I made the annual pilgrimage to the opening day of Computer Faire yesterday, and found that on the face of it, the event is more like a funfair than some funfairs I`ve been to.
The faire`s move from Gallagher Estate to the Sandton Convention Centre means it`s much easier for Sandton-based visitors to get there - if you can find parking, that is. The parking situation was reminiscent of the old Rand Easter Show days, when resigned motorists spent half a day cruising gently along behind pedestrians in the hope that they would be on their way to vacate a parking space. The opening morning at this year`s faire saw similar scenes in the Sandton Square parking garage. Of course, this could simply have been because it was opening day.
Once inside, there was a bustle of crowds, the smell of popcorn, girls with balloons, buskers demonstrating their wares and the "ooh! aah!" factor of the oldest and newest in IT on display. Very much like a funfair.
One crowd-puller is a small display of old business equipment, some of it older than most of the faire visitors. Most notable was a Rank Xerox monster identified as the world`s first plain paper copier, circa 1954. There was also what seemed to be a portable computer that looked like it weighed a ton, and an assortment of diskettes the size of dinner plates. How far we`ve come.
It certainly seemed to have pulled bigger crowds this year - but this could also be because the venue gives the impression of being smaller and more congested than Gallagher Estate.
Tracy Burrows, news editor, ITWeb
On the other hand, the latest IT on show is rather impressive. There`s a 'best of the show` display, as well as a notebook and printer village. Finding them isn`t particularly easy, since the event is spread over two floors of the convention centre and the crowds make it even harder to get your bearings. I encountered several lost souls milling around the centre`s coffee bar between the show floors, wondering where the rest of the exhibition stands were.
The organisers say they`re aiming to grow the event into the "definitive ICTE" event for SA in future. It certainly seemed to have pulled bigger crowds this year - but this could also be because the venue gives the impression of being smaller and more congested than Gallagher Estate. Overall, there is probably something of interest for everyone involved in business and ICT. So, if you like funfairs and you`re in the market for new technology, the faire is the place to be this week.
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