[andbrown]

Derek Brown definitely set the standard...all of us involved with the Mobile Devices MVPs are "standing on his shoulders" for sure!

[andbrown]

Derek Brown definitely set the standard...all of us involved with the Mobile Devices MVPs are "standing on his shoulders" for sure!

[Don Sorcinelli]

Excellent piece, Jason. I still think it is quite amazing how recognizable the name "Derek Brown" has been to even the most casual of Windows Mobile users.

I am saddened by the fact that I only had brief opportunities to meet and observe Derek in action. The thing that always struck me was his energy. It can be so difficult to keep up with the frantic pace of Fan Fests and other events, especially when you are in a position such as Derek's. He always managed to be cordial and responsive to attendees, no matter who they were and what they were asking (or complaining) about. As someone who has spent a large amount of time in front of audiences over the years, I could not help but be amazed!

My sincerest wishes go to Derek in all of his personal and professional endeavors. The Mobile Devices loss is the SBS group's gain.

DonS

[cdunphy]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

Why were you at Pocket PC fan fests? Besides putting Palm stickers on stuff I mean.

Pick your reason(s): (they are all true)

1) I actually have (and regularly use) Pocket PC's, and thus meet the entrance criteria.
2) I am a mobile technology fan and enthusiast, and would be a gadget freak even if it wasn't my job.
3) I have met some great people at past fan fests, and have had many awesome conversations.
4) The parties are fun.
5) It is part of my job to keep an eye on what Microsoft is up to... (And Microsoft people show up regularly at all of our events too....)


Ed - you would probably be surprised at how many Palm fans and people who use Palm OS as their main OS are at the PPC fan fests. There are a LOT of people who are general all-around mobile technology enthusiasts who are actually (believe it or not) fans of both platforms at the same time.

Since I don't try to hide the fact that I am "the Palm guy" - all sorts of people tend to track me down at PPC fan fests to talk to me about how they love (and use) both platforms. They often show me that in one pocket is a Pocket PC, and then they discreetly flash me the Palm in the other.


Hey - and Beth and Derek even once made tracking me down a contest... At the first Comdex fanfest, they surprised me by announcing that the first person to get my contact information beamed to them would win a CF memory card. It was a blast!


- chris

[Inventor]

Several years ago I emailed Jason and told him that I could not get my hands on the eVB and eVC++ CDs.

Jason contacted Derek and he mailed me the eVB & eVC++ CDs. With a 48MB compact flash card. (Back then the card was worth major $$$)

So if you want to blame anybody about my site then blame Derek :lol:

[dberg]

Great article Jason! I work for the company Allscripts, whose software is featured in the screenshot on the 3600 series iPAQ in the ad on page 2 of your article with Derek posing as a physician. If you look real close you can see our logo in the lower right-hand corner. It's a very dated advertisement but we still have it hanging in our office and I see it every day. Thank you for giving me the chance me learn the story behind the man!

[William]

Leon has asked me to post the following:

"What a coincidence that I decided to visit PPCT today after such a long time, exactly the day this article is published. At the time I was very involved in the Pocket PC newsgroups until a hernia struck me and ended my involvement. I still have the e-mail from Derek wishing me well. Well, now it's my turn: Derek, all the best in your new job!!

BTW, it's good to see that the old gang (Jason, Ed, Marlof, Vincent) is gathering here. Hope to check back more often.

Salu2,
Leon"

[MaximumPDA]

Great article Jason! I was just chatting with Derek a couple of weeks ago about his new position. He has been to a few of our PSHUG.org meetings over the years and his enthusiasm for the mobile platform is only exceeding by his support for the mobile community.

--bill

[Rob Borek]

The first time I had an interaction with Derek Brown was when I ranted on Microsoft putting a much-too-positive spin on the eBook DRM problem in a newsletter that was sent out. He did an impromptu contest to write a better headline - and gave out a 128MB CF card (which were worth quite a bit of money at the time) to both myself (I selected the winner) and the winner. Months later, Derek asked me if I wanted to join the MVP program.

My enthusiasm for Mobile Devices was driven by Derek. He was innovative and never afraid to try new things and go against the "Microsoft Corporate" image and way of doing things. From the FanFests to pocketpc.com to the Mobility Tour to giving MVPs unprecedented access (at least at the time) to the development teams... he changed the way Mobility was viewed. He changed MS from some big corporation that didn't listen and told you what you wanted to a corporation that listened and made things accessible.

While I'm not currently an MVP, I still owe my passion and knowledge of Mobile Devices to Derek. I've tried my best to carry on his passion in dealing with MS Canada and getting better promotion of the Pocket PC in Canada.

Mobility lost a great asset, but SBS gained one heck of an asset - he can only help drive SBS acceptance.

Rob Borek
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices (2000-2003)
pocketpc.com contributor (2000-2002)

[edsuwanjindar]

Hey guys, I know some of you though I have to admit this forum has grown quite a bit in the time I've been following it (i've been following quietly from the sidelines for almost four years).
For those of you that don't know me, up until recently I've worked for Derek for the past two years or so. He was actually one of the people who interviewed me when I first applied for a job here in July 2000. He became my manager after Phil Holden (long hair British guy) moved on to MSN. During the time I've worked with and for him I have learned so much about your community, the passion you have for technology (both ours and others--nobody's perfect) and the value of listening to you all. You are the best customers we could ever ask for--you love us so much yet demand that we do better for you as well as others who may use our devices.

In reading these posts, I am inspired by both what Derek gave you (his passion and more importantly, his time) and what you all gave back, not only to him but to Microsoft. Our products are better (I know they are not perfect but we do listen and we're working on it) because of people just like all ofyou. But too often we don't take the time to listen and have that dialogue. He's taught me how to do that as well as others in our group. I promise we'll keep on listening (you'll find my e-mail address and phone number below).

but enough of that.now on to the fun stuff...derekb memories:
in no particular order:
-Mobile Experience Tour: big truck that exploded into a mobile conf. center. air conditioning optional. great stereo system--though Derek is a father and doesn't like the music TOO LOUD.
-FanFest Comdex 2000: Bar runs dry, enthusiasts and attendees have drank so much they are sprawled all over the place and puking. DerekB puts down his own credit card to keep the bar going.
-Billg keynote at ITU: derek presents on stage during bills keynote and i am never more proud of someone for being able to utter the words: "Orange SPV E-200 with WIndows Mobile software"
-during the best and worst moments of my career here at Microsoft; I have never had a bigger supporter or a better manager and mentor. I don't even work for him anymore and I'm still learning from him, by the way he chose to approach and do this job.

The company is better for having here as an employee, I'm better for having had him as a manager and Small Business Server and its customers will be far better off for having him around as well.

Jason, thanks for starting this thread.
Derek, I think you should end it or at least add to it.

Best,
Ed Suwanjindar
Lead Product Manager
Mobile & Embedded Devices Division
Microsoft Corp.
phone: 425-705-0713
e-mail: edsu@microsoft.com

"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."
--Anonymous

[T-Will]

So Ed, I take it you're kinda the new Derek in the Windows Mobile division of Microsoft, is that correct?

Does that mean we can send all our complaints about Pocket PC to you now? :wink: