Keynotes and panels give attendees a comprehensive overview of the state of the white box industry.

THG readers know that an "off the shelf" computer system rarely hits the mark for specific needs. Whether you're a hardcore gamer or CAD draftsman, you'll really never get the exact machine you need by running to Radio Shack or ordering from one of the major mass-production vendors - online or off. The main reason for this, of course, is that mass production machines target broader markets. In other words, you'll be stuck buying a machine that the vendor assumes will be appropriate for both gamers and CAD draftsman alike, or any other combination of capabilities the vendor decides to put into a single box. Here is where the white box market comes in.

In a nutshell, the "white box" market is characterized by generally smaller computer manufacturers that build machines designed to perform the exact task you or your company needs to accomplish. The white box market includes custom computer and network builders, makers of add-on or upgrade products and sellers of "barebones" systems to which all required components and software are then added.

System builders, resellers and white box OEMs alike were the target audience at Making Hardware Pay in 2004, an inaugural event presented by THG in collaboration with CMP Media's XChange Conferences. CMP Media's XChange events are intended to give executives, vendors and distributors an opportunity to meet face-to-face, explore new markets, identify new revenue opportunities and discuss critical market issues and trends.

Making Hardware Pay in 2004 was intended to give participants in the white box business the tools they need to succeed in this competitive market - including identifying new opportunities and markets driven by technological advances, rethinking the market to remain a viable player and planning for and investing in new technologies and products to ensure future success.

The keynote addresses, vendor demos, classes and panel discussions conveyed this need-to-know information in a way that was interesting, eye-opening and educational.