The biggest consumer electronics trade show kicked off Thursday as reporters, bloggers, retail buyers and die-hard technology enthusiasts descended on Las Vegas for the International Consumer Electronics Show.
The show, which runs through Sunday, is set to see about 130,000 visitors and 2,700 exhibiting companies, including many from Orange County.
The show is smaller than last year, when some 200,000 visitors attended.
Late Wednesday, many exhibitors scrambled to finish setting up their booths at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Some companies brought out heavy machinery,including forklifts and cranes, to assemble their elaborate lighting schemes, entertainment centers and sets.
The mood on Thursday was more somber this year, owing to the recession.
Lines for cabs were shorter and traffic less congested on The Strip than in previous years.
There has been lots of whispering about some exhibitors pulling out of the show altogether.
That would mean companies were willing to eat the money they already spent on reserving a space on the show floor instead of stretching their already tight budgets by sending workers.
Local companies on hand at the show include Cypress-based Universal Electronics Inc., Irvine’s Vizio Inc., Viewsonic Corp., which is headquartered in Walnut, Irvine’s Broadcom Corp., Fountain Valley’s Kingston Technology Co. and Anaheim’s Targus International Corp.
Despite the weaker economy, CES showed no sign of scaling back its usual buzz-building tactics.
It’s still featuring talks by high-profile chief executives and celebrity appearances by big names in TV, music and sports.
It’s also boasting performances by a handful of musicians, including rapper Akon, Diana Ross and Will.i.am.
One of its most publicized events is likely to be the 18,000-square-foot television set constructed adjacent to Sony Corp.’s booth, where a few installments of long-running trivia game show “Jeopardy!” will be filmed.
The set holds some 500 audience members and its famed gameboard features Sony’s latest high-definition liquid crystal display TVs.
And what would Vegas be without over-the-top parties?
A media event last night at the Mirage featured a 1950s theme, complete with line cooks turning out diner grub and girls in short dresses on roller skates.
There was also a martini bar carved entirely out of ice, old-fashioned jukeboxes and some cool classic cars.
