Those attending the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2005 seemed animated between sessions and online while snacking.
This was my first time observing at a PDC, so I can’t compare 2005 with previous sessions. But, I can juxtapose my observations against my expectations. In general, this was an aggregate of brilliant people in a wide range of attire, postures, and physiques speaking many European, Latin and Asian languages. Probably 95 percent wore soft shoes. Almost all cleaned up after themselves when they finished working at a snack-online station.
Guys, I saw only one blue blazer with a white dress shirt and tie in snack areas. More were in the private dining room. They looked corporate in attire, posture, and physique. I also saw a handful of guys who appeared military or athletes. That is, they sat straight, addressed their notebooks as commander, looking directly down at the screen and asserted immediate control over the keyboard and mouse.
Most others showed well worn T-shirets and jeans, including one with a Superman logo, some with rock group logos. They seemed shy about using their notebooks. They slouched over into an “S” shape, looking at their screens out of the top of their eyes, carefully tapping on keys with cautious movements. Too many looked unhealthy with skin not exposed to much sunlight, and with more jelly bellies than I remember seeing at other conferences.
Almost all men and women were traditionally publically polite. Yeh! Over half walked hunched over leading with their chins. Maybe one in 200 walked with a straight spine and chin tucked in.
It was good to see so many people eating fresh fruit and reading content labels before selecting snack foods. We counted three, maybe four, Tablet PCs out of the 50 notebooks online immediately around us near the snack table.
Probably 98 percent carried a backpack, including with labels from MVP, NECC and TechEd.
A security guard captured another lasting image when he said “I have never seen so many cell phones in one place before and being used so much.”
In short, so many brilliant minds in one place! Yeh!