I'm obviously biased :) but I feel conferences are more than just learning. Learning is a huge part and the goal of 360|Flex is always to provide a good ROI relative to attendance fees. However if you're only interested in learning, get a Lynda DVD, or a book. Conferences are as much about face time. Meeting new people, meeting people you've only met online, etc.

Several open source projects and books have been born from conferences, where people met and realized in talking that they had similar interests. I don't think that happens at online only events, i don't think it can.

sounded neat but unless you were in one of the 'hub' cities with a meetup, you were pretty much sitting around all weekend watching a connect session, and chatting online. WAY too impersonal for my taste.

I think conferences should be focusing on making it worthwhile to attend, not finding ways to minimize their offerings. If the return is certain, if the learning is beyond compare, if the networking is second to none, the costs of attending are looked at in a different light. If a conference is $1,000 or more to attend, if pre conference training is an additional fee, where's the benefit? Does anyone leave those events saying "I am $1500 more knowledgeable than I was 4 days ago."

just my .10 cents Good poll!!

"yes" / "of course" / "it always depends on the date"

I think both have their place.

I think that the learning aspects are good in virtual conferences. I think that networking is better in person (though so much of our networks are also virtual, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.

However, in networking, sooner or later in comes down to trust. and face too face stills builds trust better than virtual.

I think a conference with REAL live multi day classes would be worth the money...especially if you could get companies like Adobe to donate the course material, instead of the normal crazy high prices. Maybe a conference with the five day Flex course or Coldfusion course or Advanced Rails or normal conference sessions. I'd go for sure.

I like attending conferences simply for the experience and interacting with others on a face to face basis.

Hey Rich,

Interestingly, the one common piece of feedback we got from the Head conference last year was how *interactive* people found it. Comments like: "it was much more interactive than a traditional conference". Basically, attendees got more access to the speakers than they would have at a traditional conference where you may or may not get a chance to ask your question or hang out with the speaker. Many of the sessions at Head had a rich conversation happening during the sessions that the speakers took part in.

That said, "online conference" doesn't really tell me anything about what exactly is being planned: It all comes down to execution and there's a lot of opportunity to explore ways to evolve the concept...

yes, i would absolutely try participating in online conferences - not only are they budget-family, they are family-friendly. the ability to attend remotely makes it possible for people like me (a new parent) to reap the benefits of attending a conference with minimal disruption to the family routine.

Apologies for the belated comment (as the results have already been published), but I think the question is not a very good one. I find the topic very interesting, and it says a lot about conferences, interactions in communities and where things are headed regarding all of this - particularly with high prices and increasing pressure regarding our carbon footprints. But I don't really think the results of this poll say too much, except about those that won't consider it. I think a lot of people would consider something like this and maybe attend, but the more pressing questions are along the lines of "Do we see online conferences as a better alternative?" or "Should/will online conferences replace the more traditional format?". Or raising issues regarding the virtues and vices of either. Personally, I would definitely consider going to an online only conference (if we could get fast reliable internet going here - another interesting aspect to this whole thing), but there is quite a bit more to it and just thinking about going isn't really here nor there. I am glad for it though, and find the benefits to such a thing a great alternative if it can be pulled off well.

is there a way that we can have the best of both worlds? surely we can't be too far away from making it a reality?