Computex, the world's second-largest computer show after CeBIT in Germany, opened yesterday with a wide array of novel information-technology (IT) products and hoping to attract a record number of buyers from around the world.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the show features 1,288 exhibitors and 2,853 booths, compared with 1,347 exhibitors and 2,828 booths last year. The organizers expect visitor traffic to hit 140,000, up from 120,000 last year.
Major exhibitors include renowned local companies such as Acer, BenQ and Hon Hai Precision Industry, as well as 169 overseas exhibitors across 350 booths, including Intel Corp, the world's largest chipmaker, and first-time exhibitors such as US-based Nvidia and the Marvell Technology Group, as well as Japan's Fujitsu Ltd and Toshiba Corp.
"Many companies have chosen Computex to launch their new products ... Taiwan has become the focal point of the world because of this event," said Hsu Chih-jen (
One shortcoming of the show, however, is the limited amount of space that has been allotted to exhibitors in recent years. The battle for space will be resolved with the expected opening of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in 2007, Hsu said.
The spotlight for this year's five-day exhibition falls squarely on microprocessors for personal computers. Intel, which last week unveiled dual-core processors that deliver enhanced performance for digital home entertainment, will showcase its products at the exhibition.
Rival firm Advanced Micro Devices is introducing its Athlon 64X2 dual-core processors that target "prosumers" -- technology enthusiasts who purchase high-quality equipment -- and digital media enthusiasts who need to multi-task.
Computex also represents an opportunity for local manufacturers to secure lucrative orders from international vendors.
Total shipments of Taiwanese IT hardware grew 21.8 percent to US$69.6 billion last year from 2003, according to Victor Tsan (
Driving the increase were notebook computers and liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors, which combined with other products such as motherboards and desktop PCs to account for 77 percent of the total at US$55.4 billion, the center's statistics showed.
Frank Huang (黃崇仁), chairman of the Taipei Computer Association, another Computex co-organizer, said Taiwan was full of potential in the area of digital home entertainment, with solid development in semiconductors and LCDs. Another opportunity lies in wait with car electronics, but it would take time to bring about cross-industry collaboration, he said.
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