TechX NY Kicks Off Amid Industry Changes

In 1982, a trade show called PC Expo opened, touting technology products of companies such as Tandy Corp., AT&T; Corp. and IBM Corp.

Although the brand-new IBM PC was the focus of the show, some machines on display were much larger. When AT&T; wheeled in its latest mainframes, the machines were so tall that workers had to build scaffolding for viewers.

Now in its 19th year, PC Expo has been relabeled TechX NY. The personal computer that established the show in 1982 has been eclipsed by other devices.

The conference, closed to the general public, runs Tuesday through Thursday in Manhattan.

The number of attendees grew to 55,000 last year from 10,000 in 1982. This year, 50,000 are expected, along with some 500 vendors who will display everything from microprocessors to software to wireless devices for the home.

This year, the downturn in the PC industry isn’t just reflected in the exposition’s name change. PC vendors have taken a back seat to hawkers of home entertainment products, wireless devices and hand-held computers.

“The show is kind of a misnomer now,” said Mark Dineen, spokesman for CMP Media, the show’s organizer. “As we grew, we became a corporate technology show.”