Computex 2010: It's just bizarre
Last week's Computex 2010 from Taiwan had just about everything: protests, strange costumes, and lots of booth babes. It also had the latest technology, of course.
Given the enthusiasm over Apple's iPad you would expect the event to be positively groaning under the weight of tablets — it wasn't. While Asus announced three new models and Intel showed off its new tablet designs behind closed doors, they were actually quite hard to find on the show floor.
Also, though 3D was on display, we didn't think it was as big a deal as in previous trade shows, but we did see our first 3D consumer camera, and gee does the technology scare us.
Read on for some of the high and lowlights of this year's event. Starting with this sheepish-looking guy...
Previous coverage: John Morris: Year of the tablet?, Gallery: Laptops, tablets, and more (photos).
Photos and captions: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
The recent troubles at the Foxconn factory were sure to manifest themselves somehow. On opening day, about 30 protesters stood outside the main hall in Nangang for an hour protesting the treatment of workers with placards and pictures of loved ones.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
And back to the ludicrous. Ten metres away from the protesters, and seemingly oblivious to the goings-on, stood the first of many "booth babes". You can even see the crowd reflected in the window.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
Computex 2010 is the 30th anniversary of the event, which this year attracted 1700 exhibitors and over 35,000 buyers.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
The number one complaint we hear about 3D is that people hate the glasses. Way to go Nvidia, you made them even bigger!
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
The Asus NX90 is a premium desktop replacement, which features sound by Bang & Olufsen and comes with a unique mirrored, dual-touch-pad surface for "DJ-like multimedia control".
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
A 3D technology demo featuring three wrap-around screens in 3D. The next best thing to virtual reality.
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Asus' flexible OLED tablet prototype.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
Further ostentation in the form of Asus' latest Lamborghini laptop, the VX7.
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A Thermaltake booth babe gets out her ban hammer.
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Dancing in tandem was a very popular activity.
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Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) tech gets a boost with 30 new models releasing this year including devices from Dell and MSI.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
Greased Lightnin'! Designed by the BMW team, Thermaltake's striking Level 10 computer case is a Computex award winner. After a paint job it's ready for a street race through the drains of Los Angeles in a bid to win Sandy's heart.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
Overclocking is a serious business. Here, an enthusiast adds liquid helium (!) to wring a couple more megahertz out of a piece of silicon.
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Antec's new Lanboy Air gaming case is based on the revolutionary Skeleton "case" and is entirely modular. Essentially consisting of a frame and removable sections/panels users can alter it pretty much how they see fit.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
A scantily-dressed woman with a Mio "tattoo" holds up one of the company's GPS units.
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Giant. Stuff.
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Playing a first-person shooter with a laser gun at the IDTI stand. Not sure what the slogan "Never Lose The Touch" has to do with anything.
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The official Computex opening ceremony featured more ladies — strangely with clothes on.
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The Aiwi is an innovative control mechanism that allows you to use the iPhone and iPod Touch as "a Wii-like" controller for PC. No word on supported games as yet.
Good thing it includes a rubber case — flinging our iPhone across the room is not our idea of a good night out. A wrist strap would be better, though.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au
Antec's new e-reader the LumiRead L600 features a 6-inch display, 3G connectivity and 2GB of on-board memory, plus expandability.
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Is it just us, or does the disembodied head creep you out?
Dear God, it's the demon child! Don't look into its eyes!
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Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man's favorite "case" — from the Gigabyte stand.
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Vegas, Enermax's friendly robot, doesn't actually do anything but blink bright lights at you. A bit like the real Vegas.
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Someone get Bill Gates Jr on the phone!
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Thor is a popular guy at the moment — what with crashing into the desert in Iron Man 2 and everything — and here he stands overlooking Thortech's PC power supplies.
Credit: Ty Pendlebury, CNET.com.au