Hardware versus IT Clouds

I am addicted to tradeshows, which is why the month of May is so much fun and yet so busy.

 

Both the National Hardware Show and Interop were in Las Vegas and I managed to spend a little time at both. It was interesting to see the differences between the two tradeshows.

 

Sure there are the obvious similarities of the aisles of graphics, booths and carpeting but it was the differences that stood out as I went from the Las Vegas Convention Center to see grills, drills and staple guns and over to Mandalay Bay Convention Center for fiber optics, clouds and data management.

 

Interop is great for computer networking, technology and security systems but I felt a bit lost understanding the future of IT. This was a show for Windows people and I have always been a Mac man.

 

I always enjoy the NHS for its tools, garden decorations and the latest in garage technology. It is like walking into a huge hardware store without price tags. I understand do-it-yourself projects and I like to know there is new heavy duty cleaning wipes available to help me clean up.

 

What I like about Interop is how well the press is treated. There are plenty of computer stations to file a story and lunch is catered.

 

At the LVCC I had to settle for slice of pizza at the food court but the NHS media relations staff does send out plenty of stories to keep me up-to-date with information.

 

While at the NHS I got to meet NFL Hall-of-Famer Jack Youngblood from the Los Angeles Rams and I took photos of television star and Sears spokesman Ty Pennington. Celebrities always bring attention to a booth.

 

Interop General Manager Lenny Heyman spent a few minutes with me to talk about his show. I also sat down with Michael Kushner, the vice president digital media strategy for UBM Studios, to discuss the future of virtual tradeshows. UBM is the company behind Virtual Comdex and is on the cutting edge of virtual events.

 

I also notice a difference in the noise level of both shows.

 

The Las Vegas Convention Center is a cavernous facility but I had no problem talking with exhibitors and hearing the various presentations being delivered.

 

The exhibitors at Interop, meanwhile, seem to be competing for attention. Every exhibitor must have had a stage with microphones, visual aids, speaker systems and models ready to sit you down for the next presentation. The noise level was a bit much and it was difficult to hear or understand a few of the presentations I sat down to listen to.

 

As for tchotchkes, I walked from Interop away with T-Shirts, USB drives and a small beanie dog. From NHS I received a cap, a tool apron, and toilet cleaning tabs. I also came home with a small MAG-Lite flashlight but I got that from ONPATH Technologies — an Interop exhibitor.

 

This week is aimed at tourism and hospitality with the Hospitality Design Expo Show at the Sands Expo meanwhile over at Aria Resort & Casino in City Center is The Global Travel & Tourism Summit.

 

See you on the floor!