Derek Brown: A Legacy of Creative Windows Mobile Marketing

[Jason Dunn]

A couple of months ago, a big change occurred in the world of Windows Mobile, although few outside Microsoft are aware of it. Derek Brown, Director of Marketing Communications for Microsoft’s Mobile Devices group, left to join the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx">Small Business Server</a> group as the Director of Product Management. Derek Brown has been a pivotal force in the world of Windows Mobile for years, and I didn’t want to let this change go unnoticed. <br /><br />To understand what a tremendous impact Derek had on the Pocket PC world, and upon me personally, you need to understand some history (and this is all off the top of my head, so grant me some artistic license here). I should also add that while this might read like a eulogy, it's not – Derek is still very much alive and doing well, just working for a different product group. ;-)<br /><!><br /><b><span>The Roots: Windows CE</b></span><br />Back in 1997, I became a Windows CE MVP due to my enthusiasm for the platform and willingness to answer questions in the public newsgroup. MVPs were given an official point of contact with a Microsoft technical support person in order to give them a route for getting their questions answered. Unfortunately, my contact was in desktop support (Windows 95), and couldn’t answer many questions about Windows CE. It made for a frustrating time, but I enjoyed helping others in the newsgroup, so I didn't mind.<br /><br />Things continued in that vein until 1999, when I heard from another Windows CE MVP (Chris de Herrera) that he had met someone from the Windows CE team at Microsoft while attending a trade show. This person from Microsoft was apparently quite interested in talking to the now five Windows CE MVPs. Someone from Microsoft, wanting to talk to us? 8O It was a shock to us all. That Microsoft employee was Derek Brown, and in that first conference call I had no idea what an impact that enthusiastic voice on the other end would have on my future.<br /><br /><b><span>Getting Connected</b></span><br />The monthly conference calls were a great source of both information and inspiration for us. Derek would tirelessly answer our questions, and if they got too technical, he’d always find out the answer we needed and get back to us. Derek encouraged our efforts to help others in the newsgroups, and listened to us rant about the things that needed improving. Derek knew that we dealt with Microsoft’s customers every day, and if we had to keep helping people with the same problem over and over, it was something that needed fixing.<br /><br />Derek had always been a big believer in the value of community – putting enthusiastic users together and letting them explore every nuance of a product. He launched an online resource called Uplink, and offered the Windows CE MVPs the opportunity to write reviews, columns, and step-by-step tutorials. The opportunity to write product reviews, work with professional editors, and actually get paid for it was incredible – it was the start of my professional writing career, and I owe it to Derek. It also represented, I believe, the first time a non-Microsoft employee was published on Microsoft.com. Derek has always been a pioneer of communities in the Microsoft space.<br /><br /><i>[Side note: I should point out that we were getting paid for the writing work we were doing, not for being MVPs. There's sometimes confusion about this when someone who is a Microsoft MVP is also doing a project for Microsoft and getting paid for it. Microsoft has never paid MVPs for doing what made them MVPs in the first place - helping others.]</i><br /><br />The monthly conference calls continued, and then Derek decided he wanted to connect us with the product managers who made the decisions that impacted our product use, and give us a sneak peek at something new that was coming out. In September of 1999, all five Windows CE MVPs came to Redmond for an MVP Summit: Craig Peacock, Frank McPherson, Todd Ogasawara, Chris de Herrera, and myself. We were invited to stay for a couple of extra days in order to have briefings with the product teams, which was an experience I'll never forget.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/originalmvps.jpg" /><br /><i>The original Windows CE MVPs in Redmond, Washington, September 1999.</i><br /><br /><b><span>In the Land of Oz</b></span><br />I can't overstate how thrilling it was to be in building 117, talking to people that actually worked on the software we were so passionate about. It was at that conference we were shown the new Pocket PC user interface – we brought our <a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000J0NG.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif">HP 420 Palm-Sized PCs</a> with us, and they took them away to flash the ROM with the new OS. I can fondly remember us having mixed feelings about it – it sure was faster than the Palm-size PC OS, but it was almost TOO simple. <br /><br />Why couldn't we have customized columns in contacts? Why didn't the "X" actually close the application? Why was there no way to switch from one running application to another? One by one, throughout two 12 hour days of meetings, we poked and prodded this new OS and the product managers who designed it. And through it all, Derek was right there with us, soaking up the feedback we had to offer. Despite our sometimes harsh criticisms of this new product, Derek's support for us never wavered.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/derekwaving.jpg" /><br /><i>Derek Brown, enthusiastic as always.</i><br /><br />Derek has a story he's fond of telling around that first meeting. At the end of the second day of meetings, we were all weary, and somewhat frustrated because this new "Pocket PC" operating system had some problems, but it was too late for our input to make any difference – in the spring of 2000, new devices would be shipping. As we were leaving the main conference room, Harel Kodesh, Vice President of Consumer Appliances, happened to be in the hallway. Derek Brown enthusiastically introduced us to Harel, and Harel cheerily asked us what we thought of the new Pocket PC product his team had been working on. <br /><br />Derek paled slightly as five MVPs proceeded to tell this senior executive that none of us would use this new product, because it was inferior to the powerful Palm-sized PCs in so many ways. Still, Derek stepped back and let us talk to Harel, and Harel accepted our feedback as valuable - he even argued back! You have to see Microsoft's corporate culture in action to understand how much they value healthy criticism of their products. Derek believed that product feedback was vital to improvement, and that belief guided everything he did.<br /> <PAGEBREAK> <br /><b><span>Creativity in Marketing</b></span><br />The next few years saw many changes in the PDA landscape, but Derek was always at the forefront of connecting and learning from users of his company's product. Derek was the pinnacle of a product evangelist – he used Pocket PCs daily, and often turned to his team of MVPs for help when things weren't working quite right. The accounts payable department can vouch for how high Derek's GPRS bill was - he was fanatical about going wireless at every opportunity, because he understood the coming paradigm shift with wireless. Derek always seemed to love his job, and he had fun with everything he did.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/doctorbrown.jpg" /><br /><i>When the advertising agency needed someone for their Pocket PC photo shoot, several Microsoft employees were tapped for the roles, including Derek. He played the role of a medical doctor, ready to use a wireless Pocket PC to reduce paperwork and devote more time to his patients. He looks the part, doesn't he?</i><br /><br />Derek is one of the most creative people I know, and he was always coming up with new ways of engaging the community of users, whether it was Pocket PC Fanfests, a stretch Hummer skinned with the Pocket PC branding, or launching PocketPC.com and making it a driving force in the Pocket PC community for nearly two years. And let's not forget Derek's idea to hire a truck that transforms into a mobile presentation theater, then going to eleven cities across the USA in twelve weeks, showing people what Pocket PCs and the then-nascent Smartphones could do. The man was tireless!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/beamfest.jpg" /><br /><i>One of the events at an early Pocket PC Fanfest – it was a infrared beaming scavenger hunt where Pocket PC users collected things from each other.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/hummer.jpg" /><br /><i>The massive stretch HumVee was sheathed in the Pocket PC colours and logos. Riding from a Las Vegas trade show in that thing was great! :-)</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/mobiletruck.jpg" /><br /><i>The Mobile Experience Tour truck was a modern-day Transformer – this truck went from a normal 18-wheeler to a full theater with 50" plasma monitors and a 60+ seating capacity, all within a few hours.</i><br /><br />Few people know this, but my work as a writer and managing editor for PocketPC.com gave me the financial freedom to dedicate a great deal of time to Pocket PC Thoughts in the first two years of its existence. So in a very tangible way, Derek is responsible for what Pocket PC Thoughts has become – as if I didn't owe the guy enough already! ;-)<br /><br /><b><span>An Eye To The Future</b></span><br />Derek also had an eye for talented, passionate people who could help him carry the torch – Beth Goza's enthusiasm built upon Derek's foundation of community, and she continued the work he started by engaging opinion leaders from around the world with the Mobius conference that continues to this day, led by Jason Gordon. As Derek rose in rank within Microsoft, he always remained approachable and willing to listen to Pocket PC users, even going where angels fear to tread: online forums. I'm sure many of you remember reading messages from Derek at various Web sites and newsgroups. Derek never shied away from engaging with Pocket PC users, even when they were angrily frothing at the mouth over hot issues like the close button, price level, or eBook DRM (just ask our own Ed Hansberry how he first met Derek).<br /><br />Derek was always focused on one thing: growing the platform, making it succeed. I remember contacting him and asking him to send a developer the Pocket PC SDK, because this developer was very interested in developing applications for the Pocket PC, but didn't have access to a credit card in order to pay the $15 shipping charge. Within a few days, that developer had the SDK, and <a href="http://www.cebeans.com/">let's just say he's been quite productive ever since.</a> :lol: Derek didn't have to care about things like that, but he did, and I believe that the success Windows Mobile has achieved today was heavily contributed to by Derek Brown.<br /><br /><b><span>A Mentor, A Teacher, A Friend</b></span><br />Throughout the past several years, Derek has been many things to me: a mentor, friend, employer, and teacher. I learned much from Derek, both in my successes and failures at the tasks he gave me. Perhaps the most important lesson of all is the tremendous value of online communities of like-minded individuals. That lesson forms the core mission of <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, and serves as the basis for the career that I have today. <br /><br />Although Derek has moved to a different product group, I have no doubt that the Small Business Server world will be as transformed by Derek's enthusiasm, creativity, and sheer energy as the Pocket PC world has been. Derek, your contributions to the world of Mobile Devices will be missed, but not forgotten. I wish you the very best in your new career field! :way to go:<br /><br />Now I’d like to turn it over to you, our readers: what are your memories of Derek’s involvement in the Pocket PC and Smartphone world? Did you meet him at an event, or see him give a presentation? Do you have a favourite story about Derek and his work in the mobile devices world? Let's hear them!

[Ed Hansberry]

Derek never shied away from engaging with Pocket PC users, even when they were angrily frothing at the mouth over hot issues like the close button, price level, or eBook DRM (just ask our own Ed Hansberry how he first met Derek).
Derek has always been deeply interested in what users had to say. My long and frequent DRM rants on ebooks from Amazon and B&amp;N not usable on the first Pocket PC devices in the then .windowsce newsgroup (later killed in favor of the current .pocketpc and it's offspring) led Derek to contact me about it - before I was an MVP!

Then his seemingly endless and tireless involvement in fan fests, Mobius, the 2001 tour, conference calls, IM chats, online chats, very VERY long email discussions, newsgroup involvement...

I wish him the best in his new role at Microsoft. It is a loss to the Mobile Device group and a huge win to the SBS team. :way to go:

[Steven Cedrone]

I think Derek has been at every show, fanfest, etc. I have ever attended. It will be a bit dissappointing to go to the next and find that he won't be there. I remember the first time I saw him actually fielding questions in the newsgroups, I thought to my self "Is this for real? A Microsoft employee here?" But it was for real, and it was Derek. Another thing that struck me as "odd" :wink: was how he would actually give you his email address if you wanted to contact him!

A loss for the Mobile group indeed! Good luck in your new position Derek!

Steve

[deVBuzz]

I can echo may of the same sentiments Jason has mentioned. Derek Brown lent an ear and support to http://www.devbuzz.com at times when we needed access to Microsoft's inside developers. There is no doubt he he recognized the importance of developers on the Pocket PC platform in (even more) nascient times. His astute and pioneering approach to supporting the Pocket PC community have been appreciated by a lot of people. He is a great ambassador for Microsoft's management.

Thanks Derek and best of luck in your new role.

[Jason Dunn]

Another thing that struck me as "odd" :wink: was how he would actually give you his email address if you wanted to contact him!

Yeah, that was always quite surprising - most company employees wouldn't even give out their name at a customer gathering like that because, heavens, they might actually CONTACT you. Derek was never afraid to talk to customers, which I think many people are. Derek would even put his phone number in forum posts and say "Hey, call me to discuss this!" - it was hilarious, because even the angriest person in a newsgroup would always end up being quite polite on the phone he told me. :lol:

[alex_kac]

I have to agree. Without Derek...we wouldn't be where we are today. During our first 2 years of being a Windows Mobile developer - I couldn't get anything out of Microsoft without Derek's help. No SDKs, no betas, nothing. He got us in the PPC 2002 release, he introduced us to many other developers and Microsoftees - basically he was great. I wish him the best of luck!

[T-Will]

I had a chance to beiefly meet Derek at one of the early NorCal Pocket PC User Group meetings, I couldn't believe a prominent Microsoft employee would actually show up to one of our user group meetings and listen to us rant and ask questions about Pocket PC and MS Smartphone, that was really cool! :D

[marlof]

When I first wanted to replace my aging Philips Velo 1 with a Pocket PC, it took a while before those arrived in my country. I spent that time by trying to learn as much as I could in the .windowsce newsgroup. I was amazed to find out that someone called "Derek Brown", who was working at Microsoft in another department than Product Support, actually spent his time in the newsgroup, answering questions of mere end users like me. It was Derek who gave that huge company a face, and I liked what I saw. So in the end, when he asked if I wanted to be Microsoft MVP, I was darned proud that he picked me. Without me witnessing his enthusiasm before, I doubt I would have wanted to play such a role with a company like Microsoft. Ever since then, I've enjoyed all my contacts with the Mobile Devices group. Derek may be gone, but I feel that his spirit didn't leave that group. And thankfully so, 'cause he rocks!

[cdunphy]

Derek is an all-around good guy, and I loved sparring with him at trade shows and fan fests over the years. He knew his stuff, and though he was (of course!) biased -- he wasn't too much so to not appreciate cool things no matter what the platform.

With both Derek and Beth gone - my two favorite "faces" of Microsoft's Windows Mobile group have left the field.

It really seems to point to a change in culture...

*sigh*

So - now who's going to fill Derek's shoes as Microsoft's ambassador to the mobile world?


Derek -- Be well, and feel free to stay in touch! You will be missed.


--- chris

[Ed Hansberry]

Derek is an all-around good guy, and I loved sparring with him at trade shows and fan fests over the years.
Why were you at Pocket PC fan fests? Besides putting Palm stickers on stuff I mean.

[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]

Derek is an all-around good guy, and I loved sparring with him at trade shows and fan fests over the years.
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: [email protected]

"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:

[edsuwanjindar]

I'm one of many people at Microsoft who are interested in listening to your thoughtful, respectful, data-driven product feedback :-). Jason Gordon (who some of you should know) will be your primary contact from our division but Andrew Brown is a great friend to the MVPs as well. We're here to listen. Keep the feedback coming.

best,
ed

[Duncan]

In 2002, when there was a PPC fanfest in London, I bemoaned on a forum that I wouldn't be able to get in (as I was between Pocket PCs and so lacked the `entrance requirement`). Derek e-mailed me a doc (without being asked), to print out and show the door staff, saying I was allowed in without a Pocket PC. Top man all round!

[toddogas]

As one of the five in the group photo Jason put up, I just wanted to echo Jason's sentiments and thank him for writing this piece. Derek was a great benefactor to the Windows Mobile community and me personally.

I placed a mini-tribute to Derek in a recent Motorola MPx200 article I wrote for O'Reilly & Associates at:

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2004/01/01/mpx2002.html

If you look at Figure 5 (showing a video screen cap on the Smartphone's Windows Media Player), you can see Derek and me in the video clip freeze frame.

Now, I'm waiting for Derek to figure out a way to have Microsoft Small Business Server run on the Pocket PC :D ...todd

[derekbrn]

Oh my gosh, I think this is spinning out of control. First off thanks to Jason for such a thoughtful post. I can’t tell you how much this article and all your thoughtful responses mean to me. What a fantastic community and friends you are.

I must say that I suppose nothing can top being reminded by Jason that I perhaps played a tiny role in bringing CE Beans Frog Defibrillator to market. Truly a breakthrough Pocket PC application and I can only imagine the countless frogs that have been saved. To think I played a part… I could write a tome about all the fun I’ve had getting to know all of you.

You have made a difference. You have been heard. I remember early on a post about an issue that upset me. I decided to take that post, paste it in an email with my comments to Steve Ballmer and cc the VP responsible for this area. A few days went by and then I got a reply from Steve with a one word reply “agree”. That post changed things at Microsoft as did so many of your comments, suggestions, feedback and tough-love. Thank you for that!

Lastly a word from my sponsor Microsoft. I hope in a small way I’ve helped put a human face on Microsoft, a fantastic organization of amazing, passionate people for whom it’s been my great honor and privilege to represent. There aren’t many Fortune 500 companies out there that not only let their employees post online but in fact encourage it. When I started it was a bit edgy, I wasn’t always wise in what I said, there were statements that when picked up by C|net and quoted in articles didn’t look so great. But you know what?? Not once, not even in the smallest way did anyone in management ever even hint or suggest that I not do this – I was encouraged.

I’m never far away btw, I check Thoughts and other sites from time to time to see what’s up, what’s hot and what people are saying. Thanks again – as always I’m touched by the wonderful people and tight community that has grown up around Pocket PC. It was the most amazing 5+ years of my life,

Take care,
Derek

[fmcpherson]

Jason, thanks for writing your article and enabling us to share our memories in an online community, as it should be.

Derek provided me with the privilege of being part of that original group of five, and with that be part of the very beginning of something that continues to grow. Few people get to say they where there when X started, yet I have had that chance and it has been an awesome experience.

There are two things that impress me about Derek and from which I have learned. First, from the first time I talked with Derek I realized that he was personally invested in making Windows CE devices and all their brethren the best they could be. Most of the time he wasn't talking as a representative of Microsoft, but rather as a person who really cared about what he was doing, who really liked what he was doing, and who wanted to see his product succeed.

The second thing that impresses me about Derek is all the more incredible when you take into account what I wrote above. Derek took a lot of criticism. He put on a bull’s-eye and walked right into any online community he could find to engage people, learn from them, and inevitably take criticism. Yet every time it seemed to me he never took any of it personally. He either acknowledge the criticism as legitimate, provided sound counterpoints, or diffused the issue with humor. The fact that he could handle that about something he clearly felt personally about is impressive to me, and something that I strive to emulate.

Derek, clearly today’s Pocket PCs and Smartphones are now recognized as legitimate handhelds in large part because of your work. But more importantly, you have touched so many lives in an incredible number of ways. I don’t think it is coincidence that people have launched careers, fulfilled dreams, and yes, even fell in love, while either working with you, or participating in an event that you had put together. Best wishes on your new assignment, we look forward to an even better integration between Exchange and Windows Mobile devices!

P.S. Does anyone want to place bets on how long it will be before any of the products that are part of SBS have different names?

P.S.S. You know Derek, there is this new online thing going on called weblogs. I hear a lot of Microsoft folks are getting the religion, can we expect to see your weblog soon so we can continue to follow your exploits?

[Foo Fighter]

Just wanted to pop in and offer my congratulations, fond farewell, well wishes, whatever, to Derek. So sorry to see you go and hope that you will continue to impart your thoughts here on Thoughts. With Beth gone as well, the original dynamic duo that drove PPC early on, have moved on (if I said passed on this would sound more like a eulogy) to bigger and better things, which is rather unfortunate to those of use who remember the good old days. :cry:

Good luck with your new role, I hope you enjoy it as much as you have working with the Windows Mobile group.

My God, it's 2:00AM here. I should be in bed. See how much we care? I've lost sleep over this whole deal. :wink:

[CG]

I bought my first iPAQ in August 2000 when here in Italy the mobile scene was literally dominated by Palm devices.

The Pocket PC ecosystem was at its first steps and I started to read every single message posted on microsoft.public.pocketpc.

In all the messages I quickly learned 2 things: passions and knowledge of MVPs and Derek Brown's posts.

I learned so much in those early days that I felt it was time to teach. I thought that I would have been a much better writer in my mother tongue so I started to write some e-mails to Derek asking to open microsoft.public.it.pocketpc (the italian language ng). He did it!

Few months later a Microsoft employee, who is italian and read my posts, told Derek that I was ready to be an MVP. I remember that they both warned me: "we are appointing you as an MVP but please don't disappear after few months". 6.000 messages and 3 years later I am still the italian MVP and more important I am proud of it.

I cuddled the newsgroup as a son and here we are, 3 years and 42.600 messages later, it is by far the most frequented ng in the non-english area and descripted by many people as "professional, helpful, polite bunch of Pocket PC experts".

Thank you Derek, my life as MVP and community enthusiast has been generated by your passion and the fact that you listened. Thanks and enjoy your new role in the SBS team.

--
Giorgio Cifani
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices

www.cifani.it

[Jason Dunn]

A message from Beth Goza...

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Hey all - great words for a great fella! I have so many reasons to sing the praises of Derek Brown: he gave me a chance to try some new, fun, crazy things like rent a truck and drive around the United States showing off Microsoft Mobile Devices, rent a Volvo and drive around Germany showing off Microsoft Mobile Devices, fly all over the place showing off Microsoft Mobile Devices. I used to wonder how I got away
with getting paid for what I was doing.

Derek was a mentor from day one on how to be a customer centered business person. He put the needs and voice of the customer into everything we did and I think in a large way he is the reason the Pocket
PC community is still and active and thriving one. Who can forget the big truck?? The fan fests?? The mayhem that was the Derek Brown Mobile Experience??

All of the MVPs, folks from the PPC and Mobile computing sites, and user groups across the world were like a big family to Derek and I for the few years we had the pleasure to work with them, and there is still a sense of loss for me at having moved on.

That said - it's great to see more folks carrying the torch, like
Andrew, Nicole, Neil, Wes, Ed, Jason and countless others. Of course, I am always happy to pitch in when I can to, however, these days I'm throwing all my passion into the Microsoft Office Specialist certification - if you're interested drop me a line: bethg at microsoft.com

There is probably one last thing I need to give Derek a huge thank you for and I'm sure he knows what it is.... and that is sending an Ipaq to that certain someone back in the Fall of 2000, which I can genuinely say has changed my life forever. :D

Can't wait to attend my first Small Business Server Jam fest!!!

Beth from Microsoft

[Hal Goldstein]

Those of us at Pocket PC magazine, also owe much to Derek. We are a small company that published magazines exclusively about HP mobile products from 1985-1997. From 1997-present we have published our magazine in support of users of Microsoft's Window CE O.S.

One would think that it would be a no-brainer that folks at HP and Microsoft would appreciate, respond, and get behind our efforts. After all we supported their users and promoted their products. However, seldom did anyone in any authority at HP ever "get it" in a way that was helpful to us. (I am sure many folks with enthusiast Web sites can relate.)

To make a long story short, after a number of very frustrating years trying to commincate with Microsoft, Derek got it. He actually responded to my emails. He was open to and worked with us in many win-win situations such as giving out our magazines at Fan-Fests and trade shows and getting subs to Microsoft employees. Derek really set the stage for us to do a number of creative things with various folks at Microsoft that in the long run benefit our readers and advertisers.

Frankly, it is an ongoing business challenge to produce what we think is a quality magazine, at consumer prices, in what still is a niche, especially in the age of the Internet. Derek's kind words and his responsiveness to our ideas, has made a significant difference in allowing us to continue and move forward.