Close Competition

You’d think Kingston Technology, the Fountain Valley-based maker of computer memory products, would have some pull when it comes to getting a choice Comdex location.

After all, Kingston is 80% owned by Softbank, a giant Japanese company that owns Comdex.

But there was Kingston last week, its booth butting right up against that of Viking Components, the Laguna Hills-based company that is one of Kingston’s chief competitors.

Comdex organizers usually go to great lengths to make sure that even small fry companies don’t have to put up with situations like that.

John Tu, president of Kingston, dismissed the matter. “I don’t mind,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t raise such a trivial issue with Softbank executives.

But Kingston employees had stronger opinions.

“We were pretty [upset] about it,” said one employee working in Kingston’s booth.

“Softbank owns us. Why would they put our competitor right there?”

Viking employees said the situation was the result of a last-minute location switch.

The company had booked a smaller booth elsewhere in the Las Vegas Convention Center, but when a larger space became available, the company took it, even though it was next door to Kingston.