What was Comdex before it was shut down in the early 2000s?

Comdex, affectionately known in the industry as “Geek Week,” was founded by The Interface Group in 1979. Quickly rising to prominence, Comdex (Computer Dealers’ Exposition) became one of the world’s largest computer trade shows – second only to CeBIT – and was frequently cited as one of the largest trade events in any industry.

Following its inaugural event in 1979 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Comdex held approximately 185 expos internationally, from Las Vegas to Amsterdam, over the subsequent decades.

Initially, Comdex was an exclusive gathering for industry insiders, offering demonstrations and exhibitions of the latest computer components, peripherals, software, and emerging technologies. It became a major platform for companies to launch groundbreaking products, such as Microsoft’s early versions of Windows.

In the late 1980s, however, Comdex began opening its doors to the general public. This strategic shift significantly increased attendance numbers but also diluted the event’s original business-oriented focus, causing industry giants like IBM, Apple, and Compaq to withdraw their participation by the time of the dot-com bubble in the late 1990s.

Ownership of Comdex changed hands multiple times after 1995, creating additional uncertainty and contributing to the show’s decline. After reaching a peak attendance of around 200,000 visitors in the year 2000, attendance sharply declined to just 40,000 attendees by 2003.

Facing declining interest and competition from the more consumer-oriented Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Comdex ultimately canceled its flagship Las Vegas expo in 2004, marking the end of an era and effectively conceding its position to CES.