A Tech Show Loses Clout as Industry Shifts

The New York Times: This week, more than 140,000 people will descend on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While the show is still important to the tech industry, some observers say its importance is diminishing. “For the larger guys, the show has become less important,” said former HP CTO Phil McKinney. His observation is supported by the fact that Microsoft has announced that this will be the last year it delivers the big keynote address. Also, the number of exhibitors is down to 2,700 from last year’s 2,800.

Others note that CES is no longer the venue companies choose for big product launches. “It’s not the best place for product announcements,” said Forrester’s Sarah Rotman Epps. “You get lost in all the noise.”