The Word From Comdex 2001

By Joe Caponi, CRN
November 16, 2001 2:50 PM ET

It may have been the smallest Vegas Comdex in a decade or more, as Bob DeMarzo's column and a host of reader comments can attest, but this week's show in Las Vegas nonetheless provided a stage for technology leaders to showcase their wares and prognosticate the future. Some of the highlights:

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates opened Comdex by promising, "the best is yet to come" in the upcoming "Digital Decade."

Cisco CEO John Chambers echoed that optimism, promising that companies would implement technology at ever-increasing rates.

Sounding a cautions note, EDS CEO Dick Brown warned America is vulnerable to an electronic Pearl Harbor.

Handspring chairman Jeff Hawkins belittled Microsoft's Tablet PC, while touting his company's Treo, a combined cell phone, PDA and pager device.

Tech Data's Steve Raymund called for a quick settlement--one way or the other--to the HP/Compaq merger, noting that uncertainty about the deal was hurting the market.

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison took his own shots at Microsoft, citing the power and security of his Oracle 9i database.

Novell renewed its commitment to the channel, citing a tenfold increase in channel co-engagements in ten months.

Toshiba's U.S. boss, Rod Keller spelled out his plans to turn around the struggling computer maker.

IBM's Sam Palmisano shrugged off the HP/Compaq merger, suggesting IBM lead the way in combining services, middleware, software and hardware ten years ago.

EBay CEO Meg Whitmann made her pitch for the IT industry to embrace eBay as a new sales channel.

CRN honored Douglas Engelbart, Judy Estrin, Grace Hopper, Robert Noyce, Mort Rosenthal and Philip Zimmermann at their Hall Of Fame Gala, and saluted this year's

Top 25 executives in their special issue.

Other News

In a call with Wall Street analysts, HP CEO Carly Fiorina once again defended the HP/Compaq merger saying it is the best way to "grow and deliver the value our shareowners, customers and employees expect and deserve."

Leapin Leonids!

This Sunday, it just might be worth it to get up reaaaally early. Even if the reality falls short of predictions, the Leonid meteor shower should arrive in dramatic fashion sometime around 5 a.m. ET. Thirty-five years ago, in astronomically similar circumstances, some observers saw as many as 40 meteors per second (yes, a second) for about 20 minutes. Even the weather looks accommodating here in the northeastern U.S. If nothing else, you may want to look out your window Saturday night to see if you spot any early arrivals.

Foresight

VARBusiness honors twenty Visionaries in its next issue, going online this evening. CRN examines Symantec's strategic shift away from best-of-breed products to a broadbased security offering.

I'm on the road next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

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