CeBIT Hannover 2005

For the week and a half of the shows run, the CeBIT flags fly over the Hannover fairground buildings. (SOURCE: eWEEK.com)

The opening ceremony was held at the Hannover Congress Center, which seems to be mostly a concert hall. Although much of Hannover was bombed during World War II, this building remained. It was built in 1914. Oddly enough, there was relatively little se

For the most part, the speeches were boring. But the harpist, here, was the best part. Her playing was tremendous, and the acoustics at the Congress Center sounded awesome to my jetlagged eardrums. She could have played all night — forget the dignitar

Bring out the Chancellor and the Mayor of Hannover, and the TV crews are sure to follow. This reporter could have been dropped into any station in the US, without a change in hair-style or clothes. CNN-chic! (SOURCE: Jim Louderback/eWEEK.com)

Everyone wanted a word, or a shot, of Chancellor Schroder. Note the background — it looks like CeBIT used the same production company as Intel. (SOURCE: Jim Louderback/eWEEK.com)

SAPs founder talked for an interminable time. Its obvious he used to be a professor — I just wish I had a bell to ring to let us out of class early. Hes the Bill Gates of German technology, so the audience was very attentive. (SOURCE: Jim Louderback

So why did one of Germanys top political leaders come to CeBIT? Well it is one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world, but the kind lady at the tourist office offered an alternative expression. It seems that Schroder still lives in Hannover