Comdex Is Still Gadgetry's Mother Lode

LAS VEGAS -- Even with its reduced size and deflated importance, Comdex is still a week full of red-letter days for the average geek.

Like Christmas, Thanksgiving and a Microsoft launch all rolled together, Comdex lays acre upon acre of technological wizardry before the awed techie. Laptops are lighter at Comdex. Digital cameras are accompanied by their own miniprinters. The mobile phones stand a little thinner and the booming strains of Madonna tunes bump a few decibels louder from the Microsoft (MSFT Quote) booth than on an average day.

We'll translate the experience for you. We have condensed the wonders of Comdex for the layperson, shedding light on the upcoming holiday season, and the gadgets that will come to fruition later in 2002.

Gimme the works: You've been waiting for almighty convergence for about five years. Finally it's ready to ship to stores. Handspring (HAND Quote) introduced its Treo GSM/GPRS phone and PDA to the Comdex crowd in a marketing flurry. The Treo will come out in the spring with email, short messaging and calling on networks such as Cingular's. ...