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USBMan
at Comdex
Special Report - Comdex Fall 2002
November 18 - 22, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada USA
[The Products] [The
Sites] [The Show]
For the past 3 years I’ve attended COMDEX, (acronym for
"Computer Dealer Expo), which is held every November in
Las
Vegas. As in previous years, I saw new products, made new contacts
and said hello to many of my old friends in the business. This year I
spent 4 days at the show, walking, talking, asking questions and enjoying
the sites and food.
The industry down turn
was in full evidence at Comdex this year. Gone were the 6 story high bill
board advertisements that once draped whole sides of buildings, gone too were the
street wide banners and the taxi cab toppers that in previous years touted
the latest innovations from the industry's most prominent manufacturers.
The last 3 years has seen Comdex dwindle in size. In 2000, 2,300 vendors
were represented, 1,600 in 2001 and this year only 1,000 participated.
It’s an expensive
venture to display your wares at THE show. Booth space starts at a
hefty $5,995.00 for a minimum 10’ x 10’ space, add in manpower, hotel rooms,
meals, setup / tear down fees, airfare, literature, displays, and the tab
can easily total $40K for a small splash in a big pool.
Comdex is in serious jeopardy of
becoming a thing of the past. Talk of impending bankruptcy for K3Media,
the event’s parent company, was a hot topic. The local Las Vegas television
station reported that the show organizers would be meeting this week to
discuss the future of the show.
None-the-less, I enjoyed
my week in Comdex and there were several new and/or improved USB devices
that caught my eye. You can see the products and a few pictures of the show
and the sites below.
On Monday evening, I
attended Showstoppers, a media only event that is sponsored by a handful of
vendors who show their products amid a lavish buffet and a pair of cocktail
bars. I make it a point to stop at Showstoppers when I attend Comdex for the
following reasons:
-
I have a chance to get one-on-one with top company
representatives without having to compete with corporate buyers, PC
enthusiasts and curious onlookers.
-
It’s a relaxing, not so strictly business setting that I
enjoy.
-
The food and drink is always first class and
complimentary :)
High fives to the
sponsors, Steve Leon and
everyone at Showstoppers for another enjoyable and productive evening.
Very well
done...again
Jeff Roberts
The Products
IONetworks
WatchPort V
USB
Camera with driver Support for Windows NT.
WatchPort USB Environmental Monitoring
Appliances offer 24/7 asset monitoring via customizable software, vision
solutions and environmental sensors..
Anywhere
USB
USB over IP Long Distance
Solution allows the connection of USB devices anywhere over a wired or
wireless LAN.
www.ionetworks.com
BAFO
Soul Drum
Instant percussion. Simply connect the digital
drum components to the amp, install the software and plug into an available USB
port.
http://www.bafo.com
Belkin
4 X 4 Matrix USB Switch
Simultaneously access 4 USB
devices from 4 computers with the ultimate USB Switch. The F1U400
automatically switches any connected, USB 1.1 compliant printer, to the
appropriate computer requesting printer.
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub
Connect
up to 3, low, full, or high speed USB devices at once with this tiny mobile
hub. The miniature size is a perfect road accessory for USB 2/0 enabled
laptops.
www.belkin.com
M-Systems
Disk on Key
Designed for people on the
move, the latest version of this personal, reliable, USB storage device
features USB 2.0 compliance, synchronization software and KeySafe security
password protection.
www.diskonkey.com
Gold X
PowerCore Series
A complete out of box system facilitates
peripheral expansion with Module Surge/Spike/Network Protection.
Easily add USB, Firewire, Ethernet Switching, Broadband, KVM, 6 in1 Media
Reader, R/F Keyboard/Mouse and Port Replication to the stackable desktop
unit.
QuickConnect USB Cable
The QuickConnect provides you with 5 different
USB cable configurations within one package. All you have to do is choose
the appropriate connectors for your specific environment.
www.goldxproducts.com
Logitech
MX700 Cordless Rechargeable RF Mouse
The MX700 features rechargeable Fast RF cordless
technology which gives the responsiveness of a corded connection, but without
the cord. The two Cruise Control buttons provide continuous scrolling through
long documents or websites and the rapid charge base station acts as a receiver
and a charger in one.
io Digital Pen
Makes handwriting an effective tool for the digital
world—without changing the way you work. With the Logitech io pen, everything
you write can be saved, organized, and shared.
http://www.logitech.com
@BIG
DVR/CVR-H130
Voice Recorder, MP3 Player, USB HDD
Drive and FM Stereo Radio. All your recording need in one great USB
product.
http://www.cubig.com
Pacific Digital
Memory Frame
Transfer photos directly from your digital
camera - anywhere, anytime - and instantly play back a slideshow on its
active matrix screen. Does not require a PC, printer, memory card or
subscription.
www.pacificdigital.com
The Show
The Sites
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