dacs.doc electric

This year’s Techxny and PCexpo is now only a shadow of its former size. The earlier shows covered all three floors of the Javitts center. Took all of at least one very rushed day or better yet two days to cover. This years show, occupied a bit more than half of the main level and only took a leisurely two hours to view. Admittedly we were there on the last day of the show, but in conversation with the exhibitors, the other two days were not much busier. (The food vendors must have been crying.)

This, nonprofessional, home computer user, was ready to leave after only two hours, arriving at 11 and departing after lunch at 1:30, Olympus, displayed digital cameras and color printers in their large booth. Hewlett Packard displayed their inkjet and laser printers in their relatively large area. A small list of component equipment providers, wireless networking, memory chip, flash card manufactures and flat panel display companies filed the rest of the floor space.

Conspicuously missing were the former big displays by Kodak, Intel, Microsoft and Epson and others. There was no big presents of computer assemblers showing their newest and greatest stuff. One corner of the floor devoted space to the Outsource World, where India and Romania occupied more space than any of the big computer names.

The only explanation I can come up with, is the maturing of the industry. Just a few years ago there were many new and break thru products, both hardware and software. How many more tools can be added to word processors, spreadsheets or image editing, without making them too complex? Now most of the improvements are mainly bells and whistles. Improvements in image resolution and processing and broadband speed, though important are readily explainable in a few words, not enough reason to attend a show.

My feeling is that the local computer fairs at Westconn, and the other school and exhibit halls provide a broader display of the newer products.

I would like to hear other opinions, reports or comments especially from any members that may have attended the recent Comdex or other large computer events.