I have a beef with SAS.  You all know I love SAS, but I've been looking into Text Mining training and it irks me a little.  Let me explain...

My work recently invested in SAS' Text Mining product.  It is an additional component to Enterprise Miner (i.e. you need Enterprise Miner to run Text Miner).  Let me tell you, it ain't cheap - but for good reason - it is very powerful and sophisticated software.  Since we've been doing Text-Mining-ish analysis for many years now, we can really use this software.

So we bought it, installed it, and now I need to learn how to use it!  Here are my options for learning SAS Text-Miner:

1. Buy some books about Enterprise Miner and Text Mining.  The one's I picked up include:
   a) Introduction to Data Mining Using SAS Enterprise Miner
   b) Mining Textual Data Using SAS Text Miner for SAS 9 Course Notes
   c) Getting Started with SAS 9.1 Text Miner
   While I have the aptitude to sit down with a book and learn the software, it is always valuable to see it hands on from the experts.
2. E-Training.  The options are:
   a) Enterprise Miner e-training
   b) Enterprise Miner live-training
   There is no Text Mining online training.  If there was, I'd be signing up for it.
3. Take a course.  There is a 2-day classroom training for Mining Textual Data Using SAS Text Miner for SAS 9.  However, we can't justify flying out-of-country.  The course is offered in Canada, but only in Toronto, ON and Vancouver, BC.  Sady, flying out-of-province is somewhat restricted, so I probably can't go to these.  It would be much nicer if the course was also offered in Edmonton or Calgary.
4. We did talk to the SAS rep in Edmonton and they did look at different options for training.  I think they even looked into flying someone out from SAS, but because there wasn't enough interest from other Text-Miner clients, I guess it's not a worthwhile option.  That's understandable.

So, I feel a little ripped off because we payed for this expensive software and then the company sort of leaves you hanging to figure things out on your own.

And don't get me started about how painfully annoying the Text Mining installation was.  There needs to be more clear instructions for how to install it.  The instructions we did get seemed like an afterthought. But we did eventually figure it out.

While I'd like to see more options in Calgary/Edmonton for classroom training, I understand that it depends on the number of clients that could/would attend.  But there are 2 ways I think SAS can improve their Text-Mining offering.  First, have clear and extremely detailed instructions on installing Enterprise/Text Miner.  Second, offer Live Web Training and/or E-training. 

*Update: Although I posted this a couple hours ago, I'd like to say one more thing.  SAS tends to be a very progressive company.  So I am sure that someday soon they will have videoconferencing capabilities in their classrooms.  I see no reason why a public course being tought in California should be limited to residents of California or nearby.  Anyone should be able to pay a fee and tap in to the class via the internet.