Slow Tech Spending Forces Cancellation of Comdex

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-062304comdex_lat,1,4625417.story?coll=la-home-headlines

(free registration or try www.bugmenot.com)

Once the mother of all technology shows, Comdex has been canceled, at least for this year, organizers said today.

The conference, which began in 1979 as the Computer Dealer Expo, in the 1990s became synonymous with all things digital, drawing more than 200,000 visitors a year to the event in Las Vegas.

But a slump in technology spending, a lack of focus for the sprawling show, and a host of less expensive specialty venues have all whittled down attendance and exhibitors. That has forced the show's owners to rethink the event and decide how Comdex can remain relevant and viable in a tech economy that's radically changed since the early 1980s, when Bill Gates delivered his keynote address with a slide machine operated by his father.

<snip>

"While we could still run a profitable Comdex this year, it does not benefit the industry to do so without broader support of the leading technology companies," said MediaLive President Robert W. Priest-Heck in a statement. "In order to give the advisory board the time and opportunity necessary to partake in the redesign of Comdex, we thought it best to postpone this year's show."

<snip>

A combination of the tech bust and a heavy debt load forced the trade show's former owner, publicly owned Key3Media Group, to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2003.

...more...

To many Democrats making too much money. Not allowed.

That's why they sic'ed Enron on Silicon Valley and crashed our economy extra-hard.

I used to dream of attending that show.

:(

the end of an era?

how very sad....

I've been to one too many Comdex, PC Expos and CES shows and am thankful that was in a past life/career. (well...CES might still be fun!)

and was able to create a niche for myself in entertainment marketing while with Palm, thus enabling me to get the hell out of San Jose and move to LA! A couple years later I got the big layoff and have been on the entertainment side of things ever since.

I'd never go back to high-tech - I LOVE to have them as clients - but my personality just never did fit that lifestyle.

Comdex lost it's footing as soon as the Internet as an industry emerged.

The owners have changed more times than Liza changed bos.

The industry will get whatever shows it needs.

Remember InternetWorld...the show for all things internet...gone.

Shows that try to be all things to all people end up being not much of anything to anyone.

In China this year.

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , SAN FRANCISCO

This year's Comdex, the fall computer event that was once the US' largest trade show, was canceled on Wednesday as its owners cited the failure of the industry's largest companies to participate.

Executives at MediaLive International, the company that owns Comdex and other trade shows, said they decided to redefine the event and were hoping that it would re-emerge after a year's hiatus.

Created in 1979 by Sheldon Adelson, a Boston financial consultant, Comdex rapidly gained prominence in the early 1980s with the emergence of the personal computer industry.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/06/25/2003176475

Something here seems funny. You don't see vehicle, sports, gift, glassware, lighting... trade shows cancelled! It's a place where people meet, friendships, relaxing, party... Something seems strange!

but that was when comps where evolving & exciting.
Now it's boring....(wow Intels NEW cpu is whole 300 megaherz FASTER !)
Non techheads just want it to do basic stuff....internet , email , etc

oops that's right...the bulk of revenue is in the US. What, happy to pay 20% for labor but not happy when it hurts their revenues eh.