Tuesday, March 14, 2006

CeBIT


This morning Donica and I hopped on the tram and headed to CeBIT, the world's largest information technology fair held here every year in our very own Hannover backyard!



Donica took the day off work in order to hook up with the document-management company that has been used by her pharmaceutical company since 1995. She's the one responsible for upgrades and so spent an hour talking with these guys about what needs to happen next. I tagged along for the ride.



After that, we were footloose and fancy-free to take the rest of the technology by storm. Every little thing from whatever big/little company you could ever hope to put your hands on was at our fingertips. Total gadgetry interaction! While Donica interacted, I took photos.





And yes, I just HAD to get in another Smart car, since it's been on our minds of late, right! Instead of Samsung, I think it should have advertised Mary Kay, but then it wouldn't have fit into the information technology theme. Technically speaking, of course!



Oh yes. Part of my job was to collect the loot! One would think I could have raked in much more than this, for how huge the entire complex was (27 buildings). But I had to beg, borrow and steal for even this! Nothing like what I was used to with my past computer company's vendor shows. But hey, beggars can't be choosers. I got what I got and I'm not complaining. Anyone need a lanyard? Or how about a really loud tooter!



After six hours, we were two tired puppies, let me tell you! But definitely not too tired to stop for ice cream once the tram arrived at our street. We had walked our feet off and didn't even give a moment's thought to high cholesterol or anything else of the sort. Besides, you're supposed to eat dessert first (before dinner)!

So I've been a bit out of it for a Tuesday, when I am normally catching up on the Neighborhood. But now that I'm back I'll start peeking in on y'all. Just knew you'd get a kick outta my technological jaunt, especially throwing in the Smart car!

17 comments:

  1. It's offical. My husband is in love with you for going to CeBIT. He really wishes he could go himself. I may never see him again if he did!

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  2. Dixie: HA. This is really a Donica-thing. She loves stuff like this. So your husband would really love HER, not me. I was glad to go just to say I did it. I would have kicked myself if I hadn't gone.

    Mr. Fab: Yes, a good haul by Germany standards, perhaps. But I've been to these vendor shows where I REALLY got neat stuff: flashlights, post-it pads, clocks, you-name-it!

    Lisa: HA. So you get into this stuff like Donica?? Hannover really is a cool city, especially for stuff like this. I have so many wonderful memories from here. And now you and I share the same pen. How cool is that! I'll make sure I save it out for special use, just for you :)

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  3. Hehe. Well I guess you won't be running out of ink in the coming months ;-) And it looks like the budgets for give-aways is being cut everywhere. Definitely NOT like it used to be.

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  4. Ahhh, I wondered if you were going to go, AND I was just this very minute going to do a post about how I worked at the CeBIT back in 1991.

    Great pictures! I'm going to direct people to your post to get the full effect.

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  5. Don went to a technology fair Friday in Grand Rapids. He didn't bring home ONE freeby. :)

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  6. CS: Ahhh. I hadn't thought about that--the budgets! You may be right. Even though we write less than we used to (those damn computers), those pens do come in handy :)

    Christina: Awww. Like minds and all that! So I assume you'll tell us what you did there. Talk about interactive. Guess you really did/were!

    Ruth: Oh my. Then I really AM lucky!

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  7. Nice to have visited with ya! Aren't all those freeby cool!!!!?

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  8. It certainly looks interesting. Ignorant idiot here, I have never heard of CeBIT before. *hangs head*

    Nice haul:)

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  9. I'm thinking everyone else added in what I would have said already. But I like those pens. I've gotten some of my fav pens from places like that. But look at it this way, at least you didn't come back empty handed! :)

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  10. You're definitely right about that, Expat. I did not come back empty-handed! Truth be known, I want to take the pink tooter somewhere and blow the daylights outta it. Hmm. Maybe at the World Cup soccer game we go to on June 12 between Italy and Ghana here in Hannover--the day before my birthday. Really celebrate, you know :)

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  11. This sounds like it must have been quite a fascinating time - something that I might enjoy, too.

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  12. Gustav: 4 hours! I guess someone would drive that far for toys/gadgets, right :) If you had come, I could have met you!! Maybe I'll see you in Copenhagen when we're on our cruise in May/June. I'll let you know the exact day when we get closer. Wouldn't THAT be fun.

    Tim: Yeah--most guys and many gals (like Donica) love this stuff. I don't personally have a need to go again. Just glad I can say I did it :)

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  13. Great write-up about the fair, that's awesome getting 1st dibs at the latest technologies!

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  14. Gustav: Are you kidding? I had no idea. Well then. I guess that won't work out very easily at all. Whoever would have thought going to Copenhagen would be as far for you (already in Denmark) as going to Hannover in Germany! I do declare.

    James: Hmm. Maybe next year!

    Crystal: Thanks for the comment and for stopping by :)

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  15. Wow, Gustav. Thanks for the visual, which really helps. You WILL be far away and besides, we have only 11 hours total of being docked in Copenhagen, with a 4-hour excursion...then sight-seeing on our own. Oh well, the thought was nice while it lasted :) I'll wave my hand to you while we're there.

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  16. Hi Ginnie,

    this is the tenant from the first floor writing.

    I had no idea you were in Hannover this month! And guess what - I was working at the CeBIT. Being employed by a computer magazine attendance is mandatory. And my loot after five days is not bigger than yours, except I got a couple of T-Shirts. Ugly ones. The link behind my name leads to my two CeBIT cents in my blog.

    Ursula told me I should leave an email address, which I did not think of last time I visited here. One day I'll wake up and wonder where my head is.

    So, if you want to drop me a line:

    turlingdrome at gmx dot net.

    See you in Hannover one day!

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  17. YES, Bettina. We want to meet you! We didn't know what apt. you were in and didn't want to bother Uschi so soon after their vacation. But we'll be back right after Easter and will make sure to see you. Thanks for your e-mail address!

    And to think we could have found you at DeBIT!

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