When the events finished, I knew that the application competed with Dynamics AX, Epicor and the like, that it was targeted for process manufacturing and that a handful of VARs in North America that have been recruited haven't yet sold any installations.

In fact, during the teleconference with Himanshu Palsule last week, following up the prior week's launch in Paris, I put down the telephone and went to the kitchen and microwaved a bowl of soup for lunch. I don't think I missed much.

It's not because of Palsule--I've known him since the early 1990s and he's a smart, capable, genial guy. I just had the feeling this whole thing was scripted. Unfortunately, it's been scripted so broadly not much new information came out.

Sage picked Accpac, its companion Accpac CRM and X3 as global products last year,  as opposed to its usual country-by-country product approach. Sage has not had the experience of releasing product information across multiple countries. It showed. The French Webcast was as generic.

What was missing was specifics. One reseller I've talked with has enthusiastically discussed the product and how it beats AX, Epicor and Infor products and how there's nothing on the market like it. It was that kind of information, supported by the excitement of belief, that wasn't present.

And among the people who need convincing are the possible channel partners that include resellers, consulting and services partners, and solution providers. Sage didn't release new names or discuss the structure. In fact, the way I just found out these three categories exist was by typing "Sage X3 reseller" into Google and coming up with a page at www.sageerpx3.us/partners/north_america.html that lists members in each category. I don’t remember anyone over the last year even suggesting such a three-pronged structure was being set up.

In general, I would have learned more by going to the Web page, that has helpful product information and demos, although I would suggest that in a major launch somebody should also make sure the Web pages are in synch.

Clicking the Product News Link brought up the following: "Sage ERP X3 News
Introducing Sage ERP X3 Version 5. Sage ERP X3 version 5 is the fifth major version of the leading ERP software for mid-sized enterprises brought by Sage in 2000. It is being released in 2008 by the Sage Group in 35 countries."

Left hand, I'd like you to meet the right hand. You guys ought to get to know each other.