I had an opportunity this afternoon to check out the new DigitalLife trade show produced by Ziff Davis at the Javits Center in New York City. The show started on Thursday and continues through Sunday.

Everytime I go to the Javits Convention Center I cannot help but remember how Internet World (a show I once owned) used to fill every square inch of the Javits and had revenues of over $17 million. I know that I will never have a show of that size or success again and I know that I should never measure another show by Internet World standards.

However, when I see a show like DigitalLife, all I can do is cringe and wonder what the creators were thinking of when they thought up this idea. Did they think that buyers would be present or did they go through all this effort to attract the metropolitan area school population. A few highlights and thoughts:

1. You walk into the entry hall and it takes five minutes to figure out that registration is essentially a ticket booth kiosk and paying $15.

2. You ask the ticket taker who is attending the show: the answer: "it is for high school kids."

3. You then take a look at the entrance to the hall and you think that you are back at high school and some company has come to school to give away cool t-shirts or other gizmos.

4. You walk the exhibit hall and note that the big draws are booths where one can play games and demo equipment. You look some more and say to yourself that no exhibitor could have done more than $10 worth of business over four-days.

5. You continue walking the hall and become amazed that companies such as Microsoft, Toshiba, BenQ, Intel and others would spend the time and money to be at such a show. I talked to Toshiba personnel and heard: "lots of interest, but no business."

6. You start looking for the booth in which you are scheduled to meet someone and find out that there are no booth numbers, no row numbers and essentially no way to find a booth. Even the show directory does not list booth numbers. Fortunately the show floor is small enough that it only takes three minutes or so to get to my appointment.

There is a big sign at the exit announcing dates for the 2005 show. I wonder if it will take place as I find it hard to believe that any exhibitor would contemplate spending a dime to exhibit again.