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The annual rite known as the Fall Comdex show got underway last night with Mr. Gates' usual opening address. But instead of taking over the MGM Grand's 17,000 seat arena, the keynote was held in the Aladdin Casion and Resort's significantly smaller 7,000 seat theatre. Tickets were easy to come by, too, unlike previous years where getting one was a prized as having a winning lottery ticket.

Unlike the ubiquitous spam that promises us bigger and wider, the mantra of Comdex's new management is smaller and narrower. The show promoter's spin is that Comdex is returning to its business-to-business roots, in order to make it easier for serious buyers and sellers to do business.

And it certainly seems that way, given that attendees will supposedly have to meet certain qualifications to get free access to the exhibits floor, or pay $50 for the privilege. Intended to deter the grab-and-stuff shopping-bag crowd, this policy may keep attendance down to the 50,000 that is being forecast. Or it may just be more spin, to set expectations low, and then hopefully beat them.