The fact that I have waited two days before writing about DAC should give you an indication of how busy I have been.
I` want to say, before I get to the details, that DAC has been a positive experience. Yet it did not start out that way.

Thrifty versus Cheap

Until this year, DAC held two events on the Sunday before the official opening. One was a presentation, sponsored by EDAC on the financial conditions of the industry,and the other was a private party by the DAC Chair to thank the volunteers serving on the various DAC committees. This year, the Executive Committee of DAC panicked, felt that the recession was going to adversely impact DAC in a significant way, and decided to save money.

There is nothing wrong with this approach, but its implementation this year resulted in a failed event.
It was decided to combine the two event into one, in order to save money. The facility was laid out as for a reception. Tables were set out throughout the room,with chairs that invited people to take food form the two catering stations and sit down to enjoy it.
At the same time, at one ned of the room, there was a dais and a screen, obviously set up for a presentation. The attendees did their part in showing a total lack of good manners and the result was that during the presentations, by Bob Gardner, EDAC Executive Director, Wally Rhines, EDAC Chairman, and Gary Smith, industry analyst, more than half the room paid no attention to the presentation and continued to talk among themselves.
My wife, who was attending an EDA event for the first time, remarked on the lack of politeness on the aprt of the attendees. I must agree with them. Of course the layout of the room was not conductive to a presentation, but the audio system was loud enough to indicate to everyone what was taking place.

All I can say about it is that I hope this experiment is never repeated again.

Free Monday

After much debate, and I must adnit was one of those who were against free Monday, free Monday was back, thanks to EDAC, and a consortium of three EDA vendors: Atrenta, Denali, and Springsoft. As a result, attendance on Monday was good. It was very good if one takes into consideration the impact of the recession.

Due to the apprehension of the DAC leadership regarding possible financial losses, not only was free Monday abolished, but recognized members of the Press were given exhibit only registration. I di not like this, and I am ready to confess that I was the person that precipitated a crisi and got all of the press to recive full conference registration. Once again, giving the press full conference access has very little financial impact, but very great public relations impact.

Free Monday was a success: You could tell by the number of Orange Badges on the floor. Thanks go to EDASC, Atrenta, Denali, and Springsoft: a job well done.

Tuesday

Today DAC was back to normal: by that I mean people tht thought it was an important event worth paying for were around in reasonable numbers, and the free-loaders were gone. I was very busy with scheduled interviews, so I did not have the luxury to experience the full benefits of the conference, but I can say designers still cannot find a proper space in which FPGA issues can be deposited.