Did you miss IBM Pulse 2011 in Las Vegas?

Next week, April 6, IBM will host the [Smarter Computing Virtual Event] to cover IBM's Smarter Computing initiative, with key themes of Smarter Computing - Big Data, Optimized Systems, and Cloud. Smarter Computing is a new and innovative approach to computing based on the evolving role of IT in your business and an intrinsic understanding of the economics of IT.

(I found it amusing that EMC has chosen two of IBM's themes, "Big Data" and "Cloud", for their upcoming EMC World 2011 conference. I was tempted to include their graphic, but people might have accused me of using Photoshop or GIMP to make EMC look bad. Instead, you can look at the graphic on this blog post titled [When Cloud Meets Big Data: Information Logistics Revisited] by fellow blogger Chuck Hollis from EMC. IBM has been a leader in IT for decades, so we are used to having other companies follow in our footsteps. As an [IBM wannabee], EMC is no different.)

For many on tight travel budgets, this event REQUIRES NO TRAVEL! This is a virtual event, You can participate from your desk. You will hear from key IBM executives, all of which I have heard speak myself, so I can vouch that this should be a good event.

• Steve Mills - IBM Senior Vice President and Group Executive, Software and Systems (my seventh-line manager)
• Tom Rosamilia - IBM General Manager, Power and Mainframe Systems, IBM Systems and Technology Group.
• Robert LaBlanc - IBM Senior Vice President, Middleware Software
• Helene Armitage - IBM General Manager, Systems Software, Systems and Technology Group.

This event is targeted to CIOs, IT Directors and Managers, Business Analysts, Systems and Storage Administrators, and DBAs. However, we don't check what your actual title is, so feel free to attend even if you have different job responsibilities.

I am giving you one week's notice for this event. If this is the first time you have heard of this event, then I hope that is enough time to plan for this event in your busy schedule. If you had heard of it already, perhaps this serves as a useful reminder to [Register Now!] Is a week ahead the right amount of time? For virtual events, do we need more or less advance notice? What about for events that involve travel? Feel free to enter your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

technorati tags: IBM, Smarter Computing, Virtual Event, Steve Mills, Tom Rosamilia, Robert LeBlanc, Helene Armitage