Consumer Electronics Show

Well, I'm just back from the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The only gambling I did was my various choices of places to eat, mostly less than satisfactory. It was great having the chance to visit with former student Dan Landson, who is a producer for the CBS affiliate there, and it was again an enlightening experience to see all the developments going on in the industry.

Last year, on my flight home from CES, I sat on the plane beside a rep from Misubishi Electronics, who told me all about their big roll-out of the 'next best thing in home TVs--their new laser technology.' I saw none of those in the stores this year and no sign of them at CES (I could have easily just missed them--the exhibits cover an extraordinary amount of space in multiple locations). The big thing I noticed this year for flat screen TVs is Samsung's LED technology--that is super thin and uses less energy than LCDs. I wasn't impressed that the Samsung people were running around rudely stopping people like me from taking pictures of their items they were marketing. I take a camera and get pictures so I can remember some of the stuff--as do many people. So, I stepped outside their booth space, zoomed in, and got the pictures I wanted, as is perfectly legitimate to do. And I'll remember this when I buy another TV brand this year instead of a Samsung. Maybe next year they'll put up walls so no one can come in and see what they have.