It’s been a week since I’ve returned from CES and all the buzz has calmed down, but I really wanted to talk about the new MacBook Air
. I know they didn’t showcase this new computer at CES, but since Apple announced
it at the beginning of CES, I figured I’d go for it.
I’ve concluded this thing is extremely cool and worth owning!
At first, I thought it would be too small and light to be a serious computer. How could this nearly paper thin thing keep up with the heavy tasks I’d throw at it? As I studied it and read more reviews on it, I’ve come to realize that it’s not the “bulk” that makes a powerful computer powerful. It’s the technology inside. And this thing has everything I need.
One million exhibitors. Sixty million attendees. Four trillion booths spread across an area the size of Rhode Island.
and the brutal traffic in Vegas, my hope in humanity was restored (however briefly) when someone found and turned in my iPhone.
I was making my way to the John Lennon bus (seen here in this video), and had my iPhone, in a pouch, attached to my belt (I’m over forty, so I wear belts). I made a call and a few minutes later noticed it was gone. First panic, then a high-alert status as I looked, searched, and fretted about what would happen to it. I retraced my steps, looked for anyone using an iPhone (found one guy, and later gave him the thumbs up, when I found it), and waited. Repeatedly returning to where it most likely fell off my belt, eventually a nice woman asked me if I had lost a phone? “Yes!” I said, an “iPhone.” She told me she had it and kindly handed it to me.
The most interesting thing about the recovery was my good friend Marcus emailed with the subject “your phone:”
Lupe from the exhibitor registration tent called me to let me know that she has your phone. Just go to the tent and ask for her.
I called him amazed and he said, “your phone called me over an over again. It was weird.” When the iPhone dropped, it must’ve called Marcus — I think it was sending for help. I’m glad I found it and thanks to whoever turned it in.
Later, I told the iPhone Karma story in the Intel@CES booth.
Beyond the Hi-Def Lounge, beyond the mobile majesty of our MIDs and past our amazing laptop spiral (video) at CES 2008, we wanted to get back to what’s central in all of our lives.
We had a team positioned with the silicon cores of an Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor. As we saw on the Las Vegas Strip… showing this technology up-close is awe-inspiring:
As one of the Intel booth demo staffers, I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of visitors to the Intel booth. The one thing they all had in common was a passion for Intel technology and the desire to learn how they can have the best computing experience possible. I’m happy to report that many of these folks told me how much they love their Intel-based PCs and that they will only consider Intel processors in their future PC purchases! And I had an incredibly easy demo to show these folks because it sold itself. Live HDTV on your laptop via broadcast, cable, or satellite as well as DVR capabilities all streamed over 802.11n Wi-Fi. And the quality of the HD was gorgeous! I picked up the laptop and walked all around the booth to stunned observers who realized they were watching live local Las Vegas broadcast HDTV without ANY wires.
The demo, enabled by Intel® Centrino® mobile technology with built-in 802.11n wireless capability and a HAVA Wireless HD* box from Monsoon Multimedia, was just another great example of why CES is the place to be for the coolest technology in the world!
Tech blog Gizmodo had a nice run-down of some of the top booths at the 2008 CES show, among them Disney, LG and Belkin. We’re proud to report that Intel rated their number one booth. (Thanks!)
Gizmodo praised the “humongus and helicious helix” of laptops in the center of the booth. The “spiral”, as we called it, featured 52 of the latest laptops based on Intel(R) Centrino(R) processor technology. The sprial was surrounded by other displays of innovative notebook form-factors and interactive games about silicon technology.
For some reason there is still doubt out there in computerland that an integrated graphics chipset can output high definition video in all its full 1080P glory.
To make things easier for customers to be certain that maximum sofa-based bliss can be theirs - we will be labeling PC’s with this flashy new logo:
I enjoy the digital home I’ve created for my family, and am always on the lookout for new technology that will improve my experience or capabilities for enjoying my digital entertainment. What better place to search for the next big thing than CES 2008.
Unfortunately, I’m a tiny bit disappointed I didn’t find the killer solution or technology that will bump my digital home up a notch. Yet, I didn’t go home without something fun to envy. Actually, I found three things to envy!
Nevada means “covered in snow” or “snowcapped”. The mountains around Las Vegas are surprisingly breathtaking as I blog from seat 8F on a flight back to Portland.
There is a very colorful ridge of mountains just to the west of the city w/ beautiful red and orange strata, demonstrating the powerful tectonic forces at work on the North American plate below. Snow has fallen on some of the higher peaks.
I’m beaming. What a fantastic show. The energy and excitement in and around town was physically felt. I’m so proud of our bloggers who covered this event. Everyone demonstrated and personified why social media is so critical at large events like CES. It extends our booth and our technology offerings virtually to customers and users all around the planet. It becomes a chronicle of events; an archive of time and place.
It’s inclusive, it’s open and it’s colorful… like the mountains below.
I hope you’ve found or find value in this blog. I hope that the passion we have for technology, the zeal and enthusiasm we have for our jobs at Intel comes across through our entries.
We brought some smart folks to the table. Our goal was to simply provide perspective on technology and consumer electronics for those not in attendance. To contribute our unique voices to the widening social web. (The picture is a shot of the “Blog Central” room upstairs in the Intel booth w/ a few of the crew).
Please let me know if you think this goal was met and thanks for coming along.
I’ve often wondered how far we could take immersive media. I experienced a cutting edge application of surround sound and HD video right in our Intel booth here at CES 2008. The area was called the High-Def Lounge and the audio and video experience really took me by surprise.
Let me tell you a little bit about this experience. I was seated in a chair that looked sort of like a big bubble, a bubble covered in gorgeous white leather. When I sat down I had speakers all around me - above, below, and to the sides - built into the chair. They were sound controls similar to those on a home thearter to my right, allowing me to adjust the volume and bass levels. In front of me was one of the latest 45nm Intel(R) Centrino(R) processor-based notebooks from Lenovo.
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Intel again demonstrates our silicon innovations that are revolutionizing the industry and the way people work, live, learn and play....
We took the silicon core of an Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor, a camera and a microphone to the Las Vegas Strip here at CES 2008… and asked people ‘What is this thing?” See the reactions for yourself. For... »
NPR’s Digital Culture Consultant, Laura Sydell, went for a ride in a GM Suburban hooked up with a WiMAX connection. Listen to her experience with broadband on the go.... »
Leslie Cauley reports for USA Today on how cell phone companies and internet companies will have to cooperate to navigate the surge towards mobile web and the personal internet.... »
Reblogged from the Silicon Valley Watcher. Tom Foremski goes undercover at the “It won’t stay in Vegas” blogger party sponsored by Intel and the PodTech Bloghaus. He even got a few frames of my ugly mug:... »
A surprise of CES, was finding myself in the Chocolate Rain meme. First it was meeting Tay Zonday in the booth, then working with Intel to publish a video interview with him, then noticing the floor-to-ceiling fountain of chocolate rain... »
I hope you’ve found or find value in this blog. I hope that the passion we have for technology, the zeal and 
