Yogi Berra said, “It’s so crowded no one goes there any more.” That’s what happened to COMDEX, which went from 225,000 attendees in the 90’s to zero by 2003. And it may happen to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The man in charge, Gary Shapiro, likes to say, “This year’s CES was the biggest and best ever.” With over 140,000 attendees and 2700 exhibitors in 2007, it was indeed the biggest.
But as my 19th straight CES, I’d say it was also the worst, packed with people and a nexus for disease from around the world. (Stomach flu and alcohol poisoning, anyone?)
“Mine is bigger than yours” is what passed for a story line, as Panasonic, LG and others jousted for the pointless title of world’s largest TV.
I couldn’t get into several press conferences because they were so jammed. A couple I did get into should have been closed down by the fire marshall. Even the usually unflappable CEA people in their blue shirts showed frayed tempers. Apple upstaged everyone, launching the publicity-grabbing iPhone at MacWorld in San Francisco.
Even Bill had nothing to say. “The Digital Decade is truly here”?
There were a few fun throwbacks to tech days, like this PC building race sponsored by Tiger Direct.
And the booth babes are still displaying product…
But attendees complained that too many consumer electronics categories were jammed together; the show should have been split up. Fat chance; it’s all about the dollars.
