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Jim Louderback of 'PC Magazine' at Comdex Show

Aired November 18, 2002 - 13:40   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Just in time for the holiday season, the high-tech industry showing off its latest gadgets. The annual Comdex tech trade show under way in Las Vegas.
CNN's very own "Inspector Gadget," Daniel Sieberg is there.

Daniel, I really envy you on this one.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, Martin, it's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. We are literally just getting under way here at the Las Vegas Convention Center. You know, typically Comdex is billed as one of the largest tech trade shows in the world, but the tech economy -- but the downturn in the tech economy has really hit it in the last couple of years. They're expecting roughly 125,000 attendees this year, that's about the same as last year but that's half of what it was just two years ago. Regardless, there are still about 1,000 exhibitors here.

A lot of names that people will be familiar with: Microsoft; Samsung; Nokia showing all sorts of different products on the literally of thousands of square feet on the show room floor. You know, the back drop, Martin, to all of this is that the organizer, Key3Media, for Comdex potentially could be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They will not be making any announcement until the show finishes this week. But that is part of the show here. But of course, the other big part is innovation and products and gadgets. That's what most people want to talk about.

And joining me this morning to talk about one of the gadgets we've been hearing about for the past year is Jim Louderback, he's a contributing editor of "PC Magazine". And we're going to talk about this wireless monitor from Viewsonic.

JIM LOUDERBACK, "PC MAGAZINE" CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Well, here's the problem with your desk top. You've got all these wires all over the place. We have wireless mikes, wireless key boards, but you still have to plug your monitor in. Well, not anymore, with this. Now, this is a new device from Viewsonic, and looks like a regular monitor. But notice as I pick it up, there are no wires.

SIEBERG: Right. Now, this is not a computer, right? Explain to people that this isn't actually a computer.

LOUDERBACK: This is -- it is -- it's actually a very, very simple computer. But, not, it's not a functioning computer in its own. What this does is it talks to a desk top that could be anywhere in your house. SIEBERG: You could take this and sit back on the couch and watch TV or whatever you want to do. Anywhere...

LOUDERBACK: Anywhere you want to access your computer, it's got a wireless network that can connect you back. And as you can see right here, what I have got connected. I have got a web browser so I can surf the web. Over here I have a -- I can manage my money if I want to. There's even a really interesting application that I want show you here, that -- where you can control -- right over here. This actually -- there we go. Move that out of the way. Thanks. This actually lets you control your lights and other accessories, so you can turn things on and off in the house. Not only is it -- gives you access to your computer but, you know, anything you can do on your computer, you can do anywhere.

SIEBERG: And what type of protocol do you use this? It's 802.11, the wireless....

LOUDERBACK: 802.11b. It's a wireless protocol that most computers now use at home to connect wirelessly. It's not very fast, and it only has a range, theoretically, of about 150 feet. But, I got to tell you, my house, it's only about 30 or 40 feet. So, if you've got a big house, you might run into trouble using this. The other thing I'll say about it is, it's pretty expensive. I mean, you can get an LCD monitor...

SIEBERG: Let's talk about price. This is important. Everybody wants to know the price.

LOUDERBACK: This is the reasonably small version. You can get a LCD monitor like this for about $400. This is $1,000. Now, it comes with a bunch of different things. It comes with this base that you all saw. It comes with the wireless connectivity, it comes with an upgrade of Windows. Still, a lot of money. So, unless you're going to carry this thing around, you probably don't want it.

SIEBERG: Great. Now, this one here is going to be about $1300. You're just going to have to point to this one, Jim.

LOUDERBACK: I will, this one's nice and big.

SIEBERG: It's made by Viewsonic. They're both made by Viewsonic. Phillips also potentially coming out with one as well. Microsoft provides the Smart Display software. We'll have to see whether these are picked up in the consumer market. They will be on sale in the first quarter of 2003, that's January.

And Martin, in the next hour, we're going to be talking about some other types of monitors from Samsung.

Jim, thanks for joining us.

Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: More gadgets to come, Daniel. Thanks very much. We'll look forward to it. SIEBERG: Absolutely.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 18, 2002 - 13:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Just in time for the holiday season, the high-tech industry showing off its latest gadgets. The annual Comdex tech trade show under way in Las Vegas.
CNN's very own "Inspector Gadget," Daniel Sieberg is there.

Daniel, I really envy you on this one.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, Martin, it's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. We are literally just getting under way here at the Las Vegas Convention Center. You know, typically Comdex is billed as one of the largest tech trade shows in the world, but the tech economy -- but the downturn in the tech economy has really hit it in the last couple of years. They're expecting roughly 125,000 attendees this year, that's about the same as last year but that's half of what it was just two years ago. Regardless, there are still about 1,000 exhibitors here.

A lot of names that people will be familiar with: Microsoft; Samsung; Nokia showing all sorts of different products on the literally of thousands of square feet on the show room floor. You know, the back drop, Martin, to all of this is that the organizer, Key3Media, for Comdex potentially could be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They will not be making any announcement until the show finishes this week. But that is part of the show here. But of course, the other big part is innovation and products and gadgets. That's what most people want to talk about.

And joining me this morning to talk about one of the gadgets we've been hearing about for the past year is Jim Louderback, he's a contributing editor of "PC Magazine". And we're going to talk about this wireless monitor from Viewsonic.

JIM LOUDERBACK, "PC MAGAZINE" CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Well, here's the problem with your desk top. You've got all these wires all over the place. We have wireless mikes, wireless key boards, but you still have to plug your monitor in. Well, not anymore, with this. Now, this is a new device from Viewsonic, and looks like a regular monitor. But notice as I pick it up, there are no wires.

SIEBERG: Right. Now, this is not a computer, right? Explain to people that this isn't actually a computer.

LOUDERBACK: This is -- it is -- it's actually a very, very simple computer. But, not, it's not a functioning computer in its own. What this does is it talks to a desk top that could be anywhere in your house. SIEBERG: You could take this and sit back on the couch and watch TV or whatever you want to do. Anywhere...

LOUDERBACK: Anywhere you want to access your computer, it's got a wireless network that can connect you back. And as you can see right here, what I have got connected. I have got a web browser so I can surf the web. Over here I have a -- I can manage my money if I want to. There's even a really interesting application that I want show you here, that -- where you can control -- right over here. This actually -- there we go. Move that out of the way. Thanks. This actually lets you control your lights and other accessories, so you can turn things on and off in the house. Not only is it -- gives you access to your computer but, you know, anything you can do on your computer, you can do anywhere.

SIEBERG: And what type of protocol do you use this? It's 802.11, the wireless....

LOUDERBACK: 802.11b. It's a wireless protocol that most computers now use at home to connect wirelessly. It's not very fast, and it only has a range, theoretically, of about 150 feet. But, I got to tell you, my house, it's only about 30 or 40 feet. So, if you've got a big house, you might run into trouble using this. The other thing I'll say about it is, it's pretty expensive. I mean, you can get an LCD monitor...

SIEBERG: Let's talk about price. This is important. Everybody wants to know the price.

LOUDERBACK: This is the reasonably small version. You can get a LCD monitor like this for about $400. This is $1,000. Now, it comes with a bunch of different things. It comes with this base that you all saw. It comes with the wireless connectivity, it comes with an upgrade of Windows. Still, a lot of money. So, unless you're going to carry this thing around, you probably don't want it.

SIEBERG: Great. Now, this one here is going to be about $1300. You're just going to have to point to this one, Jim.

LOUDERBACK: I will, this one's nice and big.

SIEBERG: It's made by Viewsonic. They're both made by Viewsonic. Phillips also potentially coming out with one as well. Microsoft provides the Smart Display software. We'll have to see whether these are picked up in the consumer market. They will be on sale in the first quarter of 2003, that's January.

And Martin, in the next hour, we're going to be talking about some other types of monitors from Samsung.

Jim, thanks for joining us.

Martin, back to you.

SAVIDGE: More gadgets to come, Daniel. Thanks very much. We'll look forward to it. SIEBERG: Absolutely.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com