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CNN Live At Daybreak
Mood Upbeat at Annual Comdex Computing and Technology Trade Show
Aired November 20, 2002 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The mood is upbeat at the annual Comdex computing and technology trade show in Las Vegas even though it seems time has run out for the company which puts on the show.
CNN's James Hattori has details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Comdex retains its Las Vegas charm even if it has lost almost half the crowd compared to two years ago. Fewer conventioneers, fewer exhibitors, fewer customers for companies that plan the displays.
ARLEN RUBIN, LIVE MARKETING: Probably 80 percent less, maybe a little bit more than that.
HATTORI: The company that owns Comdex, Key Three Media, says although the show is profitable, it's apparently not profitable enough. Debts may force Key Three to seek bankruptcy and sell Comdex to someone else.
BILL GATES, MICROSOFT COFOUNDER: Thank you.
HATTORI: Microsoft's Bill Gates was far from a gloomy Gus in his keynote remarks, though. "Soon we'll all be surfing the Net wirelessly," Microsoft hopes, with new smart displays coming in January.
GATES: And the magic of software are now spreading out to all different devices.
HATTORI: And if that doesn't lure new spending, the 1,100 other exhibitors at Comdex are equally hopeful with the cutting edge plasma and LCD displays, uber (ph) hip pocket computers with built in phones, even new generation 3D glasses with video games, to the decidedly low tech like CD repair kits.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now what you're doing is you're filling in this graph.
HATTORI: And machines to start your own business refilling inkjet printer cartridges.
(on camera): What does it cost to refill?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The refill is $1.52. HATTORI (voice-over): Exhibitors hope the 125,000 people expected here in Vegas are serious customers who can't afford to be distracted unless it's by their sales pitch, delivered in unusual and eye catching ways.
(on camera): Well, why'd you stop?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you ask?
HATTORI (voice-over): But there are no sure bets at Comdex except the spectacle of it all.
James Hattori, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Trade Show>
Aired November 20, 2002 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The mood is upbeat at the annual Comdex computing and technology trade show in Las Vegas even though it seems time has run out for the company which puts on the show.
CNN's James Hattori has details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Comdex retains its Las Vegas charm even if it has lost almost half the crowd compared to two years ago. Fewer conventioneers, fewer exhibitors, fewer customers for companies that plan the displays.
ARLEN RUBIN, LIVE MARKETING: Probably 80 percent less, maybe a little bit more than that.
HATTORI: The company that owns Comdex, Key Three Media, says although the show is profitable, it's apparently not profitable enough. Debts may force Key Three to seek bankruptcy and sell Comdex to someone else.
BILL GATES, MICROSOFT COFOUNDER: Thank you.
HATTORI: Microsoft's Bill Gates was far from a gloomy Gus in his keynote remarks, though. "Soon we'll all be surfing the Net wirelessly," Microsoft hopes, with new smart displays coming in January.
GATES: And the magic of software are now spreading out to all different devices.
HATTORI: And if that doesn't lure new spending, the 1,100 other exhibitors at Comdex are equally hopeful with the cutting edge plasma and LCD displays, uber (ph) hip pocket computers with built in phones, even new generation 3D glasses with video games, to the decidedly low tech like CD repair kits.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now what you're doing is you're filling in this graph.
HATTORI: And machines to start your own business refilling inkjet printer cartridges.
(on camera): What does it cost to refill?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The refill is $1.52. HATTORI (voice-over): Exhibitors hope the 125,000 people expected here in Vegas are serious customers who can't afford to be distracted unless it's by their sales pitch, delivered in unusual and eye catching ways.
(on camera): Well, why'd you stop?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you ask?
HATTORI (voice-over): But there are no sure bets at Comdex except the spectacle of it all.
James Hattori, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Trade Show>
