There is a great deal of things I like about SolidWorks World - if you know me that's a no-brainer statement. For the past couple of years, SolidWorks World has also meant hanging around near the press room on occasion and getting to mingle with some of the CAD journalists that were on hand. Even better, many of the SolidWorks bloggers have been there reporting, interviewing, and causing a general ruckus amongst the traditional press.
I won't have to wait until SolidWorks World 2009 to get the chance to hang out with these good folks again. I've been invited to a very special event in Barcelona, Spain in September that will once again bring these diverse groups together for the express purpose of writing about SolidWorks.
There will be CAD journalists of course, and I look forward to reading their articles and blogs. They'll do their jobs, reporting on what they see and hear, and even offering opinions and insight. Good journalists would do no less.
The bloggers will have opinions too (count on it). One of the benefits these bloggers offer to SolidWorks users is the fact that they too are everyday SolidWorks users. SolidWorks blogs range from highly technical (Gabi, Ricky) to highly informative (Jason), to highly cool (Josh). But they all have one thing in common - they base most of their writing on the actual use of SolidWorks. Most (if not all) of the bloggers at the press event will have either a beta or pre-release version of SolidWorks 2009 on their laptops, so they'll be able to listen, ask questions, and then head back to their hotel rooms to work through things before they start writing. Good SolidWorks users would do no less.
The September press event will mark the official end to the secrecy usually associated with a new release of SolidWorks. You'll get a first hand look at new functionality, probably some video, maybe some tips and tricks, and definitely more than one opinion on just about everything. By the time your local VAR is holding SolidWorks 2009 Roll-out events, you'll feel like you're already an expert.
You don't have to wait until September to start learning more about SolidWorks 2009. If you're a SolidWorks customer with subscription service, you can join the Beta program. If you just don't have the time, get yourself an aggregator page (like this one), and start reading the blogs now. They can't tell you what's going on in the beta program, but I guarantee you'll learn something new about SolidWorks every week. Leave a comment or two to show your appreciation, or even to voice opinions.
Once the SolidWorks 2009 information overload starts happening, you'll know exactly where to turn for your information.
Hey Richard. highly Cool? ;) - well you are highly awesome for saying so. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone over there. (strange it takes that to bring us all together sometimes) See ya!
Posted by: Josh | June 30, 2008 at 07:27 AM
Sounds like a great trip! Enjoy all of you bloggers. I have not gotten a invite as per usual.
Could someone tell me why I never get invited to these things and have to muscle my way into them? Who did I piss off? Anyhow I have given up trying for equal treatment and lack the energy to try and get in on the press events. Just wanted to say my peace.
Besides I will be gobsmacked if this goes up and stays on the site...
Ben
Posted by: Ben | June 30, 2008 at 12:47 PM