CeBIT - the show goes on. But stops today

It's a useful summary and we agree with him on what the main highlights of the show were.

CeBIT is such a massive show that it's almost impossible to see it all, even if you could face trekking round the many halls for days and days.

Here's an interesting factoid which might cast light on how vendors view the show.

If you've a medium sized stand, we were told by two well known industry players, separately, the overall cost including stand, manning and taking space costs between $200,000 and $300,000.

You've really got to sell a lot of product to justify that. In the glory daze of CeBIT, the vendors were able to spend this kind of money because sales and profits were high, it allowed them to meet every industry partner and quite a few customers, and the worldwide press contingent was a horde, rather than just the few barbarians who doggedly still turn up.

Over 600 Taiwanese firms - small, medium and large - tipped up to exhibit everything from connectors to server systems.

There's no question that the organisation of CeBIT is excellent, the facilities are extensive, the press office and the facilities offered to hacks is second to none. But justifying a $300,000 spend must cause some tugging of wispy beards and scratching of thinning hair amongst the beancounters.

Here's the excellent summary of CeBIT 2003 at Ace's Hardware. And here's our own coverage. µ