Windows 7 may add spice to CES

Microsoft is expected to shed light on its upcoming OS

Software could overshadow gadgets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, with Microsoft Corp. expected to shed light on its upcoming Windows 7 operating system.

The financial meltdown may also be lingering topic as tech vendors gather to flaunt products at the show in Las Vegas, hoping to show enough glitter and sparkle to bring them better fortunes in the new year. Attendees will pore over the latest technologies, including OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs, netbooks, smart phones, media players and other entertainment devices.

Audiences may miss the show's perennial star, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who gave his final CES speech last January. Instead, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick off the event with a keynote address on Jan. 7. He's expected to give a peek at Windows 7, which many hope will be zippier and less resource-hungry than Windows Vista.

Microsoft expects to make "significant" Windows 7 announcements, including a possible release of Windows 7 beta software. A "sneak peek" at future Microsoft Office software may also be offered.

A look at Microsoft's future software could add pep to what otherwise might turn out to be a subdued show. Attendance at CES 2009 is expected to drop as consumers and technology vendors cut spending amid the economic crisis. Hotels, which in previous years were often packed months before the show, have been offering discounted rates to fill rooms.

The Consumer Electronics Association insists that preregistration has been strong and says it's too early to call it a quiet show. Organizers expect 130,000 attendees, said CEA spokeswoman Tara Dunion.

However, that would still be a significant drop from 144,000 attendees at CES 2007.

The prospect of a reduced audience hasn't fazed companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Dell from showing products in or around the show. Overall, 2,700 companies will be present at various locations, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding resorts and hotels.

A standout at CES could be netbooks, small laptops used for basic applications such as Web surfing and e-mail. The category was defined by Intel Corp.'s Atom processor and then solidified by the success of Asustek Computer Inc.'s Eee PC. The show could see an evolution of netbooks, with features such as touch screens attracting interest. Asus will likely show a touch-screen netbook, and Intel plans to show off its Convertible Classmate, a netbook with a touch screen that swivels.

Via Technologies Inc.'s elusive Nano processor may also make an appearance. Rumor has it that Samsung Electronics Co. will show its NC20 laptop based on a Nano processor.

Meanwhile, some of Intel's competitors may try to redefine how people think of netbooks by pushing more advanced capabilities. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Nvidia Corp. may talk more about boosting graphics on netbooks. Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. could demonstrate netbooks with more communication-savvy chips.