Anyone going to CES in Vegas next week?

[Roundabout]

I go to the Consumer Electronics Show every year and I was thinking if anyone else on this site is going that we could meet and share stories there. This year it is from Jan. 8 - 11 (next Thurs. thru Sunday). There are over 2,300 companies showing their newest products there every year, with lots of giveaways, goodies, etc. making it fun, but very tiring with all the walking to do. It's a huge show and impossble to see it all in one or two days. Well, if you're gonna be there let me know...like to meet a fellow DVDRHelp'r sometime.
If anyone is interested in going I can tell you how to register even if you don't work in the Consumer Electronics industry - it's not too hard. The show is free to attend, there's no charge for the basic pass. You're supposed to work in CE, but I won't tell if you don't


http://www.cesweb.org/

[slimmx]

I would be happy to go but I live in NYC. Are there any computer shows like that in NYC. I tried looking yesterday but no luck!

[ChrisX]

I'll love to go and the problem is distance and such short notice.

I'll have to fly from Sydney to Los Angeles and this would take me 14 hours to LAX. Then another flight or a bus to Las Vegas.

Sorry, too far away and the cost as probibitive for a ticket on a Qantas or United airline.

[Roundabout]

I would be happy to go but I live in NYC. Are there any computer shows like that in NYC. I tried looking yesterday but no luck!

There might be, but not that I'm aware of. There is a summer CES in Chicago, but I guess it doesn't do you much good (too far away).
But if I hear of something I'll let you know...

I'll love to go and the problem is distance and such short notice.

I'll have to fly from Sydney to Los Angeles and this would take me 14 hours to LAX. Then another flight or a bus to Las Vegas.

Sorry, too far away and the cost as probibitive for a ticket on a Qantas or United airline.

Oh, C'mon! It's only 14 hours to fly, and $1000 for a ticket... :P :P :P
That shouldn't be any problem! J/K

I was just hoping someone in the general vicinity wanted to go, there's people on here that live in CA. and I think someone was even in Vegas. I'll mention it again next year a little earlier and see if anyone is interested in going. Guess I'll be alone this year

[slimmx]

There are over 2,300 companies showing their newest products there every year, with lots of giveaways, goodies, etc.

http://www.cesweb.org/

EDIT: Guess no one is going, less than 10 people have looked at this topic...shame, you guys are missing a lot! Maybe next year???

What kind of giveaways?

[Roundabout]

A lot of little nicknacks - pens, bags, candy, promo items that are hard to describe (i.e., a small "soft" dartboard, T Shirts, Retractable tape measures, CD Labels, Blank CD's, CD cases, balls that light up when you bounce them on the floor, handheld fans with LED lights that spin with the blades...it goes on and on). Some of the mfgrs. such as Creative gives away good stuff like Sound Cards, Modems, MP3 Players, Cameras - you have to wait in line to get to it and win those with a spin of the roulette wheel, you always get at least a nice T shirt, and there's nothing stopping you from getting back in line and trying again. My wife won a $50.00 webcam the year before last, and last year we just got T shirts
We were tired and didn't feel like getting in line to try again (takes about an hour or more).
When we lived in Vegas we went all 4 days and found new stuff every day, even at the same booths they'd dig out something new. There are many thousands of people in attendance, and the crowds sometimes wear you out. But it's always very interesting also to see the newest products before the general public knows about them.

[pacmania_2001]

Anyone wishing to fund my air plane ticket (or half of it, after checking my bank account) can PM for details on how to donate to the cause.

Also those that wish to put me up for the time over there can PM me to work out the details.

See you there Roundabout

[Roundabout]

Anyone wishing to fund my air plane ticket (or half of it, after checking my bank account) can PM for details on how to donate to the cause.

Also those that wish to put me up for the time over there can PM me to work out the details.

See you there Roundabout

[pacmania_2001]

Anyone wishing to fund my air plane ticket (or half of it, after checking my bank account) can PM for details on how to donate to the cause.

Also those that wish to put me up for the time over there can PM me to work out the details.

See you there Roundabout

I'm still waiting for your PM Roundabout

All it takes is $500 (Australian, approx $300 US) to send me there. Come on people, give generously.

[Roundabout]

Wow, I didn't know that tickets were that cheap - maybe I'll come there instead
Or is that for a one-way ticket and you plan to stay here permanently?
Never been to Australia...Quantas files non-stop from here (L.A.) to Sydney. Wife wants to see it someday (after we get to Hawaii sometime) and after a trip to Europe sometime this year...

Las Vegas is only 220 miles from where I live, about a 3 hour drive one-way. We go there at least twice a year, but we're not gamblers. I don't think I've dropped a nickel in a slot machine in 10 years. Mostly go for shows, dinner buffets, and visit friends. And of course, the CES show.

Some more from the Wired site this morning:

Gadget Hounds Line Up for CES

02:00 AM Jan. 05, 2004 PT

While many trade shows have the reputation of lining up booth after booth of khaki-clad workers delivering monotonous sales pitches, the annual Consumer Electronics Show draws thousands of people who want to check out the fun stuff: new gadgets.

More than 110,000 industry reps from entertainment, airline and hospitality; electronics retailers; government officials; and propeller heads from around the world will descend on the Las Vegas Convention Center this week to try the newest toys at CES, the largest consumer electronics trade show in the world. The show runs from Jan. 8 to 11.

"It's the anti-Comdex," said Alex Slawsby, an IDC analyst who covers mobile and wireless device technology. "It really is a show designed around the home and personal technology rather than business or enterprise technology."

One trend this year will be the convergence of home entertainment technologies into one media hub that can record and play back television and movies, play games and do any number of computing tasks. Technology to network devices throughout the home is also gaining momentum.

"It comes down to having all the disparate technologies connected to each other or able to interact with each other," Slawsby said. "It's centered on the home and then extends in different directions of a consumer's life: car, cell phone and other portable electronics like a digital music player."

But an industry that dreams of seamless, wireless media delivery to every room in the home could be hampered by various digital-rights management technologies that lock up content to prevent piracy.

"Digital-rights management becomes a more critical issue in light of the wide proliferation of wireless multimedia networks in the home," said Kurt Scherf, vice president of research for Parks Associates, a market research firm in Dallas. "There's a concern that in unprotected environments, the content will be more easily accessible for those who don't pay for it."

Consumers want the content on their own terms, he said. If the digital-rights management is too restrictive, "that defeats the whole concept of the home network," Scherf said. "If I can't do what I want with the media that I've downloaded and stored, then why spend the money on the device?"

He added, "I think it would be good news if the industry could come to some sort of agreement on what fair use is before Congress or the courts have to decide."

About a dozen members of Congress will attend the show.

"CES is a place where they can come and experience the technology that their legislation is affecting," said CES spokesman Brad Jones. "They can come and learn about how the technology is enabling their constituents to get access to information 24 hours a day."

Featured items at this year's show will include hybrid devices -- gadgets that have more than a single function.

"Handsets are becoming digital cameras, handsets are becoming music players handsets are becoming game consoles," said Seamus McAteer, who follows trends in mobile electronics for Zelos Group. "It will be interesting to see how those category leaders in the console arena and the music player sector compete with the threat from handset vendors."

Analysts are also anticipating the debut of Sony's PSX, released in Japan, in the United States. The console includes a gaming system, DVD player and digital video recorder -- all in a single box.

Another focus of this year's show will be technology for cars, especially products originally developed for the home that have migrated to automobiles, said CES spokeswoman Lisa Fasold.

A satellite TV antenna for the car, the first auto HDTV and a product that provides music, video or games to four areas of a car are among the new products showcased to outfit a vehicle, Fasold said. A device that stores and burns CDs onto a hard disk within the car is also new.

Cyber X Games will hold a gaming tournament at CES for the first time this year.

And as they seek out new gadgets at CES, environmentally conscious attendees can recycle old gadgets at a local Best Buy in Las Vegas during the show.

See you there, pacmania_2001!!

[ChrisX]

Wow, I didn't know that tickets were that cheap - maybe I'll come there instead
Or is that for a one-way ticket and you plan to stay here permanently?
Never been to Australia...Qantas files non-stop from here (L.A.) to Sydney. Wife wants to see it someday (after we get to Hawaii sometime) and after a trip to Europe sometime this year...

I think this is a one way ticket and best price I can get is flying with United at AUS$1170.00 for a round trip.

QANTAS is very expensive for a short-notice ticket to LAX.

Anyway, a ticket price can vary depending on where from, such as USA website of Qantas or Australian website of Qantas and the same goes for United.

This news info on CES: http://news.com.com/2100-7353-5134692.html?part=dht&tag=ntop

[pacmania_2001]

Cheapest flight I have seen around lately from Australia to LAX is $950 (round trip) but that was a special deal with an infinite amount of fine print. When I went over in 2000 I flew Air New Zealand (quite a good carrier) on a special deal of $1000 (inc taxes etc).

Seems that these days (Australia at least) that domestic travel is becoming cheaper whilst international travel is becoming more expensive.

Looks like I've missed CES for another year. Maybe I should start up a donation fund now and see if I can make it next year.

[ChrisX]

Looks like I've missed CES for another year. Maybe I should start up a donation fund now and see if I can make it next year.

I know the short-notice is too short of time to get to the CES. There isn't any direct flights non-stop to LAX for this week. The only way to get there is go via SFO then another flight to LAX.

I noticed United made a cheap deal like this: SYD>SFO>LAX then return LAX>SYD. Price round trip is AUS$1170.00. This is for one week in the US.

Instead of going on to LAX at SFO, someone can get a ticket directly from SYD>SFO>LAS for Las Vegas. This way can get there much quicker. This would a little more at AUS$1262.00.

You have to plan ahead and the time for the event and hopefully you'll get there.

I forgot about this airline, Air NZ. Thanks for the input anyway. You never know I might be there myself for CES 2005.

[pacmania_2001]

In your experience Chris (or anyone who knows) is it cheaper for a direct flight from say Sydney -> LA or to Sydney -> Hawaii -> LA?

A friend and I are looking at going to the US on a road trip for 3-6 months in 2006 so trying to get the cheapest flights possible plus I wouldn't mind checking out Hawaii for a day or two.

[Roundabout]

Guess I won't be coming to Aus this year tickets to Europe are much less from LAX > LHR (London) sometimes as low as ~$300 R/T and Paris CDG for just under $400. Wife is bugging me to take her to Amsterdam by next year, and Hawaii. That's on top of the trips we make periodically to Ukraine.

pacmania_2001, guess I'll see you next year at CES, you too, Chriscjgs!
If you really would like to go sometime, I'll let you know what you have to do to fake it on the registration. It's pretty easy. You need at a minimum, 2 full days to see most of it, but even the entire 4 days sometimes doesn't seem like enough. Feet get tired from so much walking. I usually take a small rolling carry-on suitcase with me to carry all the goodies in. Otherwise, it kills your hands by the time you finish.

If you need a place to stay while in LA, let me know. We've got a 4 br. house with three empty bedrooms. Just bought it last Apr. - built new for us. Then it's just a 3 hr drive to Vegas from here. Nice hotels are cheap in Vegas, but during CES they raise the price some. However, I know of some good hotels off the beaten track that don't charge an arm and a leg.

[pacmania_2001]

I'd like to go however I think CES 2006 is a more achievable date. As aforementioned my mate and I are planning on road tripping the US in 2006 which will probably be Januarary - June or something along those time frames so CES 2006 looks very possible.

[ChrisX]

In your experience Chris (or anyone who knows) is it cheaper for a direct flight from say Sydney -> LA or to Sydney -> Hawaii -> LA?

A friend and I are looking at going to the US on a road trip for 3-6 months in 2006 so trying to get the cheapest flights possible plus I wouldn't mind checking out Hawaii for a day or two.

Direct non-stop flights aren’t necessarily the cheapest way to get there. Not always, at the moment it is cheaper to go via SFO than SYD>LAX.

You have to look around, in fact I've experienced cheaper going like this to New York City: Sydney>Tokyo>JFK then return JFK>Tokyo>Sydney.

I know this way is a long way around to get there via Japan and found to be much cheaper than going directly to LA then another flight to JFK.

I had to stay overnight at a Narita hotel and a free breakfast before a connecting flight to New York. The accommodation was included in the fare.

I never forget the Japanese food and the TV there.

[Roundabout]

I'd like to go however I think CES 2006 is a more achievable date. As aforementioned my mate and I are planning on road tripping the US in 2006 which will probably be Januarary - June or something along those time frames so CES 2006 looks very possible.

Well, that's 2 years from now, so that gives you lots of time to plan ahead! Where else do you go when you come to the US? Do you have friends here that you visit, or do you just "wing it" and go wherever? I used to do that in Europe, fly to CDG and rent a car and terrorize Europe with my Yank driving habits - like driving in the left lane on the autobahn slower than other traffic, or sometimes passing on the right (drives Germans crazy! Lots of fun! - of course I expect to get flamed if there's anyone from Germany on here )

[pacmania_2001]

We were thinking of going right around the US spending a few days here and there, having no set agenda (apart from a few places). I have relatives in LA and central Canada as well as friends in Chicago and Florida so will probably visit them when we are over there.

We're planning on buying an old 80's (maybe 90's) van and sleeping in the back of that and once we are done just selling it to a wrecker or someone.

I've been all over the west coast of America with my family in a motorhome about 3 years ago and we mostly stuck away from the usual tourist spots so I would like to do something similar to that again (but all over the US). Normal culture not trashy tourist attractions are more interesting for me so things along those lines.

[Craig Tucker]

I would have come if they had'nt grounded Concord.

[Will Hay]

Yeah, and I would have come had they not started taking fingerprints of suspicious looking folk
Will

[Roundabout]

We were thinking of going right around the US spending a few days here and there, having no set agenda (apart from a few places). I have relatives in LA and central Canada as well as friends in Chicago and Florida.

Normal culture not trashy tourist attractions are more interesting for me so things along those lines.

What part of L.A. do they live in? Maybe you'll be nearby - but this is a very big place as you know, very sprawled out.

Hey, don't knock trashy!
That's normal American culture!

Will and Craig,
People that look like Wookies will definitely be stopped at the border and fingerprinted...about time. We're over-run with you Wookie types. Especially here in L.A.
and Will, if that's your passport photo, with "DIE" over it, is it any wonder why they stopped you??

[pacmania_2001]

What part of L.A. do they live in? Maybe you'll be nearby - but this is a very big place as you know, very sprawled out.

Ummm... no idea, its like suburban LA and I think it's to the south but not 100% sure on the exact location. We were going to stay there for like a week to buy a car and get the details like insurance etc worked out.

Does anyone know what type of visa is needed (if any) for an extended holiday (3-6 months)?

Luckily I don't have to be finger printed because I'm from Australia, one of the exempt countries, so they won't find out about my seedy past.

[ChrisX]

[Luckily I don't have to be finger printed because I'm from Australia, one of the exempt countries, so they won't find out about my seedy past.

This depends on how long you want to stay in the US, generally speaking 90 days or less you're ok.

Check out: http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular/visawaiver.html

[Conquest10]

I think it also depends on your name or appearance (if you have a beard or not). If you have a beard and/or a muslim sounding name, security is going to be taking a lot more interest in you. Like when I flew from San Jose to Chicago last year, I had a long beard then, I was pulled over to the side and was more thouroughly (sp?) checked than the rest of the passengers and then had my bag swabbed for explosives. They say its random but come on. Out of the whole plane I'm the only one they check?

BTW, in the US, it is cheaper if you make more stops en route to your destination.

[Roundabout]

Ummm... no idea, its like suburban LA and I think it's to the south but not 100% sure on the exact location. We were going to stay there for like a week to buy a car and get the details like insurance etc worked out.

When you know, let me know. Maybe I can meet you somewhere.
Also, in case you don't already know, you should pick up a copy of the Auto Trader magazine at a 7-11 store or Wal-Mart - it has hundreds of cars in it for sale (there's also Truck Trader, Van Trader, etc).
Don't know about the requirements for visa, however I did see yesterday the new program for visitors "U.S. Visit" just started, where they are fingerprinting and taking a photo of (I thought) all visitors coming into the country. Maybe you're exempt, I don't know. Not a big deal anyway, unless, like Conquest10 says, you look like a Muslim.

[pacmania_2001]

When you know, let me know. Maybe I can meet you somewhere.

Will do, when the time got closer I was going to start a thread inquiring about meeting some of the members of the site.

Also, in case you don't already know, you should pick up a copy of the Auto Trader magazine at a 7-11 store or Wal-Mart - it has hundreds of cars in it for sale (there's also Truck Trader, Van Trader, etc).

Thanks for the info, the only complication I can see in my plan is insurance and registration complication that arise from being a non citizen.

From what I understand of the new security arrangements, Australians (and 20 or so other countries) are exempt from needing visa's if the stay is less than 90 days and don't require to be finger printed because the new passports that the government is issueing meets US security requirements in having biometric information encoded in them.

Not a big deal anyway, unless, like Conquest10 says, you look like a Muslim.

*Shaves the beard and hides the Koran*