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photo archive: 89.8
description: Virtual Reality section of the Salon de l'Autoroute
Electronique
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info: (514)990-7787
Progress Report
DRAFT EDITION
revised 960307
Event: Le Salon de l'Autoroute Electronique
Date: February 2,3,4 1996
Location: Stade Olympique / Olympic Stadium
Montréal, Qc
Attendance: ~15,000 people traffic during 3day period
Our location: 10x20ft. area at Kiosk #282
Production: Animé de Montréal
This document will contain observations that I have made during
the 3day event. Hopefully I will be able to distinguish strong
points to emphasize or enhance, and make necessary changes if
required, for a next future, to best implement key goals and objectives.
About Montréal.
The city of Montréal has a unique computing scene. Completely opposite from the fast paced Silicon Valley, potential buyers shop for value and common sense. People become skeptic when it comes to spending thousands on a brand new computer. If people cannot find a cost effective computing solution to their needs, they end up not purchasing a computer at all. Also, the "lowest price in town" has become a phrase that people stay away from, as now both price and quality by common sense, has become the key role of determining affordable purchases. Many people believe the entire Windows95/Pentium thing is all one big hype. Pentium CPU prices are stable, while RAM and 486 CPUs continue to drop.
"What did Gigagon tell people about us?"
When people asked us "what is a network?", this was what we told them.
Each computer here is like a radio station. It's broadcasting all sorts of things. It's broadcasting so that the other computers can listen to it. Every computer broadcasts to the entire network. So, at the same time a computer is broadcasting, it's also receiving from the other computers. It must do this spontaneously all at the same time, both broadcasting and listening. When a computer listens, it knows exactly which computer is broadcasting whatever.
It might be better to think of network as a group of people, and each one of them is carrying a walkie talkie radio.
A network is a cluster of devices linked together in some form or another. We use 3Com Etherlink III ethernet cards. This small cluster of four computers we have here, are all sending and receiving information packets to and from one another. They are processing error-free data at 10 Megabits per second. 3Com cards are also available in Fast Etherlink 100 Megabits per second.
And don't you think that big blue flag is nice?
"What did Gigagon tell people about us?"
When people asked us "Who is Advanced Micro Devices?", this was what we told them. AMD has been making fast computer chips for desktop PCs for a very long time. They have their history in making the fastest 286 chip and the fastest 386 chip. AMD has always been one step ahead of iNTEL. While iNTEL stopped at the dx4/100Mhz, AMD has rocketed to the 133Mhz - which costs less. The AMD 133Mhz is faster than the Pentium 75, and almost as fast as the Pentium 90 - but at only half the price. AMD 100/133Mhz CPUs will run all Windows/DOS/Win95 applications, and will effortlessly satisfy system hungry video games that recommend Pentium systems.
AMD products are reliable as they are impressive. AMD shows how faster can mean better. AMD makes real chips for the real world, that are cost effective now. While iNTEL Pentium's are affordable tomorrow, AMD is affordable today.
"What did Gigagon tell people about us?"
When people asked us "What is this video game?", this was what we told them. This is Descent from Interplay Productions. They are among the top in the multi-million video gaming business. Descent is a multi-player type game. This means all these computers here, are all connected to one anther, and exist in the same virtual universe. In Descent, your computer is a small space craft. In the network, your computer will tell the others where it is, its orientation, and what it is doing. At the very same time, the other computers tell your computer about themselves, such as the location and whereabouts of their space crafts. Eventually, some of you will meet. This is where you blast your opponent away into hell! Real time interaction is the new wave. Multiplayer means you are playing real-time against other real people, and not the robot computer.
You can play head-to-head Descent with another friend if you have a modem. You can play multi-player Descent with a modem, if you have internet access. Playing with other players on the internet, means challenging some of the best cadets in the world!
The Descent CD-ROM is available in all software stores in this city.
"What did Gigagon tell people about us?"
We used the Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 in our machines. A recognized standard for video games, the Sound Blaster 16 is the only sound card needed. Plug-and-Play means easy installation. The Value 4xCD kit is a good idea since the CD drive will be 100% worry-free with the Sound Blaster 16. You need a Sound Blaster 16 to really show off your desktop PC!
"Why Gigagon can represent our products at trade shows."
The quality of 3Com surpasses the rest in the field of the 10Mbps and 100Mbps ethernet and tokenring networking. However, every year passes as more and more import and generic novell compatible combo cards hit the market. The result is in poor quality cards that can be purchased for a fraction of 3Com cards. These cheap combo cards usually meets the needs and expectations to make a local network for the customer, but disasterous when these cheap cards fail.
We want to show people why anyone wanting to get into networking, no matter how small of a job required, that they should buy 3Com.
3Com cards don't short out when a COAX cable is snagged. 3Com cards don't have lights in the back that blip and blink chaotic without reason. 3Com delivers information packets quick and without error. 3Com is what is demanded for real-time information procession, where hundreds of Megabits are at stake every second.
As computers become cheaper and offer more for the dollar, micro networks and small clusters of machines that require etherlink become more common, especially in the small office. Popularity of Windows for Workgroups and the networking properties of Windows95, allows a very affordable alternative to those of Novell Netware. This means more computers will indeed be locally networked as time comes.
"Why Gigagon can represent our products at trade shows."
Advanced Micro Devices tell people that they have what people need; right here and right now. AMD's unsurpassed quality in making some of the most powerful chips for "today's" computer, a computer that performs to meet the requirements of today's needs.
The competitive market has forced many resellers to only sell items that are in the extreme, such as powerful Pentium systems, and spend little emphasis on 486 systems that already meets today's multimedia and internet world. High price tags for expensive systems are a turn off for the consumer that wants to spend as little as possible. This consumer becomes lost in the vast array of computing world, and turns away from purchasing a computer - without realizing the consumer can already buy what they can already afford, a solution that will meets their needs. A lot of people are putting off from upgrading or buying a new machine, from the fact they believe that iNTEL Pentium is the only answer, and are unaware that AMD is the correct solution for them.
Resellers should be convinced that sales can increase as a result of this shift in stability towards the lower end of the consumer market, the conscious and value seeking buyer.
"Why Gigagon can represent our products at trade shows."
Perhaps the entertainment market is so big, that sometimes we ignore the smaller areas that are left alone, only waiting for saturation to fills its place. Interactive entertainment is for everyone, any person, any age. Video games continue to stay secluded in retail stores, and are targeted by only those that are aware of them. We leave out the ones that continue to believe "I don't have time for things like these...". Being able to absorb into the potential market by creating localized awareness and exposure, should be a key goal here.
Virtual reality centers and internet cafés continue to pop-up in major metropolitan cities worldwide, many offering the chance for one to "Doom-it-out against your mortal friends". Interplay has product that is ready for the changing world of demanded virtual reality, an industry that is not only self supportive, but revenue generating.
"Why Gigagon can represent our products at trade shows."
Creative Labs is the name people hear when a multimedia computer is to exist. People should now begin to hear what else this sound dominant company has to offer.
Great products like Phone Blasters with DSVD technology, and the still-very-new ShareVision PC3000 for small desktop video conferencing, are things that still require exposure to the consumer. DSVD technology is a new standard in data communications for voice and data to simultaneously transmit and receive on a POTS telephone line, this can benefit the consumer and commercial world. ShareVision video conferencing is a cost-effective means of specialized communication that easily rivals more expensive dedicated video conferencing equipment, this is an idea that needs to be integrated as a norm in the commercial world.
If people were to see a live demo of it, the product would almost sell too easily!
Concluded observations.
Objectives:
How objectives can be reached:
Why Gigagon:
We are hoping you will be able to provide some support along with us in the future coming.
Gigagon. Total reality.
The Gigagon Corporation
Reasons to continue onward...