Dates for TechEd 2013?

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#792369 3-Apr-2013 14:08

DonGould:
What would it take to turn this around so we have Microsoft New Zealand actually covering New Zealand rather than just Auckland?

And while you're at it Nathan, you guys should really turn this around and cover Naseby too; you're really depriving them, it's very disappointing!

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#792391 3-Apr-2013 14:19

onebytemike: A convention centre and population shift?

We have 360,000 people in Christchurch alone.... just how many people does on need?

We're not short of places to run events.

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#792395 3-Apr-2013 14:23

sidefx:
And while you're at it Nathan, you guys should really turn this around and cover Naseby too; you're really depriving them, it's very disappointing!

Ok I had to google that... now you're just being silly.

Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, it's not unrealistic to at least hit 3.

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#792396 3-Apr-2013 14:23

Is TechEd worthwhile for a general IT dogsbody? Or will you get more out of it if you're in a specific area like development or infrastructure?

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#792408 3-Apr-2013 14:36

DonGould:
sidefx:
And while you're at it Nathan, you guys should really turn this around and cover Naseby too; you're really depriving them, it's very disappointing!

Ok I had to google that... now you're just being silly.

Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, it's not unrealistic to at least hit 3.

it actually is unrealistic to run TechEd in 3 places, the event tickets would cost more, we wouldn't get the same number of international speakers, the exhibition/demo/vendor area wouldn't have as many stands

We actually have looked into running TechEd outside of Auckland but it always comes back to the level of infrastructure that is present in Auckland with the Convention Centre, the hotels nearby etc, almost 4x the population here. There is no where in Christchurch that can hold 2,500 attendees with the infrastructure we need or hotels nearby etc.

TechEd Europe has one event, in Madrid this year for the whole of Europe

TechEd North America has one event, in New Orleans this year for the whole of NA

I am actually from Christchurch, grew up there and lived all over Chch and North Canterbury (Oxford, Cust, Amberley) so I hear you that you want the event down there, but its not happening this year, but we will look at it again next year.

You can buy tickets on May 1 and they will be cheaper with Earlybird tickets, booking that early will get you cheap AirNZ or Jetstar flights and hotels as well.

If its too much money the sessions will be available streaming post the event

Microsoft does lots of things around NZ, I come to Christchurch (and Dunedin) regularly and run free training events for MS products, in the last 6 months I've been there multiple times giving free hands on labs and training around Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Windows Azure VM IaaS etc My colleagues have been doing similar things around products like Office, SharePoint and our development tools

Yes we can always do more in the Mainland (previously we've run events in Nelson, Bluff and Queenstown as well) but its just unlikely TechEd will happen there this year or next based on the reasons I explained above

Thanks for your feedback though

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#792423 3-Apr-2013 14:52

I remember a few years back, maybe 2004ish, when Vista came out actually, MS ran a technical event in Wellington (possibly elsewhere too) that gave away copies of Vista Ultimate to all attendees at the end. I remember finding that event really useful and enjoyable - it started with a short keynote and then there were demos and presentations for the rest of the day. It was in the now Amora Hotel.

Does Microsoft still do stuff like that? Not just related to a specific product launch or piece of software....but a general "state of play" event that isn't nearly as big as Tech Ed, but can be held in multiple locations?

I don't recall having seen anything like it advertised in recent years - though I have spent a lot of time abroad in that time.

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#792432 3-Apr-2013 14:56

gehenna: Is TechEd worthwhile for a general IT dogsbody? Or will you get more out of it if you're in a specific area like development or infrastructure?

Yes and yes.

I'm a general support guy, and tend to mostly do the 100 and 200 level sessions. I've picked up lots of useful info re Office, Windows & winpho. Our developers and data mungers go to the high level SQL etc and get themselves good stuff too. I've been the past 3 years, and recommend it.

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#792434 3-Apr-2013 15:00

gehenna: I remember a few years back, maybe 2004ish, when Vista came out actually, MS ran a technical event in Wellington (possibly elsewhere too) that gave away copies of Vista Ultimate to all attendees at the end. I remember finding that event really useful and enjoyable - it started with a short keynote and then there were demos and presentations for the rest of the day. It was in the now Amora Hotel.

Does Microsoft still do stuff like that? Not just related to a specific product launch or piece of software....but a general "state of play" event that isn't nearly as big as Tech Ed, but can be held in multiple locations?

I don't recall having seen anything like it advertised in recent years - though I have spent a lot of time abroad in that time.

I'm going to a semi-general Office/Lync/enterprise social/Sharepoint thing in Hamilton on the 15th. Its being run in several main centres (and Hamilton :-)). They have other similar ones fairly regularly around the place.

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#792445 3-Apr-2013 15:15

BlueShift: Yes and yes.

Thanks that's good to know :)

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#792623 3-Apr-2013 19:25

I used to really love Tech Ed, I went for years. Didn't go last year for the first time since 2006.

Whilst I absolutely appreciate the effort that local MS staff put into it, I've found it a little bit stale as a show recently, same sponsors year after year. In 2010 / 2011 it didn't quite have the same level of international speakers as previous years. It's lost it's zing.

I'm more tempted to go the Tech Ed Australia on the Gold Coast the previous week. A few of my colleagues went last year and were very happy with it. Be nice to get some sunshine.

Ideally I'd have liked to get my boss to spring for MMS this year, but budgets are very tight and I didn't get in early enough. Need to be more on the ball next year.

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#792628 3-Apr-2013 19:30

DonGould:
nathan: TechEd NZ has ever only been in Auckland sorry not in the mainland

Does Jade scare you away?

What would it take to turn this around so we have Microsoft New Zealand actually covering New Zealand rather than just Auckland?

Not sure you are serious, or trolling.

TechEd has thousands of participants. There isn't any other venue in New Zealand that can host an event that size.

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#792946 4-Apr-2013 09:47

DonGould:
sidefx: And while you're at it Nathan, you guys should really turn this around and cover Naseby too; you're really depriving them, it's very disappointing!

Ok I had to google that... now you're just being silly.

Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, it's not unrealistic to at least hit 3.

Sarcasm - a sharply ironical taunt; lost on some, hilarious to others.

Don, it boils down to simple economics on both sides, and if you can't afford to go, just live with it.

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#792955 4-Apr-2013 09:55

Dratsab: Don, it boils down to simple economics on both sides, and if you can't afford to go, just live with it.

Afford isn't really the issue.

The issue is voicing support for such events to be in Christchurch, which is important, and people also have to remember that the issue is also time.

A local show is much easier to get to with all the other commitments that people having going on.

When you run a SME, you can't just drop everything and leave the staff to support the systems and customers... there aren't an abundance of 'other people' to do what I do, and this is the same for many folk.

However I do take Nathan's comments on board with respect to space to host 2500 people at once with break out rooms etc. That really is a problem here at present and one that Christchurch needs to pick up the pace on addressing.

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#792961 4-Apr-2013 09:59

TechEd is a very technical conference. They have to bring international speakers, etc and it is highly focused on development community, although with some good devops in the mix.

Microsoft does a good job of bringing smaller, one day events to all main centres (and sometimes even to other smaller places) focusing in specific topics that may be of interest to SMEs - infrastructure, development, collaboration. Subscribe to the TechNet NZ newsletter or keep an eye on Nathan's blog and you will know when these happen.

DonGould: When you run a SME, you can't just drop everything and leave the staff to support the systems and customers... there aren't an abundance of 'other people' to do what I do, and this is the same for many folk.

What makes you think the owner will benefit more from TechEd than the technical staff? The only reason I can think of is if the owner is the only technical person and staff is just users. Even so, I am not sure TechEd is a great conference for "owners".

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#792986 4-Apr-2013 10:34

DonGould: When you run a SME, you can't just drop everything [snip]

It's not until September...

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