VBITS question

[Vincent Tripodi]

I'm considering checking this out in NY. My funds are limited so I need to
make training choices carefully.

The Q is ... with sessions that run an hour, how much actual training is
going on? It seems to me that a lot of topics would be glossed over. Do
you actually leave at the end of the day with practical hands on knowledge?

The pre and post conference workshops look interesting, with a full day
devoted to each topic.

I'd be interested in hearing some opinions on this. Thanks.

[Dave Haskell]

Vincent,

> I'm considering checking this out in NY. My funds are limited so I need to
> make training choices carefully.
>
> The Q is ... with sessions that run an hour, how much actual training is
> going on?

Lots.

> It seems to me that a lot of topics would be glossed over.

Depends on the speaker. I'm sure you can imagine topics that you don't have a
proper background for and would quickly be over your head in five minutes,
nonetheless an hour.

> Do
> you actually leave at the end of the day with practical hands on knowledge?

Yes. The VBITS I've attended have been extremely valuable. True, the
sessions may be "only" an hour, but that allows a wide variety of subject
matter to be presented, especially given the different tracks.

I would have attended the one this year in SF if I had had the time; I regret
not finding the time when it was here...

[Jacob Grass]

I went to VBits in San Francisco this past January. There were some topics
which were glossed over, but, regardless, there was a great deal of
information to be had. And, all of the information covered a great deal of
topics. If you are looking for information on a broad scope of topics
(VB.NET, ASP.NET, XML, SOAP, ADO.NET, etc. . .) then I would recommend this
conference. If, for example, you just want to learn ASP.NET, then you would
likely be spending extra time and money. But, all in all, it can't heard,
and is a great place to network. . . .: )

Jacob


"Vincent Tripodi" <vincent.tripodi@extremeconsulting.net> wrote in message
news:3abad2bb$1@news.devx.com...
> I'm considering checking this out in NY. My funds are limited so I need
to
> make training choices carefully.
>
> The Q is ... with sessions that run an hour, how much actual training is
> going on? It seems to me that a lot of topics would be glossed over. Do
> you actually leave at the end of the day with practical hands on
knowledge?
>
> The pre and post conference workshops look interesting, with a full day
> devoted to each topic.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing some opinions on this. Thanks.
>
>

[Bob Butler]

"Vincent Tripodi" <vincent.tripodi@extremeconsulting.net> wrote in message
news:3abad2bb$1@news.devx.com...
> I'm considering checking this out in NY. My funds are limited so I need
to
> make training choices carefully.
>
> The Q is ... with sessions that run an hour, how much actual training is
> going on? It seems to me that a lot of topics would be glossed over. Do
> you actually leave at the end of the day with practical hands on
knowledge?
>
> The pre and post conference workshops look interesting, with a full day
> devoted to each topic.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing some opinions on this. Thanks.

If you expect to really learn something then neither the 1 hour or 1 day
presentations are likely to do that (at least they don't for me). I look at
the short sessions as a way to pick up the general concept of what something
is and where it might be useful and to get some buzzwords so that I can
research it on my own later. Having a few related key topics makes picking
out a book or finding other resources much easier. If the short sessions do
nothing else, when the VP attends some presentation and comes back saying
that technology XYZ will solve all our problems I can explain why it really
doesn't apply or what it'll take to get started.

1 or 2 day sessions are for areas that I'm defnitely very interested in and
for which I've already done some basic research on my own. That way I have
a general grasp of the subject and can get more from the details being
presented and/or have some good questions to ask.