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Holy Moly! VMworld is so huge I want to cry. (And not in a good way.)

Written on Sep 12 2008
Filed under: , ,
2,952 views, 27 comments

by Brian Madden

I don't mean "huge" as in "a big deal." I mean VMworld is literally a super gigantic conference. More than 200 vendors. More than 14,000 attendees.

This is a problem for me, since I'm flying to Vegas on Sunday to attempt to "cover" the conference. I am not kidding when I say that my phone has been ringing non-stop these past few days from PR folks of vendors who will be at the conference. I just let them go to voicemail now, and every single voicemail goes just like this:

Hi Brian, this is [PR person's name] calling on behalf of [one of the 200 vendors]. We'll be [demonstrating / releasing / previewing / showcasing] our [next generation / revolutionary / game-changing] [product / management system / virtual appliance], and we'd love for you to talk to our [CEO / Founder / CTO]. Can we get [30 / 60 / 90] minutes of your schedule?

These calls and emails started a few weeks ago, but I just kept shoving them into an email folder with the intention of dealing with them later. Unfortunately they're now coming in faster than I can ignore them, so now I've just shut off my phone completely and closed my email program altogether, and I think I'll just show up and play it by ear.

The challenge is that I (and by extension, BrianMadden.com), define my world as application and desktop delivery. In the context of VMworld, that means only about 20% of the vendors do anything that we care about on this website. (If anyone reading this is interested in VMworld in the context of the more general virtualization landscape, check out VMworld Underground or of course Virtualization.info.

That said, he's an action item for you: Look at the list of the 200+ vendors who will be at VMworld. Which ones are you most interested in? Which ones should I schedule meetings with and/or record podcasts with?

Comments

Guest wrote Intesting?
on 09-12-2008 12:08 PM
Stick to the new innovator booth. These guys deserve coverage because of lack of marketing funds and will probably have something interesting to tell.
Guest wrote Pretty easy
on 09-12-2008 12:43 PM
Try to wear a disguise the first day so nobody will recognize you..that way you can have a look around and see what you like without having all these PR people jump all over you!

If that doesn't work just ignore all the companies you already know and go for the new and unknown..where no man has gone before..!

Guest wrote these
on 09-12-2008 12:47 PM

I would check out the following booth's:

Veeam, Vizioncore, EMC, NetApp, Dell, Wyse, Commvault, Lefthand, McAfee, Neverfail, TripWire and BlueBear... Than you've got a nice coverage of Software and Hardware vendors in different sections...

 

Brian Madden wrote Re: these
on 09-12-2008 12:57 PM
You're joking, right? What does each of these have to do with desktop or application virtualization?
Scott Herold wrote Re: these
on 09-12-2008 1:18 PM
Yeah, there are a few desktop/app guys in that list.  Don't go to Vizioncore for that, instead hit up the Quest/Provision Networks booth.  That's where the good stuff will be.  If you do happen to want to discuss future integrations between the desktop and server technologies as it relates to desktop virtualization, then you can come find me hiding around one of the Quest company booths (Vizioncore, Provision Networks, Scriptlogic).
Guest wrote Brian did you realize
on 09-12-2008 1:43 PM

They booked your break-out session in a special room that is about 4x larger than the most of the other rooms... (4911 sq/ft vs. 1200 sq/ft).  I guess they are expecting quite the crowd for your session.

No wonder you want to cry (and not in a good way)....

 

Guest wrote Agami
on 09-12-2008 2:47 PM
Interview Agami and ask them how is it their still in business....
Guest wrote Leostream
on 09-12-2008 3:01 PM

Check these guys out Brian at booth 839 - they just did something cool for Commerzbank in NY with virtualizing smart card environments (VMWare/Wyse solution using their VDI connection broker)

 http://www.leostream.com/newsPressWyseSupport2008-06-10.html

Guest wrote Re: Brian did you realize
on 09-12-2008 3:05 PM
Hey Brian what session are you covering?  I would look myself but it appears as though they don't list anything about the sessions unless you have an attendee login, which I don't.
Guest wrote Offline VDI Scalable Virtual Images
on 09-12-2008 3:13 PM
I would like an update on the Offline VDI and the SVI features from VMWare, the more info the better.
Guest wrote Re: Intesting?
on 09-12-2008 6:04 PM
Haha..."Ok Mr. New Innovator, who has something interesting to tell!"
Guest wrote Who would I vote for
on 09-12-2008 8:27 PM

I am most interested in the app virtualization vendors (ThinApp, App-V, SVS).  I would vote for those and the "cool" up and comers in the space.

Good luck.

Guest wrote Thi clients
on 09-13-2008 1:33 AM
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Guest wrote Re: Intesting?
on 09-13-2008 3:42 AM
I considered it 'not done' to plug our solutions in this topis. It has however to do vith Dynamic VDI. Makes Scense ;-)
Guest wrote New Innovators
on 09-13-2008 2:51 PM
I cast my vote for the New Innovators as well. They don't get the exsposure of the $$$$ guys. I'll bet they don't have the big PR firms trying to get your attention and endlessly harrassing the hell out of you, either? Let us unable to attend know what they innovators are doing Hearing about the big boys is easy - they drone on and on bombard us with their stuff. Just my $0.02
Guest wrote Give the new guys some coverage
on 09-13-2008 3:12 PM
I only see 15 new innovators listed. Give us a quick look at all of them. 5 a day for the three days. Not that big a task. A quick summary and your thoughts, then we can check them out further if we're interested or if we think the innovation makes a difference in our own app and deskktop virt projects.
Robert Murray wrote Leo Stream and Wyse
on 09-13-2008 4:01 PM

I heard Leo Stream has a VDI broker that supports Smart/Proximity Cards from non-Microsoft-based thin clients and I'd like to hear about anyone doing that. I'd also like to hear more about Wyse Viance.

Guest wrote Re: Give the new guys some coverage
on 09-13-2008 4:55 PM
Looking at the innovator list and descriptions, it looks like only 6 or 7 could even have anything to do with application and desktop virtualization. It might take less time and effort than you'd think. I say go for it Mr. Madden!
Glenda Canfield wrote VMWorld
on 09-13-2008 6:52 PM
I Will be there Brian, if there some things you can't cover give me a heads up and we can devide and concor.  I am getting bretter good at this blogger stuff:)
Glenda Canfield wrote Stick to the companies improving the Protol and Management Feature,s everything is just chees for th
on 09-13-2008 7:35 PM

Protocol,,,,

Guest wrote Re: Stick to the companies improving the Protol and Management Feature,s everything is just chees fo
on 09-14-2008 9:35 AM
Will you please write for my blog, too?
Guest wrote Can you please check this out for us?
on 09-14-2008 12:45 PM
Patrick Rouse wrote Can you please check this out for us?
on 09-14-2008 4:07 PM
That wasn't me, I swear.  They put our booth adjacent to Citrix', so I'm sure we'll see plenty of traffic.  I wonder if Vmware did this on purpose?
Guest wrote Re: Can you please check this out for us?
on 09-14-2008 5:31 PM