Kevin Huang, Senior Marketing Director at ASUS, and I were talking about how important it is for OEMs to incorporate feedback from end-users. ASUS is known to many as the #1 motherboard manufacturer and they've been working hard to let people know that they are successful with mobile PCs, and want you to join them in producing the first community designed mobile PC.

ASUS is partnering with Intel on WePC.com, where you can send in your ideas about a dream mobile PC. This banner at ASUS's #ces09 booth shows real concepts. Do you see the one you submitted?

ASUS & Intel are partnering to help bring people's dream PC to reality. Submit your ideas at WePC.com.

Current submissions are displayed on this banner. Many have to do with using PCs in new and modular ways.

Creating the book paradigm -- or breaking the PC paradigm is a repeated design concept.

This user submitted concept will look familiar to those who use convertible Tablet PCs.

More multiple screen, slate, or dual screen concepts.

In looking through the RSVP lists last night, I realized there were several "regular" attendees who had not mentioned they were coming. So, I sent out the following email:

You are invited to attend the annual Tablet & Touch Community Gathering during the 2009 CES. The gathering is hosted by Tablet PC MVPs. Enthusiasts, OEMs, ISVs, IHVs will come together to share information about new products (Tablet PCs, UMPCs, MIDS, Netbooks with touch, etc.), tips on current products, and enjoy meeting people in the community.

Date: Saturday, January 10
Time: 3PM - 6PM
Place: CntrStg suite at the Wynn

Please RSVP by one of the following methods:
1) reply to Lora at ljheiny at hotmail dot com with full names, titles, and email address of attendees
2) Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42206546540
3) Upcoming.yahoo.com http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1405832/

Happy holidays and best wishes for a successful CES.

And what do you know -- so far, twelve people have replied that yes, they are planning to attend. Great news.

If you know people who may be interested in joining us and haven't yet sent in an RSVP, go ahead and use this email note or pass along the Facebook & Upcoming links.

Around 60 people have confirmed they are coming, with an additional 20 maybe. This is slightly higher than the number confirmed on the eve of CES for the last several years. Typically, as people run into each other during the trade show the number of attendees grows. I hope this happens this year too. Please pass along the information.

Thank you to those who have sent notes saying how much you have appreciated attending in the past and are unable to come this year. Everyone understands that circumstances - particularly financial - are different this year.

The good news is that you can attend virtually. We will set up a webcam and stream the event. This way you'll be able to see people, products, and chat. We'll post that live link on Saturday as we're setting up for the event.

We've streamed the gathering in the past - and let's just say the idea was good. We'll be at a location with more reliable internet access this year and that should improve the experience.

Hundreds of vendor press releases are already rolling out as the 2009 International CES show opens this Thursday. Excitement continues to build around concept designs and upcoming products. It becomes easy to think of CES as an overwhelming trade show floor with miles of products, which it is on the surface.

Actually, it is the key industry event for Consumer Electronics in the U.S., including consumer PCs and devices. Distributors, VARs, system builders, resellers, retailers, and partners will be evaluating what trends they can count on to sell to their clients for the next year. Press will be scouring for products that their readers will want to dream about, and hopefully buy soon. Fundamentals will be evaluated: Will customers like it? Will customers value it enough to buy it? Is it affordable? Can it be profitable?

Exhibitors will be watching for what products catch people's attention and what products are criticized despite their sales pitch. Hopefully, they'll be measuring ROI in addition to traffic. Interest does not always equal sales viability. Activity around a campaign stunt does not equal sales potential either.

Though I'll be tempted compare some booths to the last recession Comdex bomb shelter style exhibits, I expect this year to be less hype and more focused than recent years. I'll also be looking for answers to questions, such as:

• Will vendors show their 12-month roadmap, or will they only offer insight into the next quarter or two?
• Are PC and device vendors going to innovate and take risks or hold in 2009?
• How much diversity exists across manufacturers or are they all offering the same thing?
• Are marketing pitches over reaching or can they really deliver?
• Are vendors ecosystem building or shutting themselves off?
• What needs do attendees express?

Ultimately, CES is a great networking event with opportunity abound for forming new partnerships, ways to share and communicate critical information to help companies through economic downturn. I hope to see considerable interaction between companies vs retreating. I hope to see openness about product plans and consideration for feedback.

Of course, I'll also be looking at what chipsets and microprocessors are selected, what products have great consumer design, what products exhibit great use of natural interaction - like Tablet & Touch Technology. Afterall, it is CES :)

What trends will you be looking for?