Hi

I was thinking about attending DevCon this year in hopes of gaining some much needed help and information.

Is DevCon something a newbie (as myself) could benefit from? or is geared to a more experienced user?

Is it an informational setting or more of a trade show with vendors trying to sell you stuff?

I looked at the photos from FMA and DevCon last year, most of the photos are of people sitting around eating and drinking nothing showing either seminars or the trade floor.

Thanks,

James

James,

Pretty much all of the above. There are seminars, sessions, and vendors showcasing their products. It is pretty much like most shows. You will find lots of interesting techniques and definately could benefit from the sessions. Often product announcements will be done at DevCon as well. I would say that Devcon attendees are from all different skill levels.

There are some good learning tools out there if you want to learn more on FM. John Mark Osborne has some quality videos that he offers.

http://www.databasepros.com/training.html

I'm thinking of going but man, this'll cost me like 6k+ given the airfares, the accommodation, the conference and then the actual seminars. And i won't even be legal drinking age lol.

Genx,

If you decide to go let me know. To pay you back for the help you have given me, My wife and I will take you out and buy you a steak.

James

Hehehe,

I'll be sure to let you know ;)

James, This year will be my 11th year attending Devcon, They keep getting better, I believe they listen to the feedback they get each year. (regarding sessions & content / not location)

Something new they started last year was more intimate sessions hands on that may be more your cup of tea. I know for myself I don't get too much from the large ballroom sessions because I am running between the showcase to be at my booth. I try to get as much as I can out of the sessions - but it may just be way my brain absorbs knowledge - need a more interactive approach then lectures. You may be wired differently so your mileage may vary.

If your fearless and have the gift of gab and not shy at striking up conversations with anybody then you will find that lunch/dinner and the hallways/ even the pools an excellent place to meet and mingle with others.

If you have a pressing issue that and want a straight up answer don't be afraid to ask, especially someone walking around with a ribbon on their badges with XX years of attendance or a ribbon declaring they are "certified 7/8" I am confident they would galdly assist you.

So it really is worth going?

Lol, i'm tossing up b/w a new server and devcon sooo...

I don't get too much from the large ballroom sessions because I am running between the showcase to be at my booth.

Even if you not have a booth to attend, will you from time to time learn that you've chosen to sit and listen in wrong room! Further more are schedule collisions unavoidable.

It is in my opinion urgent you have a mission statement ready when attending, or you tend indulge yourself into believing that the rubbing shoulders with peers is good enough.

Devcon might be recognized as something else than adverticed, I learned astonished that it's more a platform from which to marked your services, than where you recieve thorough learning ...although some of the stuff explained at the sessions indeed sits even years after being lectured! EvangelistCon or LobbyCon might suit better than the Dev prefix.

When I attended in '05 did I find some of the sessions, announced a slight more complicated than the stuff explained ...as if there was an urge to abreviate the topic into something cool and switch on your propellarhat kind'ish, eventhough it in reality was newbe stuff - perhaps the announcers need to investigate filemaker?

--sd

also to note that PHP was the buz word of last years devcon, Much of the sessions were geared toward publishing on the web. From what I heard some were a little disappointed as they were hoping to learn more core features instead of the cutting edge, I admit most of my clientele are only now just showing the smallest interest in internet publishing. I would venture to say that the venue will continue on these tracts.

see here for last years line up...

http://www.fmforums.com/devcon.php