It’s all about queuing. Queuing to register. Queuing to get into meetings, a 30 minute queue to get into ‘CES Unveiled’ on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and then a very long queue to get a taxi back to the hotel.
The most disappointing queue was for the Toshiba 10am press conference because after queuing for 20 minutes, and getting to the door of the meeting room, the Toshiba people said the room was full, and No we couldn’t have the press kit until the meeting was over and there might not be enough to go round anyway.
So about 100 disgruntled hacks and analysts go off to wait for the 11am Philips press conference. Philips manage it much better. They let everyone in 20 minutes before starting time so they do start on time. The only trouble was they didn’t have much to say.
There was anther long queue for the Sharp press conference but, as foreign hacks go to the door, they were told the meeting was for US journalists only. That disgruntled a few hundred more journos.
An hour before the 2pm Samsung press conference a rumour goes around that they’re beginning to queue for that. A flurry is created but fortunately the rumour turns out to be wrong.
The biggest queue is for Bill Gates. Over 3,500 people are going in to hear him. Someone shrewdly arranges for drinks to be brought round to the queuers so, by the time they get into the hall, they are chatty and full of bonhomie, instead of being fractious and resentful.
The investment in alcohol pays back quickly. Every Gates quip is greeted with loud laughter, and even trivial demonstrations of Vista’s capabilities, like moving screen savers, are met with rounds of applause.
We British think we are the world champion queuers, but the Yanks do it well too, uncomplaining and patient and the Asians were particularly philosophical, some sitting on the floor and fiddling with super-complex cellphones.
I must say I did refuse to join one queue. The queue for the gents at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. There are some limits.
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