So I went to NAB for a short while this year, and I thought I’d post a little gripe. If there are any manufacturers listening. DON’T SHOW GEAR YOU DON’T HAVE. I am sick to death of seeing “Empty Boxes” at trade shows. I realize this is a competitive business, and everyone wants to be the first on the block with the cool new stuff, but ‘fer cryin’ out loud.

A certain company (I have to work in this business too) was, yet again showing another empty box. The last “empty box” didn’t turn into a a “full box” for 2 years after it was first seen at a trade show. (And it still doesn’t work very well). I talked with many manufacturers, and many of them showed me cool stuff that was under development, but these devices weren’t on the floor, looking like real products. They were shown to a handful of people who were told, in no uncertain terms, that they were looking at a product that was under development, and made no promise of ship dates, or added functionality. One manufacturer didn’t show me the box at all, and was very honest about not being able to ship, and therefore not being able to show.

He deserves an award.

Maybe next year I’ll bring my own empty box. It’ll do everything I can think of, cost next to nothing, and have it’s own sliding ship date. I wonder who can build that for me.

If you can’t ship it, don’t show it.