Apple absent from CES in Vegas
updated 07:30 am EST, Mon January 3, 2005
Apple absent from CES
Apple is one of the notable companies (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, as the electronics industry battles for the living room, according to CNET News.com: "CES starting on Thursday in Las Vegas, Nev., will set the agenda of what's in store in 2005 for the digital home-owner--from ultra-high-definition television screens to music and video recorders and other networked appliances. The four-day conference, the high-tech industry's largest annual gathering in the United States, will draw 120,000 technologists and retailers for a vast display of devices, from 102-inch-wide flat-panel TVs--the world's biggest--to postage-stamp-size hard-disks for music players or phones." Apple, however, is expected to unveil new products at Macworld Expo next week.
Setting the agenda
01/03, 08:30am reply
If I remember correctly, the iPod was not unveiled at CES. They set the agenda of what's cool in technology? I don't think so.
beeble
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Joined: Mar 2004
Re: Setting the agenda
01/03, 09:12am reply
What does it mean for the exposition that who isn't there is bigger news than who is?
MacScientist
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Joined: Feb 2000
Two different visions...
01/03, 09:50am reply
Apple and the CE world have two different visions of technology in the future. Apple's vision has a Mac at the center, running iLife applications that make music, photos, and movies easy to create, edit, and share. The CE industry is focusing on a living room device that will manage much of the same. Big examples include Tivo and MS' Media Center OS. Apple's vision centers around the computer (Macs to be specific, but a personal computer), while the CE industry wants to create smart devices to empower dumb devices, like a TV.
It's obvious why Apple wouldn't show up at CES. And MacWorld is just a few days away.
Dalhectar
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
re: two different visions
01/03, 11:53am reply
Good analysis, Dalhectar. Curious (because I'm too lazy to check): has Apple ever showcased at CES?
gambit-7
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Joined: Feb 2001
CES is Madness
01/03, 04:27pm reply
While it seems like a cool idea - CES is a MAMMOTH show that is five days of craziness spread out over 5-6 venues. While it is a showcase for new technologies, it is really for retailers to get a preview of what out there's so you everyone from a guy with an idea to people selling football phones to 100" plasma screens - and CE is one of the few areas where there are still 7-10 major players (Best Buy is biggest but their overall market share doesn't break 10%) plus hundreds of mid-sized players so people are there to do business ...
Apple would have to spend $5 million to get any attention (and that wouldn't even remotely be the costly booth/shiowcase). And what would it get Apple? Other than PR - nothing else - Apple is going to get $50 million dollars worth of free PR with MacWorld in two weeks. Apple is not going to authorize a lot of new retailers - if you're small - go talk to Ingram (Apple's distributor) and if you're big - you're most likely selling the ipod already and frankly, Apple would you not do a half-a** job of selling macs when the Apple store can do a better job anyway. Just because SAmsung is displaying 40 mp3 players does not mean Apple is going to lose mindshare or marketshare to the ipod.
So, while it sounds like a good idea to be where 'the boys are,' logically and business-wise, it doesn't make much sense.
jbelkin
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Joined: Sep 2003