Tech Advice: Technology trade shows not just for nerds

by Jonathan Sessions

January 26,2008

Technology trade shows: not just for nerds

The first and second weeks of January, nerds, geeks and techno-zealots flock to the largest tech shows in the nation—the Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld—to get the first look at just-released, soon-to-be-released and never-to-be-released electronic products.

While they may seem like mere excuses for companies to show off how great the video game Guitar Hero looks on a big-screen TV, trade shows actually provide a great information-sharing opportunity for both the companies and the consumers who attend.

The Consumer Electronics Show, held in three conference centers in Las Vegas, is the world's largest trade show for consumer electronics. While CES showcases all the big names, it also features many smaller companies' booths. As expected, the CES show floor is packed to the brim with flat-panel TVs and top-of-the-line stereos. Conversely, it also includes products and services such as Taser International's C2 personal defense device in a stylish leopard print.

While some companies use CES to show off new products, others take the opportunity to push technology boundaries (and their standings among competitors).

This year, Hitachi focused on thin, showing 1.5-inch-thick plasmas and .75-inch-thick LCD prototypes. Samsung showed off the world's largest LCD (82 inches), and Panasonic unveiled the world's largest plasma (150 inches) and its Life Wall concept device. Imagine replacing an entire wall (corner to corner) of your home or office with a monitor that recognizes individual users, uses gesture recognition, and moves content as you move. An amazing concept that's probably best understood when seen. Check out the demo from CES at Panasonic's Web site: www.panasonic.com/cesshow. (By the way, none of those items are for sale.)

After a week in Vegas, the attention migrates to San Francisco for Macworld. For Mac zealots, Macworld is the event of the year. The show kicks off with an address from Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, during which he announces any number of new products. This year the faithful, packed into the Moscone Center, were presented with Time Capsule (a wireless router with a built-in hard drive for backup); updates to the iPhone and iPod touch; an update to AppleTV with iTunes Store movie rentals; and finally the MacBook Air, the world's thinnest laptop (this one is pretty slick; look for a review in an upcoming article).

Steve's presentation is followed by a weeklong floorshow, more speeches and exhibitions just like those CES—only this time with a Mac focus. This means more flat-screen TVs, high-end audio systems, and tasers—but with iPod docks built in. (That was a joke—maybe.) Some of the press releases I read referred to an upgraded toilet paper dispenser with an iPod dock (yes, "upgraded," as in they have been shipping for a while) and a toaster with an iPod dock (one of many iPod-wielding kitchen appliances).

Even with the outlandish and ridiculous aspects of these shows, they continue to be beneficial. Many companies have become successful because of products released at trade shows. The entire world is watching. When this many companies pile together to release new products, the press and the public are focused in that direction, which makes it easier for companies (especially smaller ones) to get their products to the public.

Even if you are not tech savvy, you should go to one of these shows (or a show like it) at least once. Everything is hands-on, and the companies have people standing by to personally demonstrate and show off the products. Plus, it is really an amazing experience to try out products that are still being tested and will not be on the shelves for several years. I guarantee that people who attend these shows not only will be impressed but also will find at least one product that will make it worth their while.

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