a variety of industry leaders and 17 conference tracks:

Interop Exhibition Hours are Tuesday, April 29: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 30: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 1: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

In addition, Software 2008 Expo, a two-day conference program focused on the emerging trends in enterprise software, is co-located with Interop, with its own expo floor on level two of the convention center, with more than 60 exhibitors and eight educational tracks.

Interop will also launch its first Unconference this year, where users, experts and vendors can discuss the future of hot topics in an informal, collaborative setting. The Unconference topics include: Web operations, Grid, on-demand, and virtualization, Mobility and telepresence and Security.

Also new this year is the Energy Camp, an unconference dedicated to reducing IT's global carbon footprint.

NETGEAR will be presenting a series of presentations on network solutions for the SMB, including wireless, storage and switches at the SMB Solutions Summit.

Meet and interact with security experts at the three-day CSI SX Conference, co-located with Interop.

See you there!

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Displays of affection

by Denise DiRamio

April 22, 2008

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I would point out all of the "green" I have seen at trade shows recently. While I was looking for outward signs of eco-friendliness, what I noticed was a great number of vendors with a particular fondness for the color green.

I saw green signs, green logos, green cups, green t-shirts and green candy. All of these things were meant to highlight the environmentally friendly features of the companies and their products, sometimes quite cleverly. But not all businesses are as green as their emerald-hued trinkets seem to indicate.

When a company spends more time and money claiming to be "green" through marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact, it's greenwashing. Watch for it. It's out there.

While it can be overwhelming to see so much green, remember green candy is just a tasty treat. The proof is in the pudding.

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Serious about information security

by Denise DiRamio

April 17, 2008

Numerous government officials and corporate executives spoke at the RSA Conference in San Francisco last week, sharing their expertise on IT security, with topics like identity management, cryptography, preventing data leakage, cyber security, and infrastructure protection. And then there was Al Gore.

Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore gave the closing keynote on Friday. Gore's speech, titled Emerging Green Technologies, was delivered at the end of a conference for information security professionals. I wish I had been able to attend Gore's speech, because I'd like to know exactly what the connection is between green technology and information security. But members of the press were not permitted to attend Gore's speech.

RSA was "obligated by an agreement to exclude press and industry analysts," states Sandra Toms LaPedis, area vice president and general manager of RSA Conference. If you are interested, you can search the Internet for Gore's standard speaker's contract. You can see a copy from 2007 that stipulates that the press is to be barred from his appearances. No indication of why though. Information security perhaps?

Gore's focus for the past few years has been to bring global awareness to climate change, and An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's best-selling book on the threats of and solutions to global warming, became an award-winning documentary. If the subject is so important, why doesn't Gore make his speech available to the very people who can best get his message out?

Well, there were plenty of people at RSA who DO want to share their message. In fact you can even watch RSA keynote webcast replays of the following experts:
Secretary Michael Chertoff, Department of Homeland Security
Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft
Arthur W. Coviello, Jr., Executive Vice President, EMC Corporation
John W. Thompson, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Symantec Corporation
Jim Bidzos, Chairman of the Board and Founder, VeriSign, Inc.
Brian Smith, Chief Architect, TippingPoint
Val Rahmani, General Manager, IBM Internet Security Systems
Jeff Hawkins, Founder, Numenta
Gene Hodges, Chief Executive Officer, Websense, Inc.
Dave Hansen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CA
Thomas Kurian, Senior Vice President, Oracle Server Technologies Development
Herbert (Hugh) Thompson, Ph.D., Chief Security Strategist, People Security

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Sometimes there really are Monsters in the closet

April 10, 2008

Hackers, attackers, vulnerabilities and threats. The dangers multiply faster than you can place your bets. Spam, spyware, spoofing, phishing and fraud. Is there a system out there that isn't flawed?

Talk of botnets, worms, viruses, spyware and malicious code can be frightening. But to those who must keep the network safe, all this talk is very enlightening.

Hoards of pros have gathered to share knowledge of the network zone, because when goblins are lurking in the shadows, there's nothing like knowing that you are not alone.

You know how serious the need for security really is, because when you find Trojans, adware and rootkits on your computer, you immediately scan your contact list for a really good troubleshooter.

Zombies, zero-day attacks and identity theft can leave you bereft, so staying on top of network security solutions is always one of your New Year's resolutions.

Just remember, depending on how it is greeted, any monster, no matter how big, can be defeated. Monster spray was the weapon of choice in my day.

But seriously, the dangers are real. And so are the solutions.

This week's RSA Conference in San Francisco has drawn more than 17,000 information security professionals, who have gathered to learn about the myriad of threats aimed at corporate networks, as well as the solutions offered by more than 350 vendors - who have come up with a dizzying array of new and improved data and network protection products and services, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention devices, biometric identity verification, SSL VPN appliances, two-factor authentication technology and much more.

But can vendors introduce security products as fast as hackers come up with new methods circumventing them?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Keep it real

by Denise DiRamio

March 27, 2008

I almost forgot! Luckily, I received an e-mail reminder: "The virtual doors are now open!" So I got online and chose my avatar - my digital-world likeness, if you will. After spending way too much time scrolling through dozens of emoticon options,
I chose to be a monkey. A monkey with a typewriter.

I began touring the virtual trade show floor with some fellow attendees - an alligator, a drooling dog, a wizard, a toothless shark, an angry-looking pig and several people who actually used their own images, well, what I assume were their own images...

I stopped by the first booth and watched a presentation. The representative behind the counter must have been trying to greet me via instant message, because an IM window on my computer popped up, but it was blank. I responded with a quick "Hi," and got a blank screen in response. Even my new acquaintance, the dancing sheep, disappeared.

More technical difficulties followed, making the experience a bit frustrating. But I am a big fan of the idea of attending a trade show without traveling to a crowded convention center where you have to pay more for parking than you paid for the shirt you are wearing. After 20 minutes or so, I got past the virtual glitches and rejoined the rest of the digital crowd.

The virtual booth hosts were friendly enough, perhaps a bit dispassionate, but our interactions all felt artificial. "Hello. Did you view our product demo? Do you have any questions?" The scrolling band of text at the bottom of my computer screen prompting me to visit another booth or see another presentation just made me sleepy. There were fewer than ten virtual booths at the show, and they all seemed the same.

Don't even get me started on the lack of swag at virtual trade shows. I do not NEED another tiny screwdriver or glow-in-the-dark pen, but I like it when people want to give me a little gift to remember them by. Isn't that the reason companies use attention-grabbing demonstrations (like the booth babes who stand next to you so that your buddy can use his cell phone to snap a photo) and unique giveaways (like the bright yellow boomerang)? Regretfully, I left the virtual trade show with an empty virtual briefcase.

Compare this to last week's VoiceCon Orlando, which had hundreds of exhibitors along with dozens of conference sessions and keynote speeches. A crowd began gathering in front of the exhibit hall a half an hour before the doors were scheduled to open. And when they did open, I felt a rush of excitement. I wanted to see everything!

I was lured to a few booths by the scent of freshly popped popcorn and flavored coffees or attention grabbers like the "play a hand of poker" gimmick or the nimble-fingered magician. I was drawn to most booths by the name of the company or the product they offered; I wanted to see what's new, what's next. Sociable, enthusiastic people, some of whom had even read my blog, recognized and greeted me. Of course, I picked up a few free pens along the way.

I talked with scores of people and learned what's new in the industry and what I can look forward to in the coming months. I met people. I made connections. People were listening, learning and taking notes. People were sharing ideas and comparing strategies. Vendors encouraged visitors to try out their products. Some sat down to lunch together. They developed a relationship.

I doubt if I will ever hear from that dancing sheep again.

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Show off your skills

by Denise DiRamio

March 24, 2008

The BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge will take place April 27-30 at the 2008 BICSI Spring Conference in Nashville, Tenn., but if you want a chance to be crowned Installer of the Year, then you need to send in your application by April 4.

The BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge pits ITS contractors against one another to test skills such as cable terminating, assembly, troubleshooting, support and overall professionalism. There is no entry fee, and awards include a $5,000 cash prize and industry tools valued at over $1,000. IDEAL INDUSTRIES has donated more than $3,400 in testers, hand tools and supplies for the event.

Of course the winner will get a prize and maybe even a trophy (a crown would be awesome!), but the winner will definitely have some pretty impressive bragging rights as Installer of the Year. I think this could even become a big hit as a reality TV series.

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Speaking of green

by Denise DiRamio

March 3, 2008

Showcasing an innovative (and green) way of attending a conference, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will make an appearance at VoiceCon Orlando on Wednesday, March 19, 11:00 a.m. ET, to discuss technology and climate change.

The event will take place during Cisco Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Sue Bostrom's keynote session at VoiceCon Orlando, with Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers participating from San Jose, Calif., and Al Gore joining from Nashville, Tenn. Bostrom, Chambers and Gore will communicate as if they are in the same room-even though they will be thousands of miles apart-addressing live audiences in London, England, and Orlando, Fla., using a Cisco TelePresence system.

"Global challenges require global participation. We all have a role to play, not only because it is good for business, but because it is the right thing to do," says Bostrom. "We are excited to demonstrate the sustainable power of the network and unified communications at VoiceCon."

The key topics of the virtual discussion include: the latest observations of the effects of global warming and the impact of IT; how businesses can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of new innovations; and how the technology industry can help create the most sustainable model for addressing global climate change.

The public is invited to submit topic ideas and panel questions to ecopanelquestions@external.cisco.com.
The discussion will also be webcast live for general viewing. To register for the webcast, go to www.cisco.com/offer/ecopanel.

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Show me the Green

by Denise DiRamio

February 25, 2008

Showing concern for the environment isn't just for die-hard tree huggers anymore. Businesses these days are proud to call themselves green. And what better way to emphasize a company's newfound emerald-hued initiatives than an eco-friendly trade show booth, cleverly called green exhibiting.

Companies committed to going green now have the option of using biodegradable/recycled/recyclable/sustainable products for their trade show booths. The eco-minded business can order a booth made entirely of recyclable and sustainable products, such as bamboo/cork/aluminum. This lightweight, modular type of setup can be shipped via a green freight company, paired with eco-friendly carpet, energy-efficient LED lighting and banners printed on recycled materials using soy ink, all of which can be picked up after the show by a recycling service. Brochures can be sent via e-mail to eliminate the piles of promotional materials that inevitably end up in wastebaskets. Electronic gift certificates can replace plastic, battery-operated knickknacks. A booth like this is sure to make Mother Earth smile.

A lot of earth-friendly big tech companies, creatively called green giants, have jumped on the environmental bandwagon. They are touting their adoption of greener practices, announcing their plans to reduce their own carbon footprints, and promoting products that promise energy savings for their customers. But do their trade show exhibits reflect this keenness for green?

You can bet I will be gauging the greenness of the booths at VoiceCon, RSA, InfoSec, Gartner, BICSI and Interop in the coming weeks. Will you?

-Denise

For comments please e-mail: ddiramio@comnews.com

Saving the planet

by Denise DiRamio

Feb. 19, 2008

They are called recycled giveaways. No, not the vase your aunt gave you that you carefully rewrapped and re-gifted at the last wedding you went to. I'm talking about luggage tags made from recycled plastic, pens made from old dollar bills and coasters created from old computer equipment.

Then there are Earth-friendly freebies like flash drives made of bamboo instead of plastic, organic cotton T-shirts, wind-up cell phone chargers and solar-powered flashlights.

Eco-awareness is sweeping the nation, including the trade show industry. Attendees are offered reusable, dye-free tote bags to carry their trade show swag, like the logo-emblazed turf in a tin. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. The kit includes grass seeds, dirt and a recycled can, so you can have a little lawn on your desk, along with a constant reminder of a particular "growing" business or "grass roots" organization. Yes, pun intended.

The traditional tradeshow staple-the ballpoint pen-is being made from recycled products like tires, denim and peanuts. The ever-popular stress ball is now biodegradable and filled with recycled material. Rulers, letter openers, golf tees and ice scrapers are made from biodegradable corn plastic, note pads from recycled cardboard, pencils from newspaper, key chains from recycled glass, crayons from soybeans. I look forward to seeing what else they can come up with!

I know every little bit makes a difference, but do you think collecting eco-friendly promotional products is considered "going green"?

Keep an eye out at the tradeshows for environmentally friendly goodies. Let me know what you find!

-Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

Bustling at BICSI

by Denise DiRamio

January 22, 2008

At BICSI Winter 2008 in Orlando last week, it seemed like the attendees of the trade show barely even slowed down for a slide show presentation or attention-grabbing gimmick. They wanted to touch the product, try it out, see if it something they would be comfortable with on the job.

The exhibitors that let people "handle the merchandise" were swamped with potential customers, much more than the booths with the coolest giveaways. I, too, took a turn at plugging a cable into a jack and testing the speed of my connection. I actually felt a little thrill when the click of a button tripled my number-and who wouldn't want to experience that at work every day?

When you go to a trade show, what makes you stop at a particular booth?

-Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

The spring brings a whole host of events:

International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE), Feb. 25-29, Las Vegas
Gartner Wireless & Mobile Summit 2008, March 3-5, Chicago
InfoSec World 2008, March 10-12, Orlando
VoiceCon 2008, March 17-March 20, Orlando
ISC West, April 2-4, Las Vegas
Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2008, April 1 - April 3, Chicago
2008 ACUTA Spring Seminar, April 6-April 9, St. Louis
RSA Conference 2008, April 7-11, San Francisco
Storage Networking World, April 7-10, Orlando
SANS 2008, April 18-April 25, Orlando
Interop Las Vegas, April 27 - May 2, Las Vegas
2008 BICSI Spring Conference, April 28-May 1, Nashville
NXTcomm 2008, June 16-19, Las Vegas
InfoComm, June 18-20, Las Vegas

Countdown to BICSI

by Denise DiRamio

December 20, 2007

BICSI's biggest conference of the year, the 2008 BICSI Winter Conference is January 14-17 in Orlando. BICSI always features hands-on demonstrations, technical experts and a variety of educational opportunities to make the trip worth it. And it doesn't hurt that the conference is in Florida in January.

Education, networking and exhibits are what draw Information Transport System professionals to BICSI. Imagine the networking opportunities with thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from the wire and cabling industry from around the world. Not to mention all of the seminars, presentations and classes available.

Educational presentations are the core of every BICSI conference, and BICSI courses are scheduled before and after the 2008 BICSI Winter Conference. ITS professionals can become certified or renew credentials by participating in a wide variety of courses and exams.

Of course, I think the Expo Hall is the hot spot with more than 200 exhibitors. A complete list of exhibiting companies can be found here. BICSI offers an orientation for first-time attendees to help them get an idea of what to expect and how to get the most out of the conference.

The BICSI Web site has an interactive Exhibit Hall Floor Plan (Flash or HTML), so you can click on any of the booths on the map to see information about each exhibitor, including contact information, or you can choose a company from the alphabetical list of exhibitors and be taken to the corresponding spot on the map. And for the super-organized type, there is a feature that allows registered users to build an Expo Plan. Then you can print the list and take it with you to the show.

Best of all, there is still time to register online. Hope to see you in Orlando!

-Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

One-stop shopping

November 19, 2007

At a recent trade show, I had the opportunity have a nice sit-down lunch with a group of IT professionals who told me that they plan on attending just one or two trade shows in the coming year, so they want to get as much out of these opportunities as they can. While the trade show freebies would be enough to keep me a habitual attendee, most people figure if they are going to miss a few days of work, face the hassles and expenses of travel, they want to go home with something of real value.

People are looking for more than just another presentation on general ideas about where the industry as a whole may be heading or hype about the latest release of an old product. What they really want is something that they can go back to the office and implement immediately that will benefit their operation.

There are dozens of trade shows to choose from - one is sure to fit the bill. (You can always see a list of events on our Web site.) There are usually a variety of industry experts offering enough insight and information to keep your head buzzing for a week. Vendors are eager to recommend solutions, and sometimes they offer trial versions of their products, but sometimes they offer something as uncomplicated as a how-to guide or a list of troubleshooting tips that really does the trick. There are usually plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues - who often have a wealth of experience and practical information to share.

For the most part, trade show attendees are looking for education, information, networking opportunities. Whether it comes from a seminar, workshop or one-on-one meeting with a colleague or vendor, finding a new way to improve a particular process or solve a pesky problem can make the entire exhausting trip worth it.

Besides that glow-in-the-dark lanyard (which will come in very handy someday, I'm sure!), what is the best thing you ever brought back from a trade show?

- Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

Trick-or-Treat technique

by Denise DiRamio

October 31, 2007

Going to a trade show reminds me of trick-or-treating - without the princess costume. As a kid, I mapped out my trick-or-treating route in advance, so I never wasted time covering the same territory twice. Some trade shows have hundreds of booths and scores of presentations, so my old Halloween technique does come in handy.

Now every time I dump my bag full of pens, highlighters, stress balls, letter openers and Post-it notes into my desk drawers, I am reminded of when I was a kid, coming home with a pillowcase full of sugary loot to hoard in my dresser drawer.

To help you out, many trade shows have maps of the event on the Web, so you can explore the exhibit hall on the Internet before you get there. I like to print out the map and highlight the booths I want to see and make note of where and what time I have an appointment.

So take the time to plan ahead for:

Mobile Internet World, Nov. 13-15, Boston.
Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit 2007, Nov. 14-16, Los Angeles.
Gartner Data Center Conference 2007, Nov. 27-30, Las Vegas.
2008 BICSI Winter Conference, Jan. 14-17, Orlando.
Infosec World Conference & Expo 2008, March 10-12, Orlando.
VoiceCon Orlando 2008, March 17-20.

What kind of strategy do you use to make the most of your trade-show time?

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

Trying to keep up

by Denise DiRamio

October 18, 2007

I am still trying to catch my breath (and unpack my bag of goodies) from my trip to Gartner ITxpo last week. It was a whirlwind of educational sessions, miles of walking up and down the aisles and listening to wide variety of exhibitors. As I was gathering information about all of the latest changes in the world of IT, I suddenly realized how far we've come in a relatively short time. Remember the typewriter and the rotary phone?

So the tremendous advances in information and communications technologies were on my mind as I heard about wireless and mobile technology, data center operations, enterprise networks, acceleration, unified communication, security and compliance and much much more... I liked how Gartner divided the trade show floor into technology categories. It made it easier to keep the ideas straight in my head! Since there is so much to see and learn (and forget?), Gartner makes their presentations available on a DVD, so you can easily share what you learned with your colleagues (and refresh your memory, perhaps?).

And Gartner will be holding more of these events in Cannes, France, Sydney, Australia, and Tokyo, Japan, before the end of the year.

If you're in IT, ensuring your network is available and running at peak performance-now and in the future-is probably your primary focus, and also a key theme of the Gartner Enterprise Networking Summit, Dec. 10 - 12, 2007 in Nashville, Tenn. You can take a look at the brochure, check out the list of sessions and build an agenda and see the scheduled speakers and sponsors/exhibitors before registering online.

Gartner has a calendar full of different events like Identity & Access Management, Gartner's 26th Annual Data Center Conference , CIO Summit and Healthcare IT Summit that might be of interest to some of you.

Now, how many of you are going to go rummage around your grandmother's attic to reminisce about life before the BlackBerry? I wasn't quick enough. My grandmother sold her vintage phone on eBay months ago.

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

October 3, 2007

Here are a few upcoming shows:

Gartner ITxpo, Oct. 7-12 Orlando. They offer an online agenda builder so you can get to as many sessions and presentations as your schedule will allow.

Interop, Oct. 22-26, New York. Check out the collection of Podcasts from the Interop team. Features more than 150 exhibitors and dozens of educational sessions and workshops on a variety of topics.

Mobile Business Expo 2007, October 22-25, New York.

CITA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007 in San Francisco, Oct. 23-25.

CIPTUG 2007 in Austin, Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Save money by registering by October 26.

Mobile Internet World, Nov. 13-15, Boston.

I'm already getting my bag ready for the Gartner show next week. More than the trinkets, I am looking forward to all of the sessions at the ITxpo. On top of killing my feet, I expect to learn a lot. Let me know what you learned at the last show you attended.

-Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

"Virtually" painless

by Denise DiRamio

September 28, 2007

I went to another trade show this week. But I experienced no aching feet from standing and walking the trade show floor all day. No slumping shoulders from lugging an ever-expanding briefcase from booth to booth. I did not have to wake up before dawn to make it through airport security. I did not have to sit on a plane next to a crying baby or an armrest hog.

No sore feet after a trade show? No airline passenger horror story to share? What kind of trade show was this?

A virtual trade show. Imagine being able to go to a trade show without ever leaving home. You could even attend in your pajamas, if you want.

While virtual shows have been around for a couple of years, I think technology is catching up and making them easier (and more fun) to "attend." While I did miss collecting knickknacks and snacking on the free mints and candy that keep me going at shows, I really like the idea of the virtual trade show.

What do you think?

L. Bani - Telekenex wrote:
It flat out ROCKS. Holy cow it totally blew me away. This is going to be the future of trade show. No more swollen feet at the end of the day.

J. Matthews - Butler County Community College wrote:
It is a very interesting event. I am enjoying it because I am able to still work on some things at work while I am attending this event.

D. Ostler - Dell wrote:
It was great, as a consultant that travels about 95% of the time, this was a blessing. Will this material be available for download later for reference? (Yes, for 90 days)

T. Sanders - Deltek, Inc. wrote:
This has been a different means of distributing information about their products. I was a bit wary at first, but it seems to be an effective way to get the information widely distributed.

P. Crabbs - Des Moines University wrote:
I haven't been able to listen to it all, as I had work to do, but the sessions I have had a chance to listen to have been informative.

J. Vega - Standard Insurance wrote:
I like it - freedom to navigate around (concept of Main Hall, Exhibition Hall, Conference Hall is all very cool). Importantly, the live presentations seem to be very good (technical, but not Salesy).

J. Jacobson - City of Seattle wrote:
The Virtual Trade Show format works well for me as I am juggling multiple tasks at my job and it allows for me to get information I need for my planning activities.

J. Moniz - Noble House Computers wrote:
Thus far, I am enjoying it the availability to attend without interrupting my routine has been invaluable and the information being offered is truly valuable.

D. Elderbroom - Perot Systems wrote:
So far I have enjoyed it. Are some of the presentations going to be available later? (Yes, for 90 days)

L. Manno - SWFWMD wrote:
This is an interesting concept. It is nice to get this info right from my desk.

R. Walker - Amos Data Systems wrote:
It is a bit overwhelming at first getting used to the format, but after playing around with it for a while it has a lot of great information. I plan on keeping an eye on these events in the future. Very informative.

L. Seamans - Millersville University wrote:
Well, I am a little disappointed. There isn't as much excitement about the event, and most of the presentations have been almost all marketing.

F. Fontana - GGFL wrote:
I like it! I can get work done AND supplement my knowledge base with valuable information provided by people who know.

H. Meyerowitz - General Networks wrote:
Very interesting technology...I am quite enjoying -- and I didn't even have to leave the office...while that has its disadvantages. I think the benefits outweigh them.

C. Devereaux - NuSoft Solutions wrote:
So far it appears to be 100% marketing. While I influence decisions, I might not be your best market. I'm looking for technical information, demonstrations, actual proof that I can confidently recommend your solutions.

j. arnold - jcpenney wrote:
It's pretty interesting. Can check in and out as time permits.

m. dunning - BT INS wrote:
Good to go, it's been hectic trying to listen in with my workload but the podcasts are good to go.

M. Goldfarb - AXON wrote:
I like them a lot because I can get information and I don't have to travel. I especially appreciate the Q&A.

A. Lipman - Information Builders wrote:
It is 'neat' but I am not sure that it has the same feel as a 'live' event.

M. Ananta - Orlando Regional Healthcare wrote:
This is a terrific idea. I can listen to important information and not have to plan a whole day away from work. I can still get work done and not worry about being called away from the show to go back and solve issues at work. I love it!

P. MacDonald - PenSoft wrote:
It's been very interesting so far. Very much the feel of a real conference, at least more so than I would have thought possible.

T. Allen - Hooker Furniture wrote:
It is great information. Especially when I don't have to leave my office.

J. Scott - Hinda, Inc. wrote:
I think the concept is brilliant. This is a great way to host a tradeshow allowing multiple registrants the opportunity to attend at minimal cost. I wish there were more and a public listing of any virtual trade shows would be amazing.

Yes, it would, wouldn't it?

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

A trinket-free tradeshow?

by Denise DiRamio

September 18, 2007

Today is the Quest Exchange Virtual Tradeshow, which is a new experience for me. You can actually "visit" booths and "talk" with a number of industry experts without having to run from one end of the exhibition hall to the other, dodging costumed characters and booth babes determined to lure you to their booth with promises of a chance to win a fabulous prize.

The Quest Exchange show is all about Microsoft Exchange 2007, so it is a good place to gather information on that front. They have a Conference Hall - where you sign up to "attend" presentations in the form of webinars, a Resource Center - a sort of library with a long list of datasheets and whitepapers, and an Exhibit Hall - which is an animated version of the real deal. Sort of. It actually sounds like a real trade show, but with the virtual version, you can just turn the volume down to prevent the buzzing headache that typically follows a day on the trade show floor. While I was there were only about a dozen other people there, but it was early in the day. Perhaps once the West Coast woke up the real action started.

I took the opportunity to visit booths (Microsoft, Unysis, Quest Software, Avanade and Cognizant), send a message to an online representative and watch a video presentation. There are links available to learn about each company, request literature, go to their Web sites, view presentations, get more contact info and even register to win a prize in a few cases.

You can network with other visitors by giving them a virtual business card or inviting them to chat - which I did via the IM-like system, but all too often they "disappeared" before I could finish typing my message. Did they see my press pass and think I was paparazzi? A few who didn' t get away fast enough were kind enough to let me know what they thought of the virtual trade show experience:

L. Konieczny - AT&T wrote:
So far so good, it looks pretty nice and user friendly--without the usual parking hassles.

A. ANand - Dell wrote:
Excellent. I am impressed so far!!

And since there is no lunch being served at this trade show, I have to go see if the lady in accounting is still selling Girl Scout cookies.

What do you think of this or any other Virtual Trade Show?

-Denise
For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com

August 1, 2007

I admit it. I am a bag dragger. I attend IT industry trade shows with a large leather satchel, collecting light-up pens, rubber stress balls, teeny-tiny flashlights, glow-in-the-dark bookmarks and T-shirts with a variety of clever catch phases that no one outside the industry understands.

Of course the real reason I attend trade shows is to meet with vendors to learn about the latest trends in enterprise IT and gather information about new products that may be of interest to our readers. The trade show tchotchkes are just an added benefit.

Trade shows are great for the opportunity to talk with people "in the know," so I will try to keep you up to date on upcoming shows. Check out the Events tab above for a trade show calendar, and the Contacts tab which includes information on how to submit announcements to the magazine. When I am at the shows, I' ll let you in on what I learn. But, I can' t make it to every booth and presentation at the trade shows I attend. And as much as I' d like to, I can' t make it to every trade show. Our plan is to have some industry experts participate in this blog, let us know what to look forward to at the next show, maybe offer us a sneak peek or reveal some insider information on "the next big thing" in IT.

Here are a few upcoming shows:

VoiceCon in San Francisco, Aug. 20-23. You can save $200 per person if you register as part of a team of three or more. Check out the free VoiceCon webinars. The 2007 BICSI Fall Conference in Las Vegas, Sept. 10-13. Register online by Sept. 5. Design courses take place Sept. 4-9 and Sept. 14-18 and require separate registration. VMworld 2007 in San Francisco, Sept. 11-13. You can enter the VMware Video Contest and or just view the entries and rate which one you think is a winner.

My goal with the Bag Dragger blog is to share information about IT industry trade shows. I will try to keep it interesting and diverse, but I will admit that I am new to blogging. So please bear with me as I learn, and feel free to share your comments. The Bag Dragger blog is a moderated site because we want to ensure this forum stays on topic.

What is important to you when you attend industry conferences, events and trade shows? What makes it worth the trip for you?

-Denise

August 7, 2007

You asked what makes the trip to a trade show worth it?

I attend to keep up to date on products and trends in the industry. I've attended enough to know to leave the trinkets alone, as it is way too much to drag back home, aside from the candy my wife likes to pick up for immediate consumption. I try to limit the printed materials I pick up, opting to have them mailed to me. I can only attend one conference a year, and for me that is the Bicsi Orlando conference. I find there a whole variety of manufacturers from across the world.

Thanks for an interesting editorial that hits home with all of us.

-William A. Boyd, RCDD/OSP, IEC TCMEDIA Group

August 7, 2007

I don' t know how one can resist the temptation of the light-up lapel pins and plastic bottle-opener key chains â€¦ but I admire the good posture of those who are not lugging around 20 pounds of treasures.

Right around the corner is the 2007 BICSI Fall Conference, September 10-13, in Las Vegas. There are more than 150 exhibitors expected at this expo, so if you are going to this one you might want to check out the online interactive floor plan map to plan your itinerary. (I would bring an extra suitcase, just in case.)

VMworld 2007 in San Francisco, September 11-13. Discounted rates are available for groups of at least five.

IT Security World in San Francisco, September 17-19. Preconference workshops September 15-16; postconference workshops September 19-20.

WiMAX World in Chicago, September 25-27. Passes are available for one, two or three days.

Much of what goes on at the trade shows is exactly what William says - keeping up to date on what' s going on in the industry, and it makes it easier when there a lot of exhibitors and multitudes of colleagues gathered in one place. But what about all of those new products? Part of my job is to introduce Communications News readers to New Products, so I spend a lot of time at the trade shows at product demonstrations and sales pitches. Do you? Have you ever decided, "I need this product!" after seeing a product at a trade show?

-Denise

For comments please email: ddiramio@comnews.com