It was highly unexpected that I would attend Consumer Electronic Show. All I needed was an excuse to go to Las Vegas. I really did not know what to expect out of this. I have not been to a trade show since I used to attend the LA Auto shows back in my childhood. When I thought about reporting for this event, I wondered how I can cover CES. Considering this was an industry event, I wanted to give an inside look on cool things I found that most popular press do not get to cover. While I enjoyed Entertainment Weekly's list of cool things at CES, I found it weird they mentioned the Nintendo 3DS when Nintendo did not even have any prescence at the event. The only Nintendo items I found were accessories for the Wii or DS.

Consumer Electronic Show was an educational experience. I grew up in a family that values technology and being ahead of the game. It was really cool to see different gadgets and gizmos that will be available in the near future. It seemed that the top three things that were being popularized at the event were 3D technology in entertainment, tablets and their respective accessories, and designs of various everyday tech like headphones, watches, smart phone covers, and more.

I am often skeptical about the future of 3D in entertainment. I like that 3D is in the planning stages of being implemented in schools to teach science, but the question lies if we have the training to do so and the budget. Schools, especially in California, hardly have any money to burn yet lack the proper resources to better improve a jaded system. 3D was everywhere. 3D televisions, 3D channels, 3D video games, 3D cameras, 3D video cameras, etc. Who knows if this will be a lasting part of our entertainment culture or just a phase.

I enjoyed the fact that CES displayed product design. The Vivitar cameras in their assorted colors looked very vivid and promising. As discussed with several trade show exhibitiors, companies can have great quality products, but at the end of the day, design is a deal breaker when buying a product. Hello Kitty merchindising was everywhere from Hello Kitty DS cases to Hello Kitty iPad cases. Even some retro designs are making a comeback such as the slap on bracelet that was presented as a watch and mp3 player for disance runners.

I enjoyed the focus panels that I was able to catch: Higher Ed Tech, Olivia Wilde, and Blu Ray. These were very informational, especially the Higher Ed Tech event. Many thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for hosting these seminars on technology in the classroom.

CES managed to pull a good show this year. However, I was unimpressed by two things. The first was how the Mashable Awards were handled. Everywhere from print ads, program guides, and the website, CES promoted the hell out of the Mashable Awards and even listed it as an after party event. The Mashable Awards website mentioned free access to the awards show if you were registered for CES. I even have the email that said I could have access to the Mashable Awards, though they denied my party entry. The fact that the Mashable Awards claims that it has no affiliation with CES is bollocks. If this was the case, it should have been made clearer on the website.

The second part of CES that did not tickle my fancy was the so-called official CES party at Tao. While I appreciated being in an exclusive nightclub at no additional entrance expense, there was nothing about this party that made it welcoming for CES attendees other than the free stamp in. There was nothing about it that welcomed CES attendees or made guests feel at home. Instead, we were mixed with hipster regulars. As mentioned on the report, you could easily tell who was there with CES and who was not. If they were well dressed and texting in the back, they were a part of CES.

Vegas is a cool city to visit. Typically, on my reviews, I like to give travel pointers. The first is not to stay at the Imperial Palace. We stayed at the Imperial Palace on the first two nights. They gave us a crap room (avoid the Capri rooms) located behind the parking lot that looked like a renovated Motel 6. However, when we finally upgraded, they gave us a room in the main building, yet even then, the room felt like a Motel 6 quality room. Luckily, we switched to Harrah's after scoring a Black Friday deal. My recommendation is to book your hotels early. CES hotels start at $200. While it's nice to have monorail access and shuttles that go through the strip, any hotel you book will be quite pricey. Just avoid the Imperial Palace. And if Anime Vegas 2010 is any indication, avoid the Alexis Park Resort.

As far as eateries go, Scarlet Rhapsody recommends Carnegie Deli at the Mirage for the best (and biggest!) pastrami sandwiches you will ever have in your life, the Cafe at Harrah's for some tasty late night food, Hash House at Imperial Palace for a hearty breakfast (and perhaps the only redeeming thing about Imperial Palace), Bouchon at the Venetian for the best pasta ever, and KG Burger at Harrah's where Soviet burger eats you.

Overall, CES was very fascinating. There was plenty to see and do at the show. There was plenty of hands on interaction with upcoming products. Not to mention, it's Las Vegas where the nightlife never ends. Until then, we hope to return to CES next year.

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