• About

LIVEdigitally

12 Reasons why CES 2009 will be Awesome/Lame

Posted on December 2, 2008 by Jeremy Toeman

IMG_2296 ces unveiledThe annual Consumer Electronics Show is coming up.  I’ll probably add some new tips to my annual CES Tips list, but ultimately there’s a lot of same-old, same-old going on.  Which, to people like me, is great.  To a lot of people, it’s awful.  I think the show could use some change (this year’s I-Stage event was definitely a step in the right direction), and I’ll post on that soon enough.  But for those of you debating attending, here are 6 reasons why CES is Awesome, and 6 reasons why CES is Lame.

The Awesome List

  1. The CrazyNation Pavillions.  Located every year in the Sands hotel, many countries purchase booths for local vendors to show up with their wares.  Invariably these booths have some of the IMG_2698 Chinese GPS OEM companyweirdest hybrid gadgets you’ll ever see, most of which will never, ever come to market, anywhere.  But it’s “Days of Thunder” bad, in other words you hate it til you get sucked into it, because after all, it’s pure entertainment.
  2. Vegas. Anything more than 3 days in Vegas is too long, but if 2/3 of your time is spent at a big gadget show, that only really leaves ~1 day there.  Which is perfect. And honestly, where else could they possibly put a show like this?
  3. Something New and Exciting. There’s always the chance for something new and fun at CES.  I know already of two gadgets that will debut there, both of which are interesting and worth checking out.  While the recent trends have shifted to independent launch events, I think this might be the perfect year to launch at CES.
  4. Peter arrives at the boothThe Innovations Zone. Much like the International Zones above, the Innovations Pods (also in the Sands hotel) are a way for startups to bring their gadgets to the world for the right price.  Keep in mind both Sling Media and Bug Labs first attended CES in the Innovations Pods (yup, I’m biased).  Don’t forget – this year there are two Innovation Pods areas in the Sands, so make sure you get to both!
  5. Really Really Big Stuff.  Huge.  Just because nobody will ever buy a One-Hundred-And-Six-Inch Plasma doesn’t mean we don’t want to see it!  Or $150,000 projectors.  Or big crazy gaming rigs.  It would be like going to a car show and not seeing Ferraris and Maybachs…
  6. Cheap Hotel Rooms.  While I don’t agree with my friend Dan that CES will be a “dud”, there are definitely more hotel rooms available than in prior years.  Which also means shorter taxi lines.  No matter what, for those of us who do go, it’s a win.

The Lame List

  1. It’s still in early January.  This is my 10th CES, of which only 3 did not have me there as a demonstrator (this year included).  Which means for 7 of the past 10 years, my December is generally spent planning and executing on CES.  This, in a word, sucks.
  2. Hooligans.  Consider the above comment.  Now pretend you work for a big firm that spends hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on the show every year.  Now pretend you are doing demos for 8 hours a day with inadequate sleep.  Now pretend some young whippersnapper comes along and screws with your demo.  Funny (I guess) to anyone but the demoer, but just an unpleasant thing to do to someone.
  3. IMG_2775 alcohol tester mp3 playerNothing New and Exciting.  While I have hopes for Something New and Exciting, the reality is there won’t be more than a handful of standout new products at the show.  Which means literally thousands of gadgets you’ve seen before.
  4. Apple Doesn’t Want to Share With the Other Kids. Of all computer and consumer electronics companies, Apple unquestionably produces the most intrigue around new products.  Considering they make the #1 selling MP3 player and also the current king of the hill iPhone, they’d fit quite well at CES.  But they don’t come, and I think it’s a shame.  Granted they have little to actually gain (considering they make great products, have all the PR they need, and own their own retail channel), but it would be nice to see them participate in such an industry-defining event.
  5. The CES Flu.  It comes every year, it’s unpreventable, and unstoppable.
  6. It’s Too Damned Big.  When the show expanded to the South Hall, we all thought it was too big.  Expansion to the Sands helped CES as much as teams in Phoenix, Raleigh, and Tampa Bay helped hockey.

See y’all in Vegas!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Reddit

Related

Posted in Gadgets, Travel | Tags: ces | 6 Comments
« Blackberry's Imperfect Storm
A Waterproof iPod Shuffle in Review »

6 thoughts on “12 Reasons why CES 2009 will be Awesome/Lame”

  1. Erica says:
    December 2, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Agreed on all counts. 🙂 But I’ll still be there!

    Reply
  2. Mielle Sullivan says:
    December 2, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    CES has always sounded like a magical toy store for adults. I am glad to hear of the downsides. Still, I would love to go– especially since I went to Convergence this year and it did nothing to satisfy my convergence-in-gadgets hunger.

    Reply
  3. Avi Greengart says:
    December 3, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    I need to add one more to the dud list, though I’m hoping that the economy thins the herd a bit this year: D-list bloggers. Ever since gizmodo and then engadget redefined tech news coverage, CES has had a tough time figuring out what to do with bloggers as distinct from accredited press. After first swinging too far in the direction of journalists, CES seems to have decided not to make any distinctions whatsoever; apparently, all you need to do to get a press pass at CES is get a free blog account and type in an entry about your cat. I was shut out from the SanDisk press conference at CES two years ago because bloggers discovered that little MP3 players were being given out, and a Long Island Wal~Mart -style rush ensued. I stopped one of the bloggers leaving early (most just wanted the freebie, not the info) and asked him what publication he worked for. It turned out (I’m not making this up) it was a family newsletter for a group of about 50 relatives in upstate NY.

    Jeremy, are you doing MacWorld, too? See you in January…

    Reply
  4. Dan Rubin says:
    December 8, 2008 at 7:58 am

    Last year was my first, but working 20 to 30-hour “days” trying to cover the stupid thing didn’t leave nearly as much time for exploration as I would like. I heartily agree about the international/WTF pavilion, which is a must-visit. It’s like heading to the crapware stores in Chinatown, in NYC, but without the smell.

    And if you’ve never had a ride in a tank chair, you’re missing out.

    Reply
  5. Pingback: CES 2009: The Geeks Prepare :: Gizmos for Geeks

  6. steve garfield says:
    January 1, 2009 at 8:48 am

    “The CrazyNation Pavillions.”

    Yes!

    I saw that at CES 2007 and loved it. So much crazy wacky neat cool stuff there.

    I remember seeing tv’s that were better than HD. Really amazing.

    I’ll be there this year…

    Reply

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About

Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

Recent Posts

  • Back on the wagon/horse?
  • 11 Tips for Startups Pitching Big Companies
  • CES 2016: A New Role
  • Everything I Learned (So Far) Working For a Huge Company
  • And I’m Back…

Archives

Pages

  • About

Archives

  • January 2019
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • June 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004

Categories

  • Convergence (81)
  • Gadgets (144)
  • Gaming (19)
  • General (999)
  • Guides (35)
  • LD Approved (72)
  • Marketing (23)
  • Mobile Technology (111)
  • Networking (22)
  • No/Low-tech (64)
  • Product Announcements (85)
  • Product Reviews (109)
  • That's Janky (93)
  • Travel (29)
  • Video/Music/Media (115)
  • Web/Internet (103)

WordPress

  • Log in
  • WordPress

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

© LIVEdigitally
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.