News Analysis: Everybody knows that tablets, smartphones, laptops, TVs and mobile gadgets of all kinds will abound when the Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las Vegas on Jan. 6. It's time to look at what won't happen at the event.
The
Consumer Electronics Show has become extremely important for the global
technology industry. It's no longer just a show for the latest consumer
gadgets. It's the place where manufacturers, international media outlets,
retail buyers and so many other stakeholders go to find out what the future
will look like for the industry over the next year.
Now
even enterprise IT managers have to pay attention because a lot of what debuts
at the show will soon require corporate support of one kind or another.
As
with previous years, this CES-taking place Jan. 6-9 in Las
Vegas-will have a theme. CES 2011 will focus
most heavily upon tablets. Companies ranging from Toshiba to Motorola and
others are expected to show off their iPad competitors. It's certain that
Google's Android platform will have a significant role in many of those
products. There is also speculation that the show will be home to new 4G
smartphones from Verizon, as well as a slew of 3D televisions that companies
hope consumers will jump on this year.
But
there will also be several things that won't happen at this year's CES. And it's
the absence of certain companies and products that are detailed below.
1.
Netbooks
If
there is
any
product category that won't make a splash at CES this year, it's netbooks.
The lightweight computers were expected to be the next big thing when 2010
started, but a year later, they're being ousted by tablets. In 2011, expect
netbooks to be practically eradicated from store shelves as most vendors opt
for tablets and lightweight notebooks to replace them.
2.
Apple
As
is its custom, Apple will not appear at CES this year. That means the company
won't be at the Las Vegas show to
unveil a new iPad, talk about the Mac App Store launching on Jan. 6 and more.
It's unfortunate that one of the top tech companies won't be at the biggest
tech event of the year, but that's Apple's way. It won't change its ways for
anyone.
3.
A Microsoft tablet
When
Microsoft
CEO Steve Ballmer takes the stage at CES on Jan. 5, many believe he will
talk about a new version of Windows designed with tablets in mind. At least for
now, that seems awfully likely. In any event, Microsoft won't be unveiling a
tablet of its own. For one thing, it's not Microsoft's method. It prefers to
make the software and rely on vendor partners to develop the hardware.
Secondly, it might send the wrong signal, making Microsoft look like an
Apple-wannabe. In today's marketplace, that's something that Microsoft isn't
keen on doing.
4.
A Google tablet
If
Microsoft won't be unveiling a tablet of its own, Google won't either. Like
Microsoft, Google simply provides the software to vendors and doesn't
necessarily want to get into the hardware business. Granted, it has offered
Google-branded smartphones, but Google isn't in the business of being Apple in
the tablet market. And that won't change any time soon.
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