CES 2009: Half-time Report

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»CES 2009: Half-time Report

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CES 2009 reflects the situation that started in September of last year. It is really telling of where the world stands now.

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I have been attending CES for many years now. Most recently, I have attended as a Photographer for ASE, but I have also worn the hat of the owner of my own IT infrastructure consulting company, as the IT director for Supreme Security Systems, and as a buyer. Never before have I been as concerned about the real impact the economy is having on our country. Even in the recession of the nineties, or in the post 2001 aftermath, there was still a buzz and lots of energy being directed toward innovation and the future. Yesterday and today I hear tale after tale of job losses, project/product cancellations and a very defensive posture toward the future. Many companies and their employees seem content to just hope they survive. I believe however that although the length of this recession may be longer than many expect, the bottom is pretty much at hand with a long period of a realtively flat economy. That being said, the winners will be those who trust in their ideas and continue to innovate and provide quality products. An example which Aron pointed out is Antec....I saw quite a few new and novel enclosures with no corners being cut in their usual quality. I will write more about many products, including a diverse array of battery/green power products, but the most important lesson that CES 2009 reinforces for me, is that you can choose to wither away, or use adversity to grow.