Recession To Steal Some Glitz From Gadget Show

Recession To Steal Some Glitz From Gadget Show

The International Consumer Electronics Show, the largest trade show in the U.S., opens this week in Las Vegas with a full slate of giant TVs and inventive gadgets, despite the pall of a recession hanging over the industry.
The economic downturn will temper the normally dizzying extravaganza, and some attendees are wondering if the whole technology trade show business is past its peak.



Last year, 140,000 people went to the show, and there were 2,700 exhibitors. The Consumer Electronics Association, which ishosting, expects the same number of exhibitors this year for the 42nd annual show, but on a slightly smaller floor space: 1.7 million square feet, or about 29 football fields. That's down three football fields from last year.



Computer companies moved to CES instead, and have remained. Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Intel Corp. are mainstays of the show. Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates traditionally kicked off the show with a keynote speech, but with his withdrawal from active work at the company, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is replacing him this year.