Dynamics users say those topics are certainly compelling for them -- but the answers they seek may come from each other, not the keynote stage.

"I don't expect any earth-shattering [news] from Microsoft this year, which is fine by me," said Dynamics NAV user Kim Dallefeld, chairman of the NAV User Group and IT director of GSM, LLC of Grand Prairie, Texas, which sells cameras and other equipment for hunters.

"People are really wanting to find other people and hear about the issues they've dealt with," she said. "Sometimes that's how you really find your cost savings. You're kicking it around with someone else, rather than your service provider. It's just nice to run it by somebody else and know you're not on the clock and paying a fee."

A number of Dynamics users groups will be experimenting with a range of social-networking tools at this year's show, said Mike Smith, chairman of the Dynamics GP User Group and CIO of Intelident Solutions, which runs a chain of dental clinics.

The effort will employ Twitter feeds and live blogging, with the goal being to provide a wellspring of best practices, helpful hints other information that can be used later by attendees or those who couldn't make it.