CES 2005: The Innovative and the Strange

If you like gadgets, then CES 2005 was the place to be. Temporarily transformed into a geek paradise, Las Vegas served as the annual venue for more than 100,000 attendees and companies from around the world, amidst miles of booths with the latest and greatest gear that the electronics world has to offer. This year, CES also served as a haven from the rain and snow that pelted Las Vegas during the show.

Since Comdex has died, or at least gone into a long-term coma, CES has also emerged as an even more humongous show. As a result, it was even harder to get from one end of the show to the other. Even with several editors on hand for days, we left convinced that there were many booths that we never got to see.

Meanwhile, we also wondered this year whether or not CES has begun to lose its focus due to its size. Some of the gadgets are what you would expect from a show like CES, such as MP3 players, media players and television sets. However, other gadgets almost defied explanation, so we put in them in a special section at the end of this article. While it may be unreasonable for CES to stop fringe product vendors from displaying their wares, we think CES may be on the verge of an identity crisis.

Creative Labs - Left Jab And Right Hook To Apple

In the MP3 player war, it is the consumer that reaps all the benefits, with lower prices and more features per device. Creative Labs, for example, hasn't taken Apple's iPod Mini success lying down, and has come out with its Creative Zen Micro. This tiny player comes in 10 colors and weighs less than four ounces.

The front panel uses LED technology for a nice bright blue glow. Five GB of storage is on par for the mini MP3 player market. The unit has FM radio and can record FM Radio and voice.

The battery lasts up to 12 hours and you can purchase additional batteries for $39.99. The Zen Micro is available now for $249.

Creative officials showed us their Photo Micro. Apparently, the CEO just dropped it in their laps, right before the show. The design is the same as the Zen Micro, except that it has a little OLED screen to show pictures. This player will retail for $299.