Base camp 2012
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Okay so it's over, and I had a great time.
Thank you Google, you did good as always.
The point to this thread is to find out what y'all thought, liked and would like to see in the next one.
I'll kick off...
I liked the location, Boulder is an awesome town with lots to do. The campus is walking distance to everything and the weather is perfect this time of year.
So I'd say we keep it Boulder as after all it is Sketchup's base and it will eliminate arguements about future locations.Unconference, I do like this, it does work...however...
I'd like to establish the topics a day prior to starting so participants can plan more and get stuff ready.
I found it hard to choose between topics that were taking place at the same time, so if I am to choose one I'd like the others recorded so I can watch them online.Too short, I'd like another day, maybe a Lab day (last day) so that we can do one on one with interested attendees to iron out problems, learn, etc. I'd suggest in the Google cafeteria where there is space, tables, Internet etc.
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Here are the photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/sketchucation.com/SCF3DBaseCamp2010#
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@unknownuser said:
"Dale Martens (Whaat) doing SDS2 demo"
wait, what?
how was that?It was a great demo and Dale is a class act. There will be tweaks in the interface and some added functionality, sculpting for example. But it will be a while before release as the demo was an Alpha version if I recall. I have my checkbook ready for sure.
@solo said:
I liked the location, Boulder is an awesome town with lots to do...
Yes, I agree. Please keep any future Basecamp events at the base of the mountain where it should be.
@solo said:
Unconference, I do like this, it does work...however...
I agree here too. It was hard to decide especially with only a few min. to decide after the slots were filled.
@solo said:
Too short, I'd like another day, maybe a Lab day (last day)...
Another day would be great. For more sessions as well as some lab time.
Maybe, and this is a stretch to ask, but maybe the Google guys can book the entire Best Western in advance and allow us all to have the option to stay there. Some Basecampers had to walk quite a ways because of not knowing about the BW.
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I'm still amazed that I got to meet in person so many folks I've chatted with online. Many of them for years. Even that guy who tapped me on the shoulder and disappeared is pretty cool.
I'm looking forward to the next Basecamp and everyone had better come again. I hope it is in Boulder again, too.
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@unknownuser said:
I'm still amazed that I got to meet in person so many folks I've chatted with online.
I really had a great time and Boulder is a great place. I would love to come back there sometime. Thank you all
for making such a great event. -
I think it should be in Australia so all 249 of you feel like I do.....
Seriously, the un-conference thingy worked well although like Pete said maybe a little longer to prepare. Other than that, priceless.
BTW Pete, while we were away the Wallabies beat the Springboks, just thought I'd let you know.....
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It was good, place was nice, the company was superb. I'd like a European version but that's another story.
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Most definitely a European version ... on odd-numbered years?
I would do my darndest to attend.Yo, Rich, I thought twice when our plane took off
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Great patio discussions.John
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Just got home, and am digesting all that I learned.
I agree, Boulder is a great location, and I felt the SketchUp team was more comfortable there.
Un-conference had its pros and cons. Generally I liked it, it tends to cover a larger variety of topics,and with the variety of users this works well.
One day longer, absolutely!
I would love to see sessions that had a a lab component in them, or some way to get a chance to work in a more hands on fashion. I don't know how this would work in reality, but it would be great. -
would you be kind enough to tells what happened there? will there be videos on youtube like in 2008?
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Hi Edson:
To answer part of your question.
Unfortunately,the Google SketchUp folks did NO formal videos. -
There was a Google rep in every unconference session that took notes and I'm sure it will be made available soon.
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@utiler said:
I think it should be in Australia so all 249 of you feel like I do.....
Oh Hell Yeah!
As long as Google pays for the travel I agree Boulder's setup was great. From what Pete was telling us about California, it sounded great, except for the lodging's distance. And to agree with what other folks were saying, the SketchUp team being in their city made them really laid back and very hospitable. Scott ended up hanging out with us user types every chance he could.
But...I thought Pete was arguing for Hawaii Just kidding, Boulder was great!All you guys were great - I was really worried that I would be the guy sitting in the corner, but you guys were really cool about letting me in to your community.
The Un-conference - would be great if there was a formal way to suggest topics ahead of time to have the schedule roughed in (and presenters could prepare), then add a few topics/review in a session the night before - so the Un-Conference day could start with a 90% determined list that people could review while having breakfast...instead of the 15 minute cram and dash that occurred.
(would have been nice to have the 64 bit discussion stay on the board as well
)They explained that since they had around 12 un-conference sessions going at once it would have been hard to have them video'd. If you haven't seen the pictures of the groups, some were really small - others might have been large enough to video. Maybe in future Basecamps they can arrange or allow folks to set up cameras and tie into the sound to capture video of all the large sessions and demos in the 3 main meeting rooms.
As for adding a day - even a half day would have allowed the Un-Conference topics to have been spread out time wise and use less space...that way more people could have an opportunity to visit some of the topics that occurred opposite of another topic they were interested in. The SU crew did a pretty good job of spacing topics so the overlap didn't always occur, but I can recall having to decide between 3 of the final sessions to attend. If we would have been able to have 3-4 more hours of sessions, I think that would have been just about right. Then have the vendor/partners close out the conference in the afternoon sessions.
I wasn't sure exactly what the protocol was for the Lab Time with the SU pros. I really needed to speak with someone about network licensing issues and after attending I realized it would be a great opportunity to bring a few models that had glitches to walk through the issues I have had in the past with SU.
Over all, was a great experience! Hope to see you all again in future basecamps.
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The conference was worthwhile but just as important was the renewal of old friendships and making new ones (this conference was exceptional in that respect).
It is hard to say good bye but knowing there will be future conferences makes up for this.
I met the Terenzi brothers again at the airport (no they didn't land in jail last night
). We chatted for 5 or 10 minutes .... good people.I agree with Pete at least another day with a readily accessible "help" center at actual conference site would be my vote.
Regards,
JohnP.S. can't wait for all the photos to be posted.
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Hello there,
back to France after a great time in Boulder.
it worthed all the investment into it, and I enjoyed meeting with you guys and SU people, you ROCK.
my 2 cents : a 24 hours lab ? an extra 1/2 day ?
would some stay over until Sunday coming from above oceans, some plans for the week end would be great (canyoning, hicking, bbq) ..!the location is great : Google / Dairy Center / BW & pub works well together.
Boulder and the Rockies are superb.Bertier
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I was jealous of Bertier and the Italian brothers (Graziano & Aleesandro @inglobe) and John Clements and all the others who managed to take a trip up into the Rocky State Park. I heard it was beautiful. I'll have to try to get up there nex time around.
Chris
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Hi there,
I'd like to reassure John and everybody about the fact that we did not land in jail finally. I got back home here in Italy yesterday and everything was fine. My brother Alessandro and me...we are fine and safe, each one in his own home here!
Most of all I'd like to thank you all for the great moments in Boulder, not only the professional moments but also the fun time that we had there. I'm really happy to have met people like you and I look forward to meet you at the next Google Basecamp wherever it will be held.
Really a great time!
Graziano
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It was a lot of fun. to the Italian boys. . .Alessandro. . sorry for putting you on the spot by having you talk to my daughter in Italian. She got a kick out of it, but she was like you. . .a bit put on the spot. Yeah. ..I was a bit of a dork. (her words!) But She got my basecamp t-shirt!
Anyway, thanks for indulging me.
Great Base camp. A day longer would've been nice.
Ciao!
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I felt like this Basecamp was much better for networking, while 2008 was better for gaining new tips and information. I definitely wouldn't change anything about the networking/social opportunities, but I would have liked to see the unconference sessions extended into Day 3. Day 3 ended far too early and there were many sessions on Day 2 that I would have liked to attend had there been more time slots available. I agree that the unconference topics should have been brainstormed on the first day after the keynote, with the option to add a few more the next morning if a conversation at the first evening's get-together sparked a new idea.
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