The Last Comdex?

linuxwrangler writes "Key3Media Group Inc. which produces the Comdex trade show may be unable to make it's debt payments and could declare bankruptcy. No decision will be made until after Fall Comdex opening on Monday. More info is available at Google News."

Comments

Iv always been afraid they were going to stop...

[dcstimm]

Iv always been afraid they were going to stop comdex because of the security risk of having so much people under one roof. Terrorists could have a field day. Oh well, at least it was the american way of going out of business...Bankrupsy:)

License to print money

[Jason1729]

How can they be losing money? They can charge almost anything they want for the booths and the big companies will still pay it.

Then they turn around and charge the visitors. They win on both sides.

Re:License to print money

[w1r3sp33d]

Hmmm, Here is the score as I see it (not an insider) IT market comes out of the flu strong, a couple real bang years where everone started a .com and needed to get to the purchasers, I'll bet booths were big $'s those years because there is only so much space. IT budgets were huge and we were all riding the wave making for great attendance. How much do you think you can command for 8x10 at a show with a dropping attendance (mostly of people with slashed budgets) when the hotels are constantly bringing up the price of space? I wouldn't be surprised if a bankruptcy lawyer convention could afford the halls this year... WOW! a little venting about the economy really makes me feel better!

Re:License to print money

[LostCluster]

Because large-scale trade show venues cost a fortune to rent, and ever since 9/11 those costs have risen as it has been more expensive to secure such buildings.

Couple those fixed costs of putting on a show with a decline in display floor companies because a good chunk of former presenters are either bankrupt or cutting back, and less people are being sent by those companies to look and those presenters on the floor.

Higher costs, lower income... uh oh!

Re:License to print money

[ergo98]

Unless you attend special sessions, virtually no one actually pays to attend COMDEX as a visitor. Vendors do pay, but of course the number of vendors has dropped precipitously in the past few years. COMDEX Canada used to fill the entire Toronto Convention Center, however as years passed the "Computer Case and Fans" section grew like a virus, while the software and technology companies shrunk. Now it's a little part of one small section of the convention center. I dropped by at a lunch, but seeing a line figured that it wasn't worth the wait and left.

Personally I think COMDEX, and trade shows like it, is a relic of the past. The reason is simple: The Internet. In the past it was very difficult for organizations to get the word out about new products, so they actually would pent up all of their launches for the big trade shows when they would unleash their killer video cards (Trident 8990, now with SVGA!), hard drives, software, etc. All of the media was there and they would print it all up, and we'd get the extra-large edition of Computer Shopper or PC Magazine full of COMDEX-released goodies, and it really was an exciting time in the computer world. Nowadays no company actually withholds products until a trade show (well..maybe Apple is the one exception. They still like to do the grand release thing), but instead they let the net do the distribution of information. It really is amazing to think how much this really has changed our industry even though it seems so normal now. Hell, I remember dialing up to the Diamond Multimedia BBS with my 14.4 modem to grab a newer Windows 3.1 driver for my Diamond Speedstar 24x videocard (one of the first supporting a 24-bit colour mode): It was a huge undertaking. Now I'm leaving a message that's readable around the world with ease.

Re:License to print money

[kawika]

Why is Comdex failing?

* The Internet. A decade ago the computer print media (mostly Ziff and IDG) controlled the flow of information to computer users. To a great extent, Comdex was a big schmooze fest between press and vendors to get products covered. Ziff and IDG alone each sent hundreds of people. Today people can go out on the Internet and get their computer info from just about anywhere--even Slashdot. Traditional computer pubs are dying left and right because they aren't the critical resource they used to be. They're not sending armies to cover the show, so the vendors see less reason to go.

* Market consolidation. There used to be lots of big players in the software market: Microsoft, Lotus, Borland, IBM, Computer Associates, etc. All of them would get big booths on the main show floor and compete to see who could grab the most attention. Nowadays it's pretty much Microsoft. The same is happening with hardware, it's down to a handful of major players. A good chunk of the HW market is still locally built white boxes and they don't need to go to Comdex to build brand recognition. The vendors that remain tend to be the Tiawanese motherboard makers who can't afford a big booth.

* Change in focus. COMDEX is an abbreviation for COMputer Dealer EXposition. It was originally set up so computer dealers could hook up with computer and component makers. Over the years that changed since there are just a handful of computer chains and product buyers for those chains. They tried appealing to an IT audience and emphasized the conference program in an effort to keep the size up, but it's only been marginally successful because there are often more cost-effective ways for companies to get this info.

* The consumerization of computers (aka, "Dude, you're getting a Dell"). Another case of eliminating the middleman. Companies like Dell sell directly to consumers, they don't need to go to Comdex and haven't done so the last few years. The major vendors handle corporate accounts via one-on-one visits and don't need the excuse of Comdex for that.

* They DROVE people away. As few as four or five years ago, Comdex was still a must-do for a lot of the PC industry. But you knew you were being screwed. Hotel rooms were $320 in the LV Hilton back then, and the cab line in front of the hotel was an hour long. When it got that bad, people realized it wasn't an effective way to do business. When people and companies started skipping Comdex the last couple of years and the world didn't end, it just proved that Comdex wasn't essential.

CeBIT is better anyway

[The Original Yama]

I've always preferred CeBIT to Comdex anyway. It's more varied in scope.

Re:CeBIT is better anyway

[Spoing]

I agree...even ~10 years ago CeBit was much better. That you don't have to walk all over the city to see everything is a big plus for CeBit too.

Is it a shame?

[xchino]

I've always wanted to go to Comdex, on company dollar of course, if for no other reason than to meet and hangout with a bunch of my fellow geeks in Las Vegas. It also seems like a pretty eclectic event, and a place where windows afficiandos and Linux elitists can get along (provided no one goes by their slashdot handles). Oh well, I'm sure some other event, pre-existing or otherwise, will slide quietly into the gap created by Comdex's absence.

Nowhere near what it used to be

[lseltzer]

When I started attending in 91 the show literally filled the city, taking the whole LVCC, the whole Sands and space in the Mirage. I haven't been there in a few years but I understand it's less than the whole LVCC now. With that kind of drop in demand they can't charge vendors what they used to.

Well, What do you Expect?

[ink]

Computers used to be fun. There used to be competition. There used to be variety. All we have now are ugly beige boxes running Windows, and the only surprise is how cheap the price can get. All the productivity/business apps are all in the "Microsoft Pavilion". All the system software is there too. All the small business software is there, and a lot of the enterprise software is there as well. Why would anyone want to go to a show that is simply one big, glorified advertisement for Microsoft?

Linux folks tried to lighten the place up a few years ago by handing out free CDs in front of the Microsoft booth, but Bill had them escorted off the property. Novell's gone from the show. Sun's gone from the show. Apple's gone from the show. IBM has a token appearance. HP only shows off their new laser printers (woo-hooo....). It's dull and boring.

I remember going back when there were a dozen different computing platforms running a dozen different operating systems. It slowly diminished to the "PowerPC Pavilion" out in the parking lot (bet Bill was happy about that!) against the PC folks in the LVCC+Lower Sands (upper Sands still had some interesting 3rd party stuff). For a couple years after that they had some Linux-specialized groups, but then there was nothing but Windows.

The internet has also made Comdex obosolete. One used to be able to find new products at Comdex, but now everything on display is Old News. We learn about interesting things here on Slashdot WAY before Comdex ever debuts anything. Since there is no new technology there, and pretty much everything is Windows, which we have to use everyday anyway, the only things left are the swag and Bill's keynote.

Personally, I think swag is a better reason to go, but it's really not even worth that anymore. I've been attending Usenix instead for the last couple years, and by contrast it is fun, interesting and refreshing. *shrug*

Tradeshows are yesterday's news

[Dr. Mu]

It's not just Comdex. I've exhibited at a number of trade shows myself. Was it worth it? No! They're expensive, exhausting to prepare for, and yield few if any solid leads. When you ask exhibitors why they're there, they all say the same thing: "It's just something we're expected to do." But now with the economy on the skids, companies are taking a harder look at where their marketing dollars go, and tradeshows just don't cut it. Once the myth that they're "necessary" is dispelled, I doubt they'll see a resurgence, even with an economic rebound. Besides, with the web, everybody's got a tailor-made tradeshow right on their desk, anytime they want.

Re:What's to see at a PC trade show these days?

[jedidiah]

No, the "genius" of his post was to point out that a Market dominated by a company that runs everyone else out of business is going to see it's vendor population shrink.

Good, focused trade shows, and why they rock

[benwaggoner]

Me, I love trade shows. More specifically, I love the trade shows I love.

I work out of my house or on client locations most of the year, so trade shows are where I can actually get some networking done. With a focused, industry specific show, a significant portion of my collegues, clients, and potential clients are in one place. Business gets done.

For folks who only get the free exhibit pass and do the show floor, you're missing about 90% of the action, and the 10% you've got left has been rendered somewhat irrevelant by the internet. Sure, trolling the show floor is nice, and you can occassionally see some surprises, or see a product close up and grok it in a way written descriptions didn't work. But, in a four day trade show, I might spend four hours looking at the exhibits.

One thing a good trade show will have is good sessions, taught by people who know what they're talking about. In the dot-com era, there were way too many shows where it was the VP's of marketing up on the stage, but the ones that are left focus much more on people with real-world experience telling their stories and, if they're good, answering questions. War stories can teach a LOT, and an expert can often answer a question in 30 seconds that might take a full day on Google to get straight.

Having a conference pass also helps beyond just doing the conferences. It gets you mingling with the other attendees. There is often free snacks and coffee, and sometimes full meals for attendees as well. Wonderful networking at those. The conference pass also gets you a lot more attention at the booths, because the vendors know that someone with a pass paid money for the show, and immediately consider them a more serious prospect. I've worked both sides of the booth, and the sales managners always stress this point in pre-show prep for those working the booths.

These days, I only go to shows that I'm either speaking at (I do lots of sessions about video compression), or that I have press creditials for (I'm a contributing editor of DV Magazine). Either pass is nice, since you can get into the speaker or press room, which is GREAT networking, plus they normally have broadband, drinks, and snacks, and not just at designated snack time. Wearing a press badge on the show floor can be almost dangerous if the marketing guys see you (the sales guys typically couldn't care less).

The big problem with Comdex is that it is so diffuse, it's hard to imagine it having a focused enough audience to have a good chance of bumping into people into the same stuff you are. The computer industry is so broad, it'd be like having a trade show on "transportation." It underlies so many things, it can't be really treated as a unified whole.

But in general, just going to a show for the exhibit floor is only scratching the surface. Try to get a conference pass, or even try to get a speaking gig if possible. But if you can't swing either, at least try to track down the free vendor classes, and any relevant free Birds of a Feather sessions (generally run in the evening). The one thing the internet can't give us is actually talking to 3D people, so focus on that aspect to get value out of a show.

And if you do go to conferene sessions, ask questions! And it's perfectly expected and accepted to go up to the speaker after the session for followups.

Trade shows I love (being a compression nerd) are:

DVExpo. Lots of classes by practicing video people, very enthusaistic audience. Probably the highest consistant quality of sessions of any show I do.

QuickTime Live: Geeky when it needs to be, but man does Apple know how to throw a party! Also excellent session quality. And catered by Odwalla!

NAB: A huge show for video professionals. Amazing exhibits, and enough different conference tracks to keep things interesting for everybody. The geeky stuff used to be done by DVExpo, who alas don't handle that anymore. Still a fun show.

MacWorld: Verging on diffuse, since people use Macs in so many different ways, but the great Esprit de corps. The Stevenotes really are best experienced in person for maximum RDF impact (and you often get gifts under the seats). I was at the infamous Lou Gestner 3 hour marathon one a few years ago, and man is that a telling contrast!

WEMP: This is put on by the MPEG-4 Industry Forum. I've only gone once, but it was the best in codec nerd love. Truly excellent sessions - it's one thing to read a standard, it's another thing to hear the person who wrote it tell you why it's a certain way.

Re:Exclusiveness & Prosperity

[benmhall]

Sorry, I didn't mean this as elitism in any way, but by keeping it to people in the industry they kept the questions technical and sound, and the companies presenting could assume a certain level of understanding from the people walking around. It went from a place to setup contacts for vendors to a place where Joe Blow could ask why Corel Draw wouldn't work with XYZ printer. I'm sure that the latter is an important question to ask, but it's not the right forum.