Last year while the idea of Elisa coming to Orlando for IBM Connect 2013 was being formed, Paul Mooney promised her a motorcycle ride. This morning before the hogride set out for the day he made good on his promise.
Category Archives: IBMConnect
Worlds Collide (What a Difference a Year Makes)
Last January I headed down to Orlando for Lotusphere with very mixed emotions, on one hand I wanted to be there, in some ways I needed to be there, and at the same time I was a little worried about leaving home one week after Elisa had major surgery. Â It was Elisa who months earlier knowing what was ahead insisted I make my plans and go to Lotusphere as I have been doing for years now.
It was around this time that the idea was born that Elisa should come to Lotusphere 2013. Â Over the course of the week many of you filmed a greeting to Elisa, and encouraged her to make the trip to Orlando in 2013.
So here we are one year later, heading down to Orlando together, and while I might be going to IBM Connect, I am pretty sure Elisa is on her way to Lotusphere 🙂 where we once again put to the test George Costanza’s theory of worlds colliding.
I can’t speak for George Costanza, but I am thrilled to have Elisa joining me in Orlando this year and look forward to the week ahead.
See you in Orlando
Results of The 2013 IBM Connect Tablet Survey
The results are in, thanks to all who responded this year.  There was 155 responses, and not surprisingly the iPad rules at IBM Connect.  I was surprised that there were not more iPad Minis, I thought there would be more of them in the mix.
The presence of only one response of Microsoft Surface tablet did not surprise me, for a while it looked like it was going to finish at zero.
In the “Other” Category there was one  Lenovo Yoga, one “Etch a Sketch” and one “Moses’ 10 Commandments” (OK so not everyone took it seriously).
The laptop question was interesting, unless I chicken out in the next day I will be headed down to Orlando for the first time without a laptop.  I am at a point where I feel anything I need to do during the week can be accomplished on my iPad or Galaxy SIII.  Of the 155 respondents  121 are bringing their laptops, and 34 are leaving them home.  I am hoping at this time next week I will still think it was a good idea to travel without the laptop.
The IBM Connect 2013 Sonny & Cher Playlist
Thanks for all the great suggestions for the Sonny & Cher reunion at IBM Connect.
Heading to IBM Connect? Consider Yourself Warned
Talk about setting the bar high, Mat Newman wants to hug even more this year and I have no doubt he will succeed.
New Year’s Resolution: Hug More, Complain Less, Live Life and Love every Moment.
— Mat Newman (@matnewman) December 31, 2012
The Dolphin Rotunda…. at 2 AM
Planning Your IBM Connect Calendar
Later this week I will be heading down to Orlando for IBM Connect. Â This is my 9th Lotusphere/Connect and over the years I have come up with a method for planning my schedule and keeping up with it while at the event. Â I warn you in advance this involves printing (yes printing) and despite all the mobile devices and calendars, I have stuck with this system as it works for me.
Step 1: Plan your schedule
Thanks to Mat Newman and his team there is once again a Notes Database for planning your schedule, between that and the conference site which allows you to plan your schedule, and export as an ics file, getting all your session on to your Notes Calendar is easy.  I add to that any meetings, and events I want to attend and one week out my calendar looks something like this.
Step 2: Printing your calendar
Select the options as show above, ‘Print Calendar to a document’, ‘Calendar list’ and the date range you want, I print each day of the conference to its own document.  On the right hand side select at a minimum location and any other information you might want.
I get a lot of funny looks when I tell people that I print my calendar, but here are some of the reasons why I still print
1. Once the event starts things tend to change quickly, meetings move, new meeting requests come in, it is easy to mark changes down on paper.
2. I write down on this paper different things that happen during the day, people I met, things I want to remember, phone numbers, anything I might want to capture during the day.  When I get back home I have all my general notes for each day in one place.
3. It is visually easier to sort out on paper, especially when I double and triple book various time slots and make last minute decisions where to go.
If you selected the options above to print you wind up with something that looks like this, which besides being able to print, you can also Forward the document as an email, so if you want to share your schedule with your colleagues attending the event this is an easy way to do it.
So there you have it, a little old school printing out my daily schedule but for one week every year it works for me.
Lotusphere 20th Anniversary Reception at IBM Connect
Glancing through the FAQ at the Conference site I came across this event
Will mark it on my calendar and try to stop by, I wonder how many “20 year ” attendees there are.
The 2013 IBM Connect Tablet Survey
Once again this year I am asking you take a moment and share with me your gadget plans for IBM Connect.
In addition to asking about tablets there is also a second question this year  asking about a laptop.  I am hoping for the first time to travel to Orlando with out a laptop, I wonder how many others might be planning the same.  Feel free to drop a comment why you require or don’t require a laptop.
Poll is open until January 23rd, results will be published on the 24th
Sonny and Cher Return for IBM Connect 2013
Last year at the conclusion of Lotusphere those who were lucky enough to be in Kimonos on Thursday night saw Tom Duff & Andy Donaldson do their best imitation of Sonny & Cher with their rendition of “I got you babe“. Â Tom and Andy will be back (there might even be two shows this year) and we need your help picking a song for them.
Please make your suggestion (if the form does not appear below click here)
The Blogger Open, There Might be Life in this Thing Yet
I delivered the bad news last month that the Blogger Open would not be back for IBM Connect 2013.  I appreciated all the feedback, and it is clear that there is interest in a post Closing Session event so I followed up on some suggestions. I have good news and bad news.
The Good news
The new bowling alley at Downtown Disney is the perfect location to hold and event, they will reserve a section of the bowling alley, and serve food. Â While it is a bus ride away from the Swan & Dolphin, there is a free shuttle so transportation is not a problem. Â Logistically it is better than mini-golf as we won’t have the chaos of getting everyone out on the course. Â Sounds great right? Keep Reading
The Bad News
It is not cheap. Â The Blogger Open has ranged anywhere from 50-75 people over the years. Â To reserve 6 Bowling lanes, and feed 75 people (alcohol would be ‘cash bar’) Â is approximately $6000 which is substantially more than it cost in the past for mini-golf.
I throw this out there to let the community know there are options, if anyone is interested in sponsoring the event, please get in touch with me, if I find enough sponsors I will run the event.