some newbie questions

[atdt]

greetings all,

this is my first time to defcon and vegas.
after reviewing the posts on this forum and researching some web sites and the usenet i still have some questions i didnt find any answer to and would appriciate any help from you veterans :)

1. my hotel is about one mile away from the alexis park - is it considered a walking distance considering the heat? (i dont want to melt down!) if not are there any taxis driving around periodicly?

2. i understand there is a space problem in the convention rooms, is there a chance of missing a talk cause it gets too crowded?

3. can one purchase a video of a talk at the end of the conference?

thank you in advance.

[alklloyd]

1. my hotel is about one mile away from the alexis park - is it considered a walking distance considering the heat? (i dont want to melt down!) if not are there any taxis driving around periodicly?

2. i understand there is a space problem in the convention rooms, is there a chance of missing a talk cause it gets too crowded?

3. can one purchase a video of a talk at the end of the conference?

1. Not unless you consider heatstroke enjoyable. Your maximum wait for a
cab is five minutes, tops.

2. Yes, but you can catch it on Defcon TV, which is much better than nothing.

3. Yes, at TSOK: http://www.tsok.net Look under "Computers".


Al,

(Going to his 3rd Defcon)

[spahkle]

1. my hotel is about one mile away from the alexis park - is it considered a walking distance considering the heat? (i dont want to melt down!) if not are there any taxis driving around periodicly?

2. i understand there is a space problem in the convention rooms, is there a chance of missing a talk cause it gets too crowded?

2. Yes, but you can catch it on Defcon TV, which is much better than nothing.

1. It definitely is not walking distance to the Alexis. Especially considering you're going to meet people, want hang out, and attend "after events" that occur after the talks. (Walking back to your hotel at between 1-3am is not fun). There are plenty of cabs available, but you'll only be able to find one quickly on the way to the Alexis. There is normally a line to get one at the Alexis and the wait can be quite long.

2. Defcon TV is a great alternative to watching talks in the Convention Center. The catch is that the channels are to the Alexis Park rooms (which means you'll have to meet someone and hang out in their room to have access). It's not difficult to do this. One of the channels is usually broadcast in the lounge, but I don't think you'd have much control over it. Due to the fire marshall crack down last year, I only watched two talks at Convention Halls. The rest I was in my room where the air conditioning kept the room cool, the fridge was stocked with beverage, and friends and I played out MST3000 commentary to the presenters talks. :D

[sylex]

agreed, too far to walk. take a cab. it can be hard to get a cabbie to drive only a mile, but hang in there. Edit: (come to think of it maybe the cabbies just didn't like Dirtwork in his tiger print toga....)

it is a possibility but don't sweat it...get to the talks you really want to see early. Despite all the complaints i've heard from those who didn't get any room, I didn't experience any issues last year with being blocked from a room. Again the secret is to figure out who you want to see and make sure you're in line early...or if you get jammed up and can't get in just start wandering the open doors to hotel rooms, i'm sure lots of folks wouldn't mind having you watch it from their room on dc tv.

yep, the tapes are always available.

[Roaming Gnome]

Location

What hotel are you staying at?

[TheCotMan]

my hotel is about one mile away from the alexis park - is it considered a walking distance considering the heat?

Others have answered your other questions, but I'd like to comment on this one...

The year the Hilton was the hotel of choice for an ALOA conference just ending the week that DC was starting, I recall walking from the AP 2.2 miles to see the "Star Trek" commercialized ALOA convention. (It was not difficult to get into this as I was expecting. :-)

The point is, I walked 2.2 miles there, and 2.2 miles back. With 2 Liters of water for the round trip and some juice, I was wasted for several hours upon my return and the juice actually became warm. I hike, and bicycle around a lot, but this 4.4 mile trip was far worse than any hike or bike trip I had attempted before.

Take it from someone who has walked a distance in Las Vegas, and avoid it if you can. Taxis are good, and you can sometimes hook up with others to split cab fare.

Amerisuites to AP is not too bad, but close to the limit of comfortable walking in summer heat-- especially if you are wearing mostly black and carrying stuff with you.

[skroo]

The point is, I walked 2.2 miles there, and 2.2 miles back. With 2 Liters of water for the round trip and some juice, I was wasted for several hours upon my return and the juice actually became warm. I hike, and bicycle around a lot, but this 4.4 mile trip was far worse than any hike or bike trip I had attempted before.

Yeah, this is something a lot of people fail to take into account in Las Vegas: you're in the middle of a desert and even nighttime temperatures can stay near 100degF in the right conditions. In fact, you're only a little over an hour or so's drive from Death Valley, one of the absolute hottest places in the world. Use the taxis, they're a lifesaver.

[atdt]

What hotel are you staying at?

im staying at the comfort inn, its adjecent to the hard rock cafe.

[octalpus]

im staying at the comfort inn, its adjecent to the hard rock cafe.

That's not a terrible walk. The distances given by maps assume you're going by road, but you cut your distance considerably by cutting through the hard rock parking lot.

[atdt]

thanks

thank you all for the quick response, you have been very helpful
see you @ defcon!

[dirtwork]

I may be a little late chiming in, but IMO the walk isn't all that bad. Just be damn sure to bring some Gold Bond or something, and don't be the pretentious type that only wears black, all the time, every day -- there's a reason that people wear shorts and Hawaiian shits. I may look like a fed, but at least I'm not dying from the heat.

On the flip side, though, not being at the 'Con *blows*. I know I'm just reiterating what's already been said, but you're gonna miss out on the mass drinking, err, I mean, hanging out with... fuck it, I mean drinking.

So, uh, don't wear all black, bring Gold Bond, and drink heavily. Unless you're <21, in which case, you should give me all your booze. ;)

[Siviak]

im staying at the comfort inn, its adjecent to the hard rock cafe.

that is not a bad walk at all... tho you might want to keep a cab in mind for the trip home in case you are a little late or on the off chance that you have been drinking... just a thought... for a person that lives here.... that has made that walk before... but you know... whatever....

[KeLviN]

a bit off topic, but i wanted to tell ATDT i liked the nick. there's alot around here that has no idea what that means (danm kids with their broadband...!)

[spahkle]

there's alot around here that has no idea what that means

and in the spirit of giving (for those who don't know) I offer this
link explaining modem initialization strings.

[atdt]

a bit off topic, but i wanted to tell ATDT i liked the nick. there's alot around here that has no idea what that means (danm kids with their broadband...!)

heh, thanks :)
(1200 baud modem rulez!)