Next month, I'm currently scheduled to attend both the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference and MIX '06. Given my current work load it is unlikely that I can afford to be away from work for almost two weeks next month. It's likely that I'll just attend one conference next month, in which case it will be ETech not MIX. I was talking to some folks at work about this recently and we talked about the difference between O'Reilly conferences and Microsoft conferences which led me to this decision.

Microsoft's conferences are about technology and often are pitched as training events. The pitch is usually some variation come spend three to five days learning about exciting Microsoft technologies. The MIX '06 website currently has the following on the front page

• Learn how to deliver revolutionary media-rich Web content with the new Windows Presentation Foundation,
• Explore Windows Live!, Microsoft's new consumer services strategy
• Find out how to extend your content, media and services into the living room with Windows Media Center and Xbox 360™
• etc
  

O'Reilly conferences are often about getting interesting people together. The pitch is usually some variation of come spend three to five days listening to and meeting exciting people in the technology industry. The O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference has the following speakers highlighted on the front page

• Ray Ozzie
• Jon Udell
• Joel Spolsky
• Tim Bray
• Mark Pilgrim
• Danah Boyd
• Sam Ruby
  
• Kevin Lynch
• Linda Stone
• Clay Shirky
• etc
  

If you were a Web geek and only had enough time to attend one conference, which one would you attend?