[OSGeo-Conf] Format questions for 2009 conference

[Paul Ramsey]

I think it's still borderline. Downloading a multi-hundred-meg VM is  
difficult for many people. Read the comments on the workshop feedback.  
The mix of attendees ran from the highly technical (VM would be no  
problem) to fairly non-technical (wouldn't know the first step).

P


On Jan 7, 2008, at 4:08 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:

> Thanks for feedback so far. Sounds like the big risk item is going to
> be computers for workshops.
> I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of VMWare images before hand. It  
> makes sense.
>
> I assume most people should be able to download and install a VMWare
> image before leaving for the conference (maybe install it on the
> plane).
> For those that have technical difficulties, we could have a laptop
> hire program with pre-installed images ready to go at an extra cost.
> Or alternatively, people with problems can look over the shoulder of
> another participant.
>
> Would this be acceptable? (It would reduce our budget and hopefully
> reduce risk).
>
> On Jan 8, 2008 9:42 AM, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at refractions.net> wrote:
>>
>> On Jan 7, 2008, at 2:11 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>>
>>> 1. For our workshops, we are proposing that participants bring their
>>> own laptops. (We can set up a laptop hire program for those who
>>> don't have one). This will reduce our computer costs and risks.
>>> We are making a bet that an OSGeo live CD will be available by 2009
>>> and using your own computer should be a realistic option with
>>> minimal fuss. Any objections?
>>
>> This is a dangerous one, as I am sure Dave Patton would attest. Even
>> with almost completely homogeneous computers, we still had
>> incompatibility issues! (One of the VMWare images wouldn't work on  
>> one
>> batch of machines.)  If you have 300 work-shoppers, and 10% have
>> machine troubles, you have 30 people to get up and running, in the 15
>> minutes between their arrival and the start of the classes.
>>
>> Also, anything that can't run live-CD is shut out of the workshops.
>>
>> P.
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Systems Architect
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
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>
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