Common vs IBM's tech conf

[Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxx]

 >> I've attended the tech conf in Europe (La Hulpe, Belgium) and I have
the
 >> opportunity to attend the Rochester event this year.  Do you know if
 >> they are similar events?

I guess I should ask first which Rochester event you mean as there are a
number, each with a different focus.  Do you know the actual title (Forum
of the Americas for example). The AS/400 Technical Conference in the US is
run by IBM Education and Training and is often in a resort type location
(definitely NOT Rochester <grin>).  The event that is held in La Hulpe
(which as you probably know I have attended several times) is sponsored by
the ITSO (the Redbook people) and/or Rochester PID (Partners in
Development).  Although run by E & T they are not quite the same.

The La Hulpe and Rochester sessions focus very heavily on the "latest and
greatest" i.e. they tend to be very release specific.  The AS/400 Technical
Conference on the other hand (like COMMON) has a much broader base.  While
it will have a lot of "update" sessions it also has a lot of basic sessions
for those just entering into a particular area.  For example, for a couple
of years now I have been teaching a complete RPG IV course at this
conference (from the basics - through procedures and the latest stuff -
complete with hands-on labs.  At the Rochester event I'd be lucky (if I was
still with IBM) if I could schedule an RPG IV V4R2+ update session and/or
Lab.

If you want only the latest-and-greatest then Rochester is for you.  If you
want a broader spectrum, then the Tech Conf, COMMON, or the Education
Connection conferences would be a better bet.


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