The above thread is the announcement of the v10 University course. It is a closed thread so I cannot respond there. So here. I am agast at the cost of this "University". I routinely attend medical education conferences presented by world experts in their fields at conferences that cost a 1/4 of the cost of these v10 University sessions. Does anybody have a sense these costs are..... commencerate?
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Agast at the cost of the v10 University
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Maybe the price is meant to include hotel room and dinner:D
In all seriousness they do seem a little high. I guess if no one signs up Alpha will have to re-evaluate the cost. I don't know the philosophy with regards to training. Do they see it as a profit making side of their business? If so they can maybe re-evaluate their margin to what might be perceived as a fairer price. If they do not look at this as a profit making scenario (unlikely) then they need to look at reducing the costs by using a different venue and what is being paid to the lecturer. I suspect this and I'm sure other planned courses are seen as ways to help recover the cost of paying Dr. Martin Heller for preparing the new manual that Richard discussed in another thread.
All in all it seems a fairly straightforward and sound strategy but like most things getting the price right will be one key factor to success. Many have asked for better training material and Alpha are trying to deliver so I do not want to criticise. Maybe they have the price right and it will be fully booked up, if not I'm sure they will re-evaluate and try and come up with an offer more appealing and affordable to the mainstream users. For me being UK based it will never fall in my range of affordability.
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
That is a very, very good point. The conferences I referenced in the first post that I attend ARE accredited and registered with regulatory agencies. The last is no small cost added to all the costs the course holder has to bear.Mike W
__________________________
"I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Bill Griffin View PostDoesn't really seem out of line to me. Most tech seminars that I have attended or have been offered are roughly in the 500-600 per day range, which is why I don't attend many...
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Peter.Greulich View PostI trust that this will be real training by Martin Heller (syllabus suggests that it will be), unlike this past summer's 2-day seminar in Burlington, MA billed as "training", but wasn't.
The syllabus does look serious and Dr. Heller's bio is impressive, but this would be my first experience with an Alpha Software seminar. Can anybody comment further on Alpha's history with "training" events?
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Mike Wilson View PostThe above thread is the announcement of the v10 University course. It is a closed thread so I cannot respond there. So here. I am agast at the cost of this "University". I routinely attend medical education conferences presented by world experts in their fields at conferences that cost a 1/4 of the cost of these v10 University sessions. Does anybody have a sense these costs are..... commencerate?John J. Fatte', CPA
PRO-WARE, LLC
Omaha, NE 68137
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Kenmann View PostThe syllabus does look serious and Dr. Heller's bio is impressive, but this would be my first experience with an Alpha Software seminar. Can anybody comment further on Alpha's history with "training" events?
But I agree that Dr. Heller has some real gravitas and would expect he would do a bang-up job. I just wished that he offered a course w. more "advanced" subjects - like CSS, using grid events, function calls from grids, etc. These areas really need to be explored in-depth for those of us not expert in those particulars.
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Bill Griffin View PostDoesn't really seem out of line to me. Most tech seminars that I have attended or have been offered are roughly in the 500-600 per day range, which is why I don't attend many...
Additional:
I do not know Dr. Heller and no doubt he is very good. However, credentials are one thing and presenting is another. They seem to be packing a ton of stuff into a few days and to get through all that, whew! Too much to even begin to absorb it all even on 'become familiar' basis. Just reading the agenda is almost overwelming for those who haven't ventured into the web part of it.
If it's a lecture series, I'll save my money. If it's a hands on, walk ya through it, then I would consider it but not at those prices. I could end up spending some where around $3,500.
kennTYVM :) kenn
Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by forskare View PostThey seem to be packing a ton of stuff into a few days and to get through all that, whew! Too much to even begin to asorb it all even on 'become familiar' basis. Just reading the agenda is almost overwelming for those who haven't ventured into the web part of it.
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by Peter.Greulich View PostIt's kind of an immersion, where you are forced to learn the language by listening and speaking that new language only, I think.
kennTYVM :) kenn
Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
I have been critical of Alpha in the past but I do think they need credit for taking the time and the effort for setting up the course. Pricing aside this is the right thing for them to do and like everything it will take a bit of time to get the right balance of price and course content. The price is steep for a hobby developer or even maybe for someone that develops for internal company use but if you are thinking of making a living from developing with Alpha then the price probably isn't to far of the mark.
That being said the rules of supply and demand hold true. We'll have to see how many are interested at the current pricing structure and course content. From Peters comments it would appear there is an opportunity for a more advanced course to be given.
Out of interest what do you all think would be a fair price to pay?
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Re: Agast at the cost of the v10 University
Originally posted by gmeredith17 View PostPricing aside this is the right thing for them to do and like everything it will take a bit of time to get the right balance of price and course content. The price is steep for a hobby developer or even maybe for someone that develops for internal company use but if you are thinking of making a living from developing with Alpha then the price probably isn't to far of the mark.
Originally posted by gmeredith17 View PostOut of interest what do you all think would be a fair price to pay?
I think Alpha should have made the price half of what it is for the first time around. They need to establish a reputation on quality training before establishing a high price. No matter the price, those who do go, are, to some degree, putting out a lot of money for and unknown product; the unknown product being the training, not A5. Ya gotta admit, there is a ton of stuff to cover. While they do show some labs, (labs take time) lectures and handouts don't cut it, at least not for me.
A better course layout would be to show:
Day 1 PM
1:00 to 1:30 Detail views
1:30 to 2:00 Demonstration: Detail views (Customers with updateable detail view, Customers Single Record detail with CRUD)
2:00 to 2:30 Lab: Detail views Search parts, kinds of searches, quick search, alphabet buttons, query by form, cascading lookup
2:30 to 3:00 Lab: search parts
3:3:15 Break
3:15 to 4:00 Grid styles, shading, dividers, options, record navigation, update settings, detail view options
4:00 to 4:30 Lab: Grid styles and options Kinds of grid fields, field properties
4:30 to 5:00 Lab: Products detail, Categories detail, Orders updateable
5:00 to ?? Questions
Now, that is a schedule I can begin to get my mind wrapped around. However, I've helped plan and put together a lot of training and conferences over the last 20 years and that is a schedule that cannot be kept. There is too much for the time alloted which means something has to be dropped or many items given lip service. I don't know about you, but it makes no difference what the cost, I want to walk away with a feeling, "Wow, that was great. I really learned alot and it was worth every dime". From what info Alpha has provided, there's little chance of that and even at 1/4th the price, it's too much. Alpha also needs to remember, there is plane fare, hotel, meals and other misc expenses. If I had to sell this to my management, it wouldn't sell as presented. Management wants to know, (I want to know) beyond the claims of Alpha, what they will get for the money.
kennTYVM :) kenn
Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.
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