Top 10 best and worst of Computex 2011
We take a look at the highs and lows of Asia's largest tech trade show
Around 36,000 people were expected to make their way to Taipei this week to visit Computex in its 31st year.
More than 1,800 exhibitors and 5,000 booths makes it by far Asia's largest tech trade show and second only worldwide to CeBIT in Germany.
As predicted, there were a stack of announcements from most of the world's biggest names in technology, and quite a few from vendors who we'd frankly never heard of. This is V3.co.uk's pick of the best and worst of the show, in no particular order.
BEST:
Miss Computex (x3) Yes, it's terribly un-PC and not particularly classy, but every tech trade show needs a moment of light relief. Thankfully we got it to the power of three at Computex, as the lucky girl(s) to have been awarded the prestigious crown, and their glorious pink PVC miniskirts, were paraded before the assembled journalists with a selection of winning devices. To be honest, we can't really remember much about what they were carrying.
Enthusiasts
It probably says a lot about the pre-eminence given to science and technology subjects in this part of the world, but the show and its satellite events were always full of enthusiastic students. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it right in Taiwan, which has been at the centre of technology and component manufacturing for decades.
You'd be lucky to fill a small bandstand with the number of tech graduates interested in an IT conference back in the UK. Actually, if some numbers are to be believed, you'd be lucky to fill a bandstand with technology grads full stop.
No chips here
We love a bit of exotic food at V3.co.uk, so it was good to see the on-site catering refusing to pander to Western tastes. The press room was sadly exempt from any complimentary nosh, but we did manage to get involved in some dim sum and noodles most days. Sadly, the beer served during a pre-show afternoon "tea break" for the press proved to be a one-off.
Top 10 best and worst of Computex 2011
We take a look at the highs and lows of Asia's largest tech trade show
Taiwan
Hong Kong's pretty cool. Japan is amazing. But never having made it to Taiwan, we didn't really know what to expect. Thanks to our long-suffering Taiwanese hosts for never letting the veil slip, and putting up with our endless questions quite graciously.
It's the technology, stupid
Lest we forget, Computex is nothing without the thousands of technology companies that sponsor, exhibit and use the show as a platform to launch new and innovative products. And this year was bigger and better than ever before, according to several veterans of past shows.
In 2011, the show played host to a battle of the chip giants, with Intel and AMD both staking claims to the burgeoning tablet market with some high-profile announcements. Asus also made a big impression with its Padfone and UX21 ultrabook, although disappointingly both were only prototype models.
WORST:
Logistics
It has been said numerous times, and no doubt will continue to be said for some time to come, but is there nothing that can be done about the huge distance between Halls 1, 2 and 3 and the largest Nangang hall?
No amount of shuttle buses or underground stations can detract from the seriously bad logistics problem at the heart of Computex - namely that all the keynotes and satellite press conferences happen around the Taipei International Conference Centre and World Trade Centre downtown, while most of the big name vendors are exhibiting some miles away at Nangang.
This exhibition behemoth can be too big for its own good sometimes, and vendors are not helping by having press conferences in 'nearby' hotels. Yes, it may look just over the road on the map, but when that road is a four-lane highway things get difficult.
Computex logo
Now, modern art is a tricky thing to get right. At its worst it can be clichéd, unfathomable or just plain ridiculous. At its best it can be life-enhancingly beautiful. Guess which category the Computex 2011 logo fell into?
Yup, a small child's laughing face which, on closer inspection, is composed entirely of leaves and flowers, workstations, tablets and smartphones. Actually, enter it in the Turner Prize next year and it'll probably win. Call it 'Random logo'.
Top 10 best and worst of Computex 2011
We take a look at the highs and lows of Asia's largest tech trade show
Press scrums
It's great that the technology press and blogging community in Taiwan are so enthusiastic about their country's national IT exports, but when press conferences turn into an unceremonious scramble to the front to capture that perfect shot, it takes the sheen off a bit.
Countless times we were nudged, pushed and shoved out of the way as an army of local press kitted up with some farcically large lenses grappled with each other to capture yet another tablet on film. Not cool, man.
An overdose of tablets?
Innovation in the industry is a constant wonder, and a few companies still manage to surprise and delight in equal measure. Then there are the 'me-too' announcements. This year's show was dominated, as predicted, by tablet devices, and, while there are some interesting new concepts - kickstands, sliders, detachable screens and, of course, the Asus Padfone - there were an awful lot of depressingly mundane also-rans too.
When technology is not all it seems
It's understandable that a company wants to make the most of the increased media attention that comes with a big show by launching a spectacular new product, but when that product is apparently rushed out unfinished, it all feels a little hollow.
Computex 2011 played host to several such announcements, including the Asus UX21, the Acer W4 Mango smartphone and, most notably, the Asus Padfone. It's difficult to get excited by a shop model.