re: ECOC : A Ghostly GatheringAre we really surprised? Trade shows are bottomless pits of money that do not generate a positive return on investment. They are simply gathering places for Marketing people that spew the same meaninless sales slogans.The tradeshow is obsolete.
re: ECOC : A Ghostly GatheringWhat about Finisar's 10G serial at OFC in March? This was the "coming out" party for XFP. Still space science, IMHO (Luminent thinks that customers WANT and will appreciate having 10G signals running around their boards?)
Also, wasn't Intel planning to have a bunch of XPAK parts in its booth, including one that actually works?
re: ECOC : A Ghostly GatheringXFP is the end solution, but it's a little early:
The chipsets just aren't there on the system side to support 10G serial unless you choose Broadcom, Broadcom or Broadcom. There's major thermal, jitter, performance hurdles that need to be overcome to make XFP happen on the module side. Customers aren't even thinking about any volume for XFP until 2004 at the earliest.
X2PAK (not the rapper, the combination of XPAK and X2) is the near-term solution, because it's the combination of CMOS friendly 2.5-3.125G I/O and a board/chipset friendly layout.
re: ECOC : A Ghostly GatheringTradeshows are mainly a place to show the company flag, no doubt. OTOH, communication is needed to move your product. For startup companies with (still) no product, it is a definite waste of time. I mean these days it's not like the VCs are going to rush you with juicy term sheets and fat checks... Get that product working and qualified first. Then go to the show and let everyone know, so you can get customers. Just don't take a house-sized booth and don't stay at the Ritz.
re: ECOC : A Ghostly Gathering>>>unfortunately, in today's world, tradeshows are also an artificial gauge of a companies well-being.<<<
Kind of like their stock price, eh?
Trade shows are worse than a waste of money. They also cause unrealistic project completion dates and defocus a given company from what should be their ultimate goal, a cost effective, reliable product (and, for the MBAs, the extension to this logic, a profit for shareholders) !!
It's a lot better for companies to build products and then not tell anyone about them. I mean, if they really want it they'll call us, right?<<<
There are a hell of a lot better ways to introduce and sell products than at trade shows. How about finishing the product first and doing a proper product launch (internet, direct sales, rep. firms, press releases, even LightReading) rather than throwing some half-baked, un-manufacturable, non-cost-effective, customer- misleading trade show queen on the market???
re: ECOC : A Ghostly GatheringThe things that really get me are a) non-operational hardware at the booth: empty shells just like the companies displaying it, b) slick logo shirts on rent-a-models, c) nobody around that can answer detailed (not on the data sheet)technical or even the most simple pricing questions.
Hopefully, the end of the bubble will mean technical trade shows become more technical and trade and less show (like they used to be).
Also, wasn't Intel planning to have a bunch of XPAK parts in its booth, including one that actually works?
lb
The chipsets just aren't there on the system side to support 10G serial unless you choose Broadcom, Broadcom or Broadcom. There's major thermal, jitter, performance hurdles that need to be overcome to make XFP happen on the module side. Customers aren't even thinking about any volume for XFP until 2004 at the earliest.
X2PAK (not the rapper, the combination of XPAK and X2) is the near-term solution, because it's the combination of CMOS friendly 2.5-3.125G I/O and a board/chipset friendly layout.
lb
Agreed... unfortunately in todays world tradeshows are also an artificial gauge of a companies well-being. If you do not show, the rumors begin...
FG
-Whyiswhy
Kind of like their stock price, eh?
Trade shows are worse than a waste of money. They also cause unrealistic project completion dates and defocus a given company from what should be their ultimate goal, a cost effective, reliable product (and, for the MBAs, the extension to this logic, a profit for shareholders) !!
DW
It's a lot better for companies to build products and then not tell anyone about them. I mean, if they really want it they'll call us, right?
It's a lot better for companies to build products and then not tell anyone about them. I mean, if they really want it they'll call us, right?<<<
There are a hell of a lot better ways to introduce and sell products than at trade shows. How about finishing the product first and doing a proper product launch (internet, direct sales, rep. firms, press releases, even LightReading) rather than throwing some half-baked, un-manufacturable, non-cost-effective, customer- misleading trade show queen on the market???
Rantfully Yours,
DW
Hopefully, the end of the bubble will mean technical trade shows become more technical and trade and less show (like they used to be).
-Whyiswhy