Comments on: Are big conferences dying?

By: Not a stalker

Not a stalker — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:14:25 +0000

Ok so I look at this sight every few days… i dont remember how i got it, probably from an episode of BOL… But when i look at the comments i read them and like they all sound like the writers are Veronica’s best friends… and i am guessing they are not… Ha Ha it makes me laugh how these people think that because they read your sight they really know you… I read your sight, but i dont think i know you at all… Maybe people think that because they can stalk you that they matter… oh well…

By: Jerry Paxton

Jerry Paxton — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Having now covered a CES for the first time, I have to say it was a bit overwhelming. Despite that, I would have to agree with you in that the ‘Big Expo’s will have to change. As you said, we already experienced this with E3 and CES is next on the chopping block. These companies spend tons of cash to show us ‘concepts’ and whatnot just for the ‘wow’ (NOT World of Warcraft ;)) factor. It just cant continue in it’s current state. CES is definitely due for a restructuring.

By: Soapy Toboggans

Soapy Toboggans — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:14:34 +0000

@G. Scott
There is no absolute agreement on capitalization after a colon.. It is acceptable to go either way.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:40:50 +0000

Is Mahalo Daily going to be covering Macworld? Or is that it for conferences?

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:39:19 +0000

You’re expecting too much. A 150 inch tv isn’t enough for you? What do you want?!?!?!

By: Lan Bui

Lan Bui — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:24:14 +0000

“maybe if they had some dancing bears”, yes!

By: G. Scott

G. Scott — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:53:48 +0000

Can I ask why you capitalized the following I, after the colon?
“New rule for CES: If you don’t have anything good to show me…”
I’ve seen this capitalization everywhere, and I hate it. As far as I know (or, am concerned), even though what follows a colon has to be a full clause, there is no cause to capitalize, as it still isn’t a proper noun nor beginning of a full sentence. The point of a colon is to conjoin clauses, not sentences. Is it a new rule I wasn’t made aware of?

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:06:51 +0000

Well I’m a business student and the thing about CES and large conventions is that companies have realized that it is not worth it to pour in large amounts of time and money into creating a killer booth. They don’t get enough return for the money invested.

Sure the nerds like us will like a great exhibit, but in terms of cost the company is better off investing in a broader market promotion or something.

Just my two cents on the matter…

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 07:36:40 +0000

Veronica, have you considered the National Associations of Broadcaster’s (NAB) conference? I know that it is more broadcast and media creation oriented, not like CES which holds true to its name - Consumer Electronics - but NAB usually gives out announcements that also affect most of us, such as HDTV and new broadcasting trends which companies who attend CES and other shows must comply to. Still, it is true that it was a disappointment not to see any major news announcements on CES, let’s see “what’s in the air” at MacWorld.

By: Art

Art — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 07:08:04 +0000

I do not think that it’s unrealistic to expect to be wow’d. You should be wow’d IMO. Well, if Apple is the only company that is able to wow people, maybe that is why they’re doing so well and their market share is increasing…

“If you don’t have anything good to show me that’s going to come out in the current calendar year, then you have no business having a booth on the show floor.”
***I couldn’t agree more!!!

By: Rick C

Rick C — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:52:17 +0000

I would submit that the state of CES is evolution in action. Historically trade fairs, shows, what have you was an answer to the problem that sellers needed to find buyers. Most companies could not afford to blanket an area with sales staff. This was particularly true in tech where companies were literally starting out of garages. The Internet itself did not really change the equation all that much. Enter Google. Enter Engadget. (I am using Engadget as representing all tech blogs-for some reason I suspect she has a soft spot for them :)) Looking for a particular item. Google it. Curious about any background or even a review. Check Engadget. Now consider the beancounters. In a global economy companies are squeezing every bit of value out of every bit of coin they spend. Which is the better return on investment, sending a unit or a “leak” to a Ryan Block to blog about and reaching potentially all of your target market or spending a boatload of bucks on a trade show that will reach the market that could afford or chose to make the trip and hope that Engadget or V notices you at CES?

I think that the blogsphere is killing the trade show.

By: Not Normal Concerns « citizen geek

Not Normal Concerns « citizen geek — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:28:10 +0000

[...] Also, are big conferences dying? [via Veronica Belmont] [...]

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:00:16 +0000

George is right–it could just be a reflection of the post-housing-slump, rising-unemployment economy. Consumer enthusiasm is down, so manufacturers are focusing on improving and refining the products they’ve already released, rather than pushing the envelope with risky technologies that, while buzz-making, might not sell.

Of course, CES might be dead for other reasons: All my cab drivers could talk about was CEA’s threat to pull the conference out of Vegas because of alleged price gouging by hotels. If no other city can handle a conference with 140,000 attendees–which I suspect is the case–an E3-like downsizing could very well be in CES’s future.

By: toni

toni — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:58:59 +0000

hey veronica, great work in CES 2008. CES at it is now is dead. They need to find new ways of surprising.I’ve always been a fan of your work at CNET but I lost your sight after that. Luckily,for me of course :P, i have you back on my radar after your engadget cooperation. keep up bringing us your perfect smile to our geeky life. Really interesting the mahalo project, good luck from Barcelona!!

By: peter

peter — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:24:02 +0000

hope the feet are not too vamped

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:31:35 +0000

http://www.shauncho.com/shauncho.html

Fats, I think that says it all

By: Jonathan Crow

Jonathan Crow — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:13:54 +0000

Seems to me that this is a general trend right now, and one that we have seen before. The popularity of tradeshows rise and fall and have a life cycle that seems to mirror the industry they represent. The beginning of the dot com age saw a huge spike in tradeshows (or maybe that was just what it felt like to me).

But it also feels like there is a general feeling that people are tired of being marketed to at these events and aren’t interested in vendors hawking there wares (unless of course you are Steve Jobs). There are of course major exceptions, but people want content and interesting discussions more than product demos.

By: Fats Vernon

Fats Vernon — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:44:02 +0000

To Shauncho:

By writing what you did, you have revealed yourself as all or one of the following:

A. Major Stalker (albeit a poorly funded one)

B. An egomaniac who is diluted enough to think that V would actually respond favorably to you.

C. A naive 13 year old who simply doesn’t know any better that to hit on a SPOKEN FOR tech celebrity that has a schedule too filled and a brain pan too large to take the time to ingratiate herself to a total stranger who is silly enough hit on her in a public forum!

Solution:

A. Seek therapy (or better funding)

B. Go rent “Everything is Illuminated”, watch it, consider it’s message and act accordingly.

C. Step outside to enjoy and consider the sights and sounds immediately in front of you, in your world. Breathe deep and hit on girls in a normal fashion.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:10:50 +0000

Ok, just checked out the Cranky Geeks site and today’s show is from CES. Hmmm.. I really do remember Dvorak say he doesn’t go to those events. Should be interesting to see the show today. Maybe Veronica can ask him about his appearence at CES

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:43:54 +0000

Toshio, that rocks!

What more can we be “wowed” with? What more technology do we need? Oh wait, maybe that should be the theme for future CES’s Show some of what they have, but ask what we want. What a better place to get good feedback from reporters. Reporters hear what people want, but have little avenues for delivering that message to the vendors.

I heard John C. Dvorak say a year ago, “Why should I go to CES, I can see it all on the web.” So true. Maybe someday there will be a virtual CES. Companies post their stuff on some central website and have streaming video and interactive chats and such. Look at Engadget, they are pretty much a virtual CES. There are many other sites, such as Cnet, that cover products all year.

Great coverage Veronica and the Engadget team! I wonder if anyone has done a show on the prior year’s CES. Where are they now? type of show. Pick some products from the year before and find out if they made it or gave up on it.