Posted on 11/16/2002 12:08:26 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 15 — Each fall for more than two decades, the high-tech world has descended upon Las Vegas to hype the industry’s hottest wares and ideas at the Comdex trade show. Whether focused on the first PCs of the ’80s, the Internet in the ’90s or the wireless gadgetry of recent years, exhibitors were assured hordes of executives, buyers and reporters. But at the 23rd annual show, which starts Monday, the crowds will be smaller, the exhibit area more compact and the mood subdued. Comdex, like the rest of the high-tech industry, is sputtering.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.com ...
This year, Comdex’s theme is “Practical Innovation” and its exhibit space will be divided into sections, so the show should seem less chaotic.
Rosen said Comdex remains relevant, with 400 new products to be unveiled and keynote speeches from Microsoft’s Bill Gates on Sunday and Hewlett-Packard’s Carly Fiorina on Monday.
.................
The market for used computers, the promotion of style, and sluggish sales all scream the market has matured.
Can anyone tell me a reason for upgrading a server from Red Hat 7.3 to 8.0 or from Windows 2000 server to dot net server? What will windows XP do for me that Windows 2000 Pro will not? Windows trimmed in a pretty blue with round corners is not a reason. And having to learn new ways to reach the control panel or my computer is not an advantage. I can see little to reccomend Red Hat 8 over Red Hat 7.3. Infact I took 8.0 off my machine and put 7.3 back.
If you liked RCA TV in 1980 you are going to love Microsoft in 2015.
I am now able to play Need for Speed:High Stakes for the first time since Windows 98SE. The compatibility functions in XP are MUCH better than Win2kPro.
And no, I didn't miss your point, just had one thing like you asked :)
The remote access feature that comes free with Windows XP is amazing. Its functionality is similar to Symantec PC Anywhere, except the XP solution is about 1000% better than the Symantec product.
Last night a friend and I were having this very discussion. We both have 20 years or so in the biz, and have seen things like:
Apple II
IBM PC
Visicorp
Lotus 1-2-3
Apple Mac
Microsoft apps
Local area networking
Lotus Notes
Internet
Various Internet apps
Wide area nets
The point is, there was always something cooking, and always something just about to break. I've developed a pretty good feel for technologies that would catch on in 6 months to 2 years (OK, the Internet took a few years longer than I expected, 1994/5 rather than 1992/3).
In any case, we both concurred that for the first time in a long time we don't see anything interesting out there, and finally confessed that we're each thinking of leaving the industry entirely.
Ultrawideband. Bet on it.
A few improvements, but 8.0 really isn't quite ready for prime time. Stick with 7.3 for the time being.
The plan calls for Key3Media to eliminate around 87 percent of its debt, dropping the total figure to $50 million. Thomas Weisel Capital Partners will provide debtor-in-possession financing of around $30 million and will end up owning about 99 percent of the recapitalized company.
Key3Media said that it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 within 90 days of filing and that all of its trade shows, including Comdex, Networld+Interop and JavaOne, should take place as scheduled. In September, the company had said it would cancel a number of shows for 2003.
The Las Vegas trade show has traditionally been a launching pad for the high-tech industry, with manufacturers turning the spotlight on new products and technologies. But in a sagging economy, companies have scaled back attendance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.