Solid Edge University Day #2
Day 2 of SEU was so full of new information and great stories that I’m going to have to break it up into smaller bits and write about it later. First was two assembly sessions with Art Patrick, a Solid Edge employee and wizard with assemblies. Art is one of the better presenters I’ve seen at conferences like this. Really awesome functionality, cool models, and techniques and tools that just left my jaw hanging. Really. Of course he was using the new ST5, and all I have is ST4.
There is no hard date for shipping ST5. The criteria for shipping has to do with quality targets. Once they get the number of open bug reports down to a certain level, they will ship. The estimation is before the end of July. A number of regional productivity summits have been scheduled for the month of August. More on this as I have some time to put it together.
And then there was getting to meet some of the Solid Edge “monuments”. These people are in a lot of ways not what I expected. Bob Mileti – the tough Italian Bronxite who is not only a great conversion story for Synch Tech, but also a good businessman and very willing to share. Billy Oliver – a guy who comes off as maybe a little bland in the podcasts portrayal of him, but in person is one of the most hilariously sarcastic yet serious performers I’ve ever met. Seriously, my sides still hurt after his description of a SW Salesman’s portrayal of CAD In the Cloud. Luc Poulin of Quebec – high energy, smart, and tenacious. He doesn’t let English as a second language get in his way to express his willingness to help and his wealth of knowledge. Really, if you need to learn SE, or need professional consulting for the software, this guy is a great resource. And then there were people like Fabio Andriosi (might have that last name wrong) from Brazil. And Steve from Schonbeck in Plattsburgh, NY, about 15 miles from where I grew up. Steve knows some NX and uses a lot of techniques that I found very interesting to design elaborate chandeliers in Solid Edge.
The list of people I talked with just goes on and on. I can’t remember all the names, but I felt very welcomed by the Solid Edge community. A lot of people came up to me to tell me they read the blog, and thought it was a useful rallying point for people considering a switch or even just for SE users wanting to connect on an open forum.
There was also some talk about opening up the BBS Notes Solid Edge forum. I now understand and agree with the idea that this forum should be kept closed, but another open forum should be developed. This is also probably a blog post on its own. The opinions on this one were pretty strong, and after seeing both sides of the argument, I think that opening the forum would kill what is so beautiful about it. But the need for an open forum doesn’t go away, and to me Eng-Tips is not an acceptable second. More one this later.
There was a big throw down on user groups and community issues Wednesday night as well, which speaks volumes about the stiff bureaucracy that sometimes prevents useful things from happening. Believe me, I’ll have something to say about this. Just so you know, Karsten is not the problem. I talked at length with Karsten at dinner last night, and while change seems to be slow on some fronts, he has a lot to manage on his plate. I was shocked at the type of resistance he encounters from one source in particular. More details on this when I can tell more of the story.
Anyway, the event was well done. There is no question that I’ll want to return again, and there seems no question that the size will likely double next year. There were people from all over the world in attendance. I was surprised most by the representation by people from South America, Brazil in particular. The technical sessions I attended were all very well done, and extremely valuable. This is a community you should want to be a part of if you are a Solid Edge user.
Kevin,
It is kind of interesting to watch Siemens and SE and they are now planing up to ten years in advance. The roadmap for SE, and this is no secret as Dan Staples has come right out and said it, is to first take care of the 90% of the MCAD market that is basically machinery design and the rest of it like the complex surfacing you ask about for the next wave of improvements. This is what is so nice here. They methodically work on geometry users want to see and that will benefit the most the fastest. They are leaders in the area of direct editing but followers of users in the sense that geometry creation and good tools are first before whatever glitzy stuff some corporate wonk decides would sell more seats in demos. They have a plan for your concerns to and I dare say with a mature and well working product I bet will answer your surfacing complaints less than a year away now. Dassault on the other hand has throw it on the wall and see if it sticks planning as far as I can see’ I mean I know they are doing things but judging by the corporate chaos and conflicting statements on a regular basis is what they are doing both cohesive and user oriented? I am not even sure what the real direction at the top of Dassault is anymore.
I am looking at all this with one major idea in mind today. I figure that I have around ten more years full time in business and I want to be a part of a long term plan with good software because I don’t want to have to switch again or worry about the future again. This was not by design when I first bought SE but it has turned out to be a major benefit of being here. I too am waiting for my last serious objection to be answered and it is CAM. But I look forward to the resolution this year of both of our complaints with complete confidence because afterall, there is a real cohesive plan and roadmap here.
Almost forgot. Autodesk also says that the cloud is in the future for all it’s products. I know very few CAD users who are going to use anything that requires they go to the cloud to work. T Splines has just been absorbed by someone who will shoot it in the foot with the cloud.
Neil I was referring specifically to the claims made about surfacing to come in ST6. I’m unclear how this is any different to the SolidWorks situation? Both sets of users have to wait and see what is actually meant. Both products will be released next year.
In both cases the parent company has an enterprise product to push with lots of very expensive add ons, so it will be very interesting to see exactly what they mean by all this. My point is simply that you cannot judge a product until you have it in your hands and use it, and they make an assessment as to its value for your business.
If ST6 is released with far greater surfacing capability than the current SolidWorks I will gladly take a look at it and assess it. But then, if the SolidWorks v6 platform has even a small subset of the CATIA capability (and some kind of Image and Shape functionality) this will also be a huge improvement.
But the reality for both companies is that Autodesk will have a maturing TSplines based product in the market by then, and PTC will have version 3 of Freestyle in Creo. So for both companies, the surfacing capabilities better be good, and better be in the core system.
It is very refreshing to see this much discussion about the SE product.
In the past, SE was always treated as the red-headed step child of the CAD world.
Not anymore. 🙂
Dave Ault was the driving force in my trying a demo of SE.
As someone familiar with SolidWorks, playing with SE was enjoyable as it’s clear that a LOT of work has gone into the product.
The fact that SE is being discussed with this level of passion is an indication that things are moving in the right direction.
Dassault is laying the world at SE’s feet and SE is poised to make the most of it.
Let’s hope SIEMENS doesn’t decide to step in and grab defeat from the jaws of victory. 🙂
Well at least by the time SEst6 comes out we should know what is actually coming with SWv6. From a users point of view this could simply come down to getting access to Catiav6 or NX surfacing. Either way a win win. Question is, will this really happen?
Time will tell. Looks to me that that Siemens are playing the same “wait and see what’s coming” game as Dassault now.
“Time will tell. Looks to me that that Siemens are playing the same “wait and see what’s coming” game as Dassault now.”
I’m not sure how you draw that conclusion Kevin, there is a clearly stated long term corporate commitment from Siemens, ST5 has many updates and acknowledging that many users are requesting improvements to the surfacing module this is reportedly coming in ST6. Add that to no mention of the cloud and a public showing of a CAM beta I would suggest just the opposite, Solid Edge would appear to have a clearly defined road map and unlike Dassault it would appear they are listening to their users.
Hi Neil, +1.
Neil, this is truly meant as an open space and not advertising, and I am sure that Matt wouldn’t have it any other way. I can tell you that we are already learning a lot about the ID/surfacing requirements from Matt and others and as Dan Staples said at SEU12: “watch this space”.
I am not a fan of restricting open discussions, even if that means talking about areas for improvement.
I certainly value SWX users here to let us know what works for you.
Thanks, Karsten
So Kim and Dave are right and rather than what we say our actions will be proof of our focus and commitment to Solid Edge and it’s community.
Dave, by the way, I took Neil’s comments as concern rather than FUD, for what it’s worth. Either way, those who believe and trust in Edge will not be disappointed.
Hope you are right about Neil Karsten. I follow things back many times and find VARS and people involved with software and not as users so I tend to be a bit cynical until I know more about why something was posted.
Hmmm ok so there seems to be an identity conflict going on in the church of Siemens PLM more than anything. Exclusive vs progressive? I note quite a few SE people have a mindset not unlike SW users are used to and dont appear to have an objection to refugees trying to establish a bridge head here for mutual benefit however I would say that a rebuff from a key influential church elder now is going to have long lasting consequences…. It wont go unnoticed in the wider CAD world that whatever the rationale or dictates SE is effectively a closed and self defeating society. It will appear as though SE is by choice a second or third rate player. A company that shuns success that could be theirs as much as SW have enjoyed and the disregards the happiness of their flock to keep the ‘beautiful thing they have going’ dressed in pinstripe suites? I guess its up to SErs to decide what they are about for themselves but there is only going to be a narrow window of opportunity for change before the world has to move on. While some may see this humanitarian crisis for SW users as a convenient opportunity for a small PR dalliance for SE via a sponsored hope and change blog others both inside and outside are obviously looking for a lot more from it. I am hoping we wont be majorly disappointed…anyone remember the movie Brigadoon?
Uh Neil, sorry to bust your bubble but the only conflict here is of your own invention. SE leadership and users have allready handled this and we know who we are and where we are going. Perhaps PLM World is conflicted but you see they are their own seperate business entity and are not a part of NX or SE. We are looking forward to the ST5 Rollouts in August and the subsequent user groups later this year and SEU13 next year. PLM World has no part of any of this. So what is the basis for your FUD commentary? Had to laugh a little about what you said as it kind of reminds me of the things JB would say here if he could.
Well the whole thread is peppered with bits and pieces of some ‘throwdown’ that took place regarding ‘community’. What am I supposed to take from that? I think Matt and I were thinking there would be some accessible space for exSW and other people or something. I think perhaps Matt was hoping for some responsibilities… Remember we are hanging around to see/understand what the state of play is and where we might fit in, if we can. You dont like my outsider comments in your advertising space, fine, I’ll disappear… I’m not really convinced SE is going to be the answer for ID folks if we hang in there long enough anyway. Later.
Neil,
There was a conflict, but I think it can be ignored since it’s not going to have any affect on Solid Edge’s success with putting together user events. There was one guy who is a bit of a control monger and just wants to control everything. I’m sure that behind the scenes someone like Karsten will have to deal with this guy and probably smooth some things over, and frankly I wouldn’t want that job, but the rest of the people trying to build SE community should be able to completely ignore him.
As far as I can tell, it’s not a faction, just a single person who believes things that simply aren’t the case.
The difference of opinion is that this guy believes that the same organization (and funding stream) that runs PLM Connection should also be running Solid Edge user events. Solid Edge University was not linked to PLM Conn, which probably annoyed this guy. Further, the planned Solid Edge productivity summits are not linked to PLM Conn, which I know annoyed him even more.
The problem is that the PLM Conn events are really for PLM products. Not for Solid Edge. Solid Edge participation is low in the PLM Conn events. I went to one conference, and of a couple thousand people, there were less than 100, possibly less than 50 Solid Edge users. So it’s pretty well established fact that PLM Connection just doesn’t appeal to SE users. That’s fine. The products are separated to a large extent, and so are the users.
You’re right that SE users and SW users are pretty much cut from the same material. CAD users, not System Admins, IT Managers, or that sort. Huge difference between the types of people attending these events. The needs of the users are different, and really need to be led using different styles altogether.
So SE is going to run its own events. It’s the only thing that makes sense. The sooner we all forget about this guy, the better. The issue will go away as soon as you and I stop writing about it.
About the ID stuff, Dan said from the stage that ST6 is going to focus on surfacing. I’m not sure if that means ordered surfacing or synchronous surfacing, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for synchronous surfacing. If they do that, it will bring what I think is the best part of NX to SE. And it would have the potential to be very ID friendly.
So there’s a lot to look forward to.
OK then, sorry, maybe I read too much into it, but the forum is still to be closed isnt it? I guess I’m looking for some sort of declaration of intent to make waiting and the discomfort of change worthwhile. A betrothal if you like. I’m getting that in a round about way but not an official ‘yes we will open up and support/promote a SE user community’ and ‘yes we will stick a useful package of ID orientated stuff in SE soon’. Maybe you should have reported Dans ST6 statement instead…..
Neil,
The idea of an open forum for everyone has been a topic for some time. Generally it appears that there will be a closed forum for actual subscribers but I think there will be an open moderated forum soon to for those who are not. We do have great interest in talking with anyone who is seriously asking questions and I would imagine many of the regulars on the BBS closed forums will participate in the public one to when there is one.. The closed forum has a lot of information users don’t want to be public such as personal contact info they wish to share with peers but not the public. Plus it keeps trolls under control.
By the way, if you were seriously asking questions let me apologise for being as critical as I was. With how you were saying things I was not so sure you were sincere and I have been down that road before with some who were most definitely not serious.
Neil,
Maybe the problem is that there is so much stuff in flux right now that the official word just can’t come fast enough. The official BBS Notes is a closed forum, yes. Initially I opposed this. I wanted it open. But after I thought about it, the closed forum is really nice. There are a lot of experts and great data, and its all free from some of the trash that you find in the SolidWorks forum from time to time. There is definitely support for an open area of the forum, where non-SE users can participate, and it will necessarily be a little less “tidy” than the closed BBS, but from what I hear, I think it will exist at some point. Things never happen fast enough, I know, and I’m sure this will be one of those things. If I had to bet, I’d bet that it will happen within a year, and maybe before the end of the calendar year, but that’s just me guessing without any knowledge of any concrete plans.
Dan’s ST6 statement is a bit vague at this point, since coding probably hasn’t even started yet. His comments have been mainly off-the-cuff, although not secretive. I don’t think there is any detail to report, but next spring I’m sure there will be some NDA’ed beta tests.
SE runs beta differently from SW. I haven’t really worked through that process yet, so I’m not that familiar with it. If you express some interest (and I think you have), they may contact you to help with beta testing. You’ll have to get in touch with someone like Dan for that.
Hmmm well I think I will opt out of anymore participation in that case. An exclusive forum doesnt sit well with me at all. In NZ we have a culture of an egalitarian nature. In many ways it is quite removed from the us/them, winner/loser, money/class conscious happenstance that occurs in the US. I really dont like access to be based on discrimination, convenient or otherwise. If you have to be overtly ‘professional’ and ‘tidy’ (jacket and tie minimum I presume) it has no value for the frank exchange of ideas and opinions in my view. Its just a sniffy club along the lines of what this one misguided individual in the suit wants for conventions. Aside from one or two unusual characters (myself included obviously) adding some colour, there is no problem of degraded discussion at the SW forum as far as I am concerned. At one time Matt had the same outlook as is being advocated and didnt like my participation at all, probably still doesnt, but we do seem to end up expressing similar opinions/concerns about the CAD we use. Students were also disliked for appearing because they werent viewed as legitimate/mature users. Actually few people other than genuinely interested SW users visited those places. It would probably be the same for an open SE forum. The main problem was really the usenet crossposting. Anyway I’ll see what actually arrives in ST6 before I revisit possibility of using SE again.
Some people hunt for reasons to be offended and others understand there are legitimate concerns. Some people ask serious questions and want serious answers and others will never be satisfied with any answer because they weren’t seriously asking. In any case you were told there would be in all likelyhood a public forum soon so your stated desires were going to be met in time.
The original SolidWorks forum on USENET and its usefullness was killed by being open to professional troublemakers. The DSS SolidWorks forum is a semi closed forum as it is censored and you can’t just get on there and say what you want when you want. Is it therefore semi sniffy, completely sniffy or totally not sniffy?
Babies and bathwater here I am afraid and sniffy goes two ways doesn’t it.
I do not speak for anyone but myself here but I am back to finding it hard to take you seriously.
Thats right Dave there will be apparently one forum for approved of SE persons ie very serious customers and another moderated one for joe unwashed public. How many members of the public do you think will turn up to a separate forum to talk among themselves about SE? How many of the public are interested in CAD to come make a nuisance of themselves on a forum? In fact dont most businesses operate a single forum that only require you to register to distinguish your posts from others and spam and supply a contact email address? So yes I perceive it is somewhat sniffy and deliberately so to have this arrangement. Usually too in most forums there are persons moderating the discussions and tidying up misplaced posts etc. be it volunteer members or company employees, nothing unusual about that. I doubt SE would allow anyone to say whatever they want and go uncensored either. Any time I have been censored or reprimanded it has largely been because someone doesnt share my sense of humour however the comments I post are almost entirely topical and concerning living with SW. I assure you however I am quite serious about my objection to what looks like discrimination but its not up to me to decide the matter. To me this seems like an unnecessary barrier to the wider promotion of SE. Do you want SE to be out there in the world or not?
Last comment here Neil as this is not worth pursuing anymore. When I was seriously looking into SE V20 and then into SE ST1 which I bought there was a ton of information out there for me to make a valid and informed purchase, just as there is for you today. If an open forum is the singular most important criteria with which you judge your interest in the geometric capabilities of a software program I am not sure what to tell you.
Neil,
I don’t think any of this is decided yet, so your input can still have an effect. I get what you’re saying about if all the talent is behind the wall, then what ever is outside the wall will necessarily be of lower quality. I’m not directly involved with this, but I’m pretty sure those who are involved are reading.
The thought behind the walled off area is that it is a part of the subscription service. I know SW gives different levels of access to subscription customers, but allows everybody into the same area. I think subs customers get search capability and some other advanced features while guests go without those.
Don’t get all worked up about it before any plans have been made. I don’t think they will launch something that doesn’t have any value. If you have more ideas, I’m pretty sure people are listening.
Thanks for your needless antagonism Dave. Have a good day…
“… As to the topic of “resistance”, well, I don’t think there are any bad intentions, but there are two different kinds of business (and really culture): Enterprise (focused on bigger PLM) and Mainstream (Solid Edge).”
Great points Karsten and I believe that’s the problem in a nutshell… they define it as “TWO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES” but these events are about the USER and the tools they use everyday to make design decisions… not data decisions. If the PLM folks are so blind to this, then I don’t know what to say…. how’d that happen? This is not anything against the PLM or any data management tools. We all wish our data were better, and easier to share…. that’s not the point. But before we get to that part, we first have to “Design Better” PRODUCTS if the “Data” is ever going to be worth sharing. And frankly not everyone needs nor wants NX and PLM to do that.
The best analogy I can give is Major League Baseball…. if you don’t nurture your local little league, you’ll never get the caliber of players that makes MLB a prosperous business/entertainment model you see today. There isn’t a ballplayer in the “Big Leagues” that didn’t start playing on sand lots when they were only knee high to a grasshopper. A real world example is how UGS/PLM ignored Solid Edge and more importantly the Academic community in general for years… and look at how they missed the huge well spring of enthusiasm and product recognition for SE to likes of SWX and AC.
So if the PLM brain trust thinks that their attendees grew up on their product, or even personally chose their CAD tools, they are simply fooling themselves. I would venture to guess most, if not ALL their users from the “Big Companies” simply have no real choice in the CAD product(s) they use to earn a living. So you have to wonder how deep these users feel about the product. Don’t get me wrong, and I don’t want a lecture from John Baker on this, but we’re different and they just can’t understand WHY… and never will. They should take their PLM story on the road to High Schools and Colleges and tell the kids this is your future CAD products, and lets see how many don’t walk out on them… and anyone who sticks around is going to get an MBA anyway so they can then someday tell young creative engineers and designers what’s the best tool for Product Design! Well you know were this “Tough Italian Bronxite” would tell them to stick their fancy GANT Charts and Excel spreadsheets!
So if you ask me, what you are seeing is the most basic case of Product Envy. They see the Solid Edge community with all it’s enthusiasm wrapped in T-Shirts and Shorts, and can only make snide remarks as to our lack of professionalism… hooey! If they truly believe that, then they know nothing about “passion” and how to tap into it. The PLM mindset for the most part simply don’t understand it…. and that’s probably why they’ve migrated towards “data management” and not product design. Yeah, yeah, yeah they’ll claim this is not the case, but if they can’t come away from what they just experienced at SEU12 with some understanding as to what drives this crowd, then I don’t give them much hope.
So tell them to leave us alone… and they can thank us later as more of us graduate to the Big Leagues.
Bob
Bob, I really think it is a case of myopia. They see only what is close to them and cannot see anything else. They know big enterprise and so that’s what everything is to them. The old “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” issue.
All, first of all thanks a lot for making SEU12 a great event. It is our Solid Edge users’ dedication and passion that fuels our efforts every day. And I can tell you that the Edge team is more pumped than ever! We got some great feedback, in person and through the survey, which will help us make next year’s event even greater.
The next priority for us now is to continue this momentum throughout the year and to support regional/local user groups for Solid Edge. We are well down the path to host another series of productivity summits in the US and CAN in August (more details to follow soon, but they are one day events fully focused on Solid Edge tips and tricks). You may remember the 2010 summits which were hugely successful. This round of summits is meant to be the spark for local user groups that many Solid Edge users have been asking for. By the way, I already got the question if non-Solid Edge users were welcome to attend and the answer is yes.
… As to the topic of “resistance”, well, I dont think there are any bad intentions, but there are two different kinds of business (and really culture): Enterprise (focused on bigger PLM) and Mainstream (Solid Edge). We do have a number of customers that also use Teamcenter for PLM, and for those customers PLM events make sense, especially when they are looking at the suite of products. So of course we’ll support that, but that has never been the issue. I’ll just say that not all things that work for one also work for the other. We (Siemens) have been building out a dedicated mainstream/Solid Edge team and business segment over the last 3 years. A lot of this has been behind the scenes to put in place the required infrastructure. We are 100% committed and very excited about the growth prospects of Solid Edge and its community. Siemens has a very strong PLM business (with great value for PLM customers) and we want to make our Solid Edge business just as strong (or even stronger. 😉 ). I think we are at the right time and place to do this. We are gaining momentum, and as long as we stay laser focused on what our customers really want and need, I am convinced we will continue to greatly grow the Solid Edge community.
Thanks for your passion and concerns. Know that I am listening. Solid Edge has become more than just a business. We’re family. And as I said in my closing remarks at SEU12: No product or business is perfect, but the Solid Edge team is working very hard every day to make it as perfect as possible for our Solid Edge users.
Karsten
Folks,
When Karsten mentioned this meeting and invited folks to attend, I was a little disappointed with the timing. I would have attended, but had to drive back to Cincinnati. Rick Mason rode back with us and I didn’t want to keep him up til 1 AM 🙂
However, it sounds like I missed some fun. In reading this, I see 2 things:
1) At the National level, I don’t think Karsten is going to allow Solid Edge to be pulled back into PLM World. We now have 2 successful Solid Edge Events behind us and plans for another next year. The Solid Edge team working with customers and some support from the Channel can make 2013 better than 2012.
2) At the local level, all it takes is a few customers to provide leadership and possibly a Reseller to provide some assistance. I don’t see how PLM World has any impact or influence over what groups of local users do. All it takes is a room as well as some customers willing to attend and share their experience and skills to make one of these go.
SEU was great, looks like some impressive enhancements coming in ST5 and some folks excited to use them.
Kim
Just my two cents here. Karsten did come right out in this meeting and say that the SE Universities were a permanant thing and were not going to go back to PLM World. SE and the users are first and foremost to him and I do know this. I think Mr. Commitee was sour grapes after seeing how many were there at SEU12 and all he really wanted was to extend the PLM psuedopods around SE again. Especially now that we will have bigger conferences in a couple of years than all the rest of the NX etal stuff combined will have. I walked down the hallway after the meeting talking to him and I asked him if he had noticed how SE users were dressed compared to how the attendees at PLM World were. He laughed and said he had noticed this and then went on to extoll the wonderfull benefits of PLM World to us. Truly clueless and I don’t think he will have any influence on SE events in the future.
Hey Matt J, Glad you spoke up. I was told ahead of time to be polite to the PLM guy so I was. It was terribly hard to do when the words “we need to form a committee to study this” in regards to SE users came out of his mouth. And the PLM guys wonder why I want nothing to do with their PLM World event. Condescending and bureaucratic to the nth degree. If you wanted to kill the SE user community I would put this guy in charge of it.
Matt, Great meeting you at the event…
Regarding the Community discussion on Wed Eve… Do you think I was able to clearly articulate my POV… ??? I’ve heard some feed back from others that maybe I was a little reserved in what I had to say and How I felt??? hehehe…
In the end though I do see the value from both camps… but this is my POV … in the end.. we just need to focus onthe beginning right now!!!
Matt J.
And we need to be realistic about what hasn’t been working in the past and not be afraid to lose it… If you know what I mean 😉
Matt,
Yeah, I’m glad we met early on, and I wish we had a chance to talk after that meeting.
I have to say that I was expecting something entirely different from the meeting. Maybe because of that I feel a little used. I do understand the reason now for inviting the main source of resistance, an audience (a dozen or so Siemens employees) and a couple of loose cannon.
I loved what you had to say. I know you were being tongue-in-cheek, but I do think you were too easy on him. He is a class A manipulator. I would have sent him from the meeting with nothing. Giving a guy like that any encouragement at all will just perpetuate the situation, in my view anyway.
I have a lot more to say about this.
I hear you loud and clear and I’m all ears to hear your additional follow ups…
In the 1st 15-20 mins of the meeting I almost walked out.. I felt like I was in the wrong room!!!!
I do however believe that with exception to “the one” that Karsten and his team have a true understanding ouf OUR need not what “they” want to push us toward anything other than helping us establish “US” . Karsten has always been 110% transparent, honest and has singlehandedly (with a great team) righted our ship…
I reckon even as a child I only had to touch a stove once to know it was hot… Maybe you’re right and I shouldn’t go back and touch “that stove”…
interested to see where this leads… and eager to hear your in detailed follow up.
Matt J.
“In the 1st 15-20 mins of the meeting I almost walked out.. I felt like I was in the wrong room!!!!
WOW… is this why my personal invitation got lost! Now I’m really curious…
Bob
Wow, I had a lot of reading to do this morning to catch up… It seems like the comments on this post have taken a bit of a twist-n-turn… so in that light I want to circle back around to my original comment and follow up with my thoughts. Re: Solid Edge community at large. I want to clarify that my original post was specifically in reply of and directed to Matt Lombard regarding the meeting that was mentioned. I was being a bit tong-in-cheek and asking a rhetorical question to re-emphasize my passion for and support of Solid Edge and OUR community at large.
Some might have read more into my comment than was really there so I want to make note of a few things that really support the overall health and passion in and about the Solid Edge User Community.:
1.) Within 48 hours of the meeting in question I received 3 direct phone calls of folks wanting to know more detail. This was prior to Matt’s original posting on this subject. This to me clearly shows that there is already in place a Solid Edge community in which important information is flowing… Somehow word of mouth spread from the meeting and made it out to others in the community who knew how to get in touch with me personally. In some odd way I think this is a great testament to what is already happening and continues to grow regarding the Solid Edge community… The flow of pertinent and timely information!!!
2.) In direct response to this topic and in a PUBLIC forum we have Karsten Newbury commenting and pledging his support and clarifying the issues. As mentioned previously, I have full confidence in Karsten and the direction he is taking Solid Edge.
3.) Passionate users: It only takes a small spark to start a fire… and in the comments to this posting alone I think we can attest that there is much passion. This passion prompted open discussion and these are the kinds of things that by default are “The User Community”. User community can be seen in many faces: personal gatherings, online forums, national events, regional events, local events, VAR supported activity… But in whole any time a group of users begin to discuss and debate issues we are all, intentional or not, participating is the community at large.
Surely we hope to see a better organized approach to doing user community going forward; and know that mechanisms for this are already being put in place… but in the meantime don’t anyone underestimate the power of passionate users… WE are the user community, and I for one welcome any and every CAD user to share in my passion for Solid Edge… we all can learn from and share with each other.
Matt J
You were right on the money……….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I support 100% a standalone SE community, we have plenty enough content software and users that ‘DEMAND’ a standalone community.
We can however get a Team center expert to some meetings (once or twice a year), due to the fact that some of us use team center, but in all reality the SE community has enough to keep us busy.
I think that a SE community of thousands and thousands and thousands of users in communication, sharing ideas, collaborating together is what us SE users all want in the future.
And in all realty the SE user community there will be more than 1 user group in the state of Texas.:) I cannot drive to Austin and back after work a few times a month. 🙂
Resistance….Why is it that Siemens dont want SE to be successful? Whats wrong with them? SE need to wake up their ideas or they will always be the also rans in the midrange world. Perhaps they are comfortable just living a quiet life in the shadows from week to week until they can retire into total obscurity. I’m looking for SE to seize the opportunity today. Doing the same old is no good to me. Come on guys! Places to go! Things to do! Community for customers is an important part of running a successful business in the C21. Do you want to sell stuff to engineers and designers or caretake a dusty museum of forgotten relics and failed chances? The message I’m getting is that ex SW people are just a nuisance come knocking at the door. OK fine if thats your attitude I’ll take it some where else. 😉
Neil, it’s not that Siemens PLM doesn’t want Solid Edge to be successful. As Matt stated, Karsten is the one in control of Solid Edge and he is absolutely not a road block… He has added tremendous resourses in the way of Solid Edge assets in development, sales & marketing, and he has the atitude that there are no acceptable roadblocks. And please don’t feel that you as an ex-SolidWorks user would be a nuisance as that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just ask Matt, I think he felt like family 😉
Neil,
The “resistance” thing is something I will embellish on in a later blog post, after my blood temperature comes back down a few dozen clicks. The source of this resistance has some agenda that clearly is not in line with the Solid Edge team. I don’t think “Siemens” as a company or even “Siemens PLM” as a division is against Solid Edge, quite the opposite. I think it is one individual with a severely misguided philosophy who wants to control everything related to user events within Siemens PLM.
Matt- Sounds like you’re On The Edge, LOL!
Devon, how about a new line of coffee grinders and roasters designed in Solid Edge 😀
Possibly :-0
I’m still researching brush less motors, controllers and gas vs. electric heat sources. Another big issue is product liability and local codes regarding 220v/110v hookups and venting. I need a partner with experience in these areas.
My FM tube radio rebuilding business is working well & fun too, currently.
Devon
Brazil is a hot spot of CAD sales and engineering opportunities. If I was single, I’d go down there for a few months and check it out, seriously. Learning Portuguese would be a challenge.
Devon
Devon, I can give you a few lesson.
Repeat after me:
“Eu vou para o Brasil desenhar moínhos de café!”
(I’ll go to Brazil to design coffee grinders!)
Very good! (“Muito bem! “) 😉
Thanks Carlos!
Matt,
I was one of those who stopped you and said I read your blog, we didn’t really get a chance to talk but I have some things I’d like to pick your brain about some time. Thank you for attending SEU 2012, I’m glad you had a good time 🙂
Justin
Justin,
There were about 20 people who stopped me and told me that;o) But I do remember you. You are maybe the youngest Siemens employee I met. Feel free to contact me. Skype is “dezignstuff”, and phone is at this link http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?page_id=6507