2007 CES - Partying Like It’s 1999
Most of the 140,000+ people who attend the CES go there for the trade show. Many of them are completely unaware that CES holds some of the most massive parties the world has ever seen. And when you’re name is John Chow and you own The TechZone, Then you get invited to all the parties. Why? Because I’m John Chow! 
Our partying last night started at 5PM and did not end until after midnight. There are after parties still going on but when you go non-stop for 7 hours of eating and drinking, you really do need a break because tomorrow, you’ll be doing all over again!
The 2007 CES was the first year for one of my writers, and as you can imagine he is completely overwhelmed by the attention and lavish gifts companies throw at us. We were invited to 22 parties tonight. Even the wildest of party animals cannot do 22 parties in 7 hours. However, we tried to party hop to as many as we can. Here are some party pics!
5:00PM-6:00PM - Showstoppers Media Party
Our first stop was at Wynn Las Vegas for Showstoppers. Showstoppers is known as a “working party” because you are there to make contacts as well as drink and stuff your face full of food. There are over 100 companies displaying their stuff. The bar is open and the food was better than the Digital Experience party was the night before.
6PM-7:30PM - TigerDirect Build Your Own PC Race
The TigerDirect PC Race was also held at Wynn and is one of the most fun parties of CES. Thirty members of the press race each other to see who can build a PC the fastest. The winner gets $10,000 to give to his or her favorite charity. All 30 PCs are donated to charity as well. The race itself last only 15 minutes. If you cannot finish your PC by then, you are out. The hours leading up to race is just a lot drinking and eating. TigerDirect has donated over $1 million to charities since starting this event 10 years ago. This year I built my PC in 9 minutes 18 seconds, and came in ninth. My advice; don’t drink and build a PC at the same time! You won’t win.
8:00PM-10PM - Verizon Party At Nobu
The Verizon party was held at Nobu restaurant, one of the best sushi restaurants in Las Vegas. What make the Verizon party unique is it features an open sushi bar as well as an open bar. Nobu makes some of the best sushi in the city and I love sushi! It was at the Verizon party that I realized, while sitting outside in the Nubo patio with friends who traveled from all over the world to meet up, that it doesn’t get much better than this.
10:30PM-12:30AM - OCZ Technology Party
OCZ Technology has been a long time TTZ sponsor and their parties are always fun. Held at the Bellagio penthouse, the OCZ party was packed. I really like the OCZ party because the same people who came to my party goes to OCZ party as well, so I know everyone!
I lost track on the number of drinks I consumed or the amount of food I ate. I am sure we will be heading back to Vancouver a lot heavier than when we came. Tomorrow, we do it all over again!
- Posted in Ramblings
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pretty lads arrggggghhhhh
Reply to this commentIs it a serious event or simply a string of parties or what ?
Reply to this commentJohn you are livin’ it up!
Reply to this commentI need to get in on this madness! CES looks unbelievably fun!
Reply to this commentWow, I’m jealous. Looks like a blast.
Reply to this commentWhat was the winning time for the PC building contest?
FT
Reply to this commenthttp://www.MillionDollarJourney.com
Man I’m jealous!! Open sushi bar at Nobu, the Bellagio penthouse…wow! Teach me your ways, John. I need to be a dot com mogul too!!! lol!
Reply to this commentLooks like you had your fun. I came across a website; called cashcrate.com To me its like an extention of agloco but more seems like a scam. I know you talked about agloco on here so I have a favor to ask and thats for you to review cashcrate for us. Thanks
Reply to this commenti am so jealous as well, you are living the dream, meanwhile im about to go to work repairing bicycles…
Reply to this commentOCZ party (chicks) and party at Nobu (sushi) look the best…although I’m certain that with all the opportunities you’ve had to drink, I’m certain I wouldn’t have finished the PC-building contest. “What’s this red button do?”
Reply to this commentJohn did you get Stephen hammered? He looks a bit drunk in those pictures!
I wana know who won the PC contest too. How did your rig do?
I’ve heard soo many stories about CES parties that perhaps one day I’ll be able to take part. Crazy times!
Reply to this commentLast 2 photos are great… we need more pics of that!
Reply to this commentHahaha…remember when I crashed the Showstoppers party after forgetting to get an invite? They always have great food.
Reply to this commenti agree with you Max
more pics
Reply to this commentWonderful pics, lovely hamburgers as well. I’m still hoping I’ll be there one day, too bad it’s quite a travel from Europe, perhaps I’ll try to get to the E3 some time instead
Reply to this comment15 minutes to make a PC??? How can it take longer than 5 minutes?
So, when will you begin posting the stories about the SWAG you’ve been getting?
Reply to this commentI’m sure if you want more pictures like the last two, John will definately post them over at TTZ.
HMTKSteve - Building a PC isn’t to diffcult is it? There can be hickups so a maximum of 15mins isn’t that bad.
It is nice to see TigerDirect do a charitable contest like this. Now if they’re customer service reps would allow us to ship on our FedEx Account we would buy more stuff from them. I’ve had things ‘Fall off the back of the UPS trucks’ and then it takes weeks for them to replace it.
Though I do like Tiger’s Ultra product line.
Reply to this commentThe TigerDirect contest looks really fun. I wanted to build my own pc but then I went with a macbook.
John I have to say you are quite the party animal.
Reply to this commentIt’s pretty funny that they have jerseys and aprons for you the speedy computer creation contest. Looks like you’re having a very fun (and busy) time!
Reply to this commentRaghu - CES is a very serious event. Billions of dollars of sale result from it. CES is also a good reason for many companies to throw a blockbuster party. I’m sure the party budget can pay off the debts of some 3rd world country.
MillionDollarJourney.com - The winning time on the PC Race was 6 min and 47 second by Charlie Demerjian from TheInqirer.net
Tyler - So far, Stephen has been holding out pretty well. He beat me in the PC Race. He came 4th. But he wasn’t drinking and building!
HMTKSteve - Free stuff pics coming soon!
Michael Kwan - We get to keep the jerseys and aprons, as well as the tool kit we used to put the PC together. They even made a John Chow badge for me to stick onto the PC. This way the charity getting the PC knows who built it for them.
Reply to this commentWhat charity are the PCs going for? Do you decide or does TigerDirect?
Also where the specs all similar?
Reply to this commentSure John I understand that - mine was more a statement of ’surprise’ more than anything else.
Waiting for your next post from the event. Have a feeling that it is definitely going to be interesting.
Reply to this commentPardon the unrelated posting…
But did you folks have a look at the iPhone - some snazzy features on it. Apple seems to be going good nowadays…
Reply to this commentI’d like to join the party myself!! But on a serious note, my boss is at CES himself and has made some great business connections.
Can’t wait to see more pics John!
Reply to this commentLooks like fun - Ill be coming out in 08
Reply to this commentWhats the best thing you’ve seen? The 108″ LCD??
Reply to this commentAndy - I just posted the best thing I saw there. http://www.johnchow.com/testing-out-the-booth-babe-cam/
Reply to this commentIt looks like an absolute bash. My goal is to be included in such festivities within the next few years
PS, the girl on the far right in the green dresses is gorgeous
Stew
Reply to this commentRaghu, the iPhone was not at CES. It was at MacWorld in San Francisco.
Reply to this commentOhhh that looks like a freakin ball alright! Good stuff.
Drunken PC building sounds like a recipe for disaster lol. Scour the news after they get donated to charities, and you’ll see news reports of a recent spate of exploding PCs in charities premises
Whats the deal with the last couple of pics? Themed beer wenches? Not that the dude in the last pic looks like hes needing any explanations!
Matt
Reply to this commentThat burger looks so fulfulling. I think that’s why you lost the PC building contest.
Reply to this commentI was a starting to get pretty buzzed during the PC Race. I was loading up during the Showstopper event just before and stopped before the race. I continued to get more plastered after. I built the PC in 7:47 and was a minute slower than Charlie from The Inquirer who won…again. I was totally expecting John to beat me since he’s a veteran of the race, and I’m a first year rookie. Actually, I was expecting to do pretty horrible since I’d never been forced to reassemble a PC under the gun. I looked around the room and thought I was totally out classed. Guess I’m better than I thought!
At the end of the day, a lot of money and PC’s got donated to people that needed them most
Reply to this commentYou remind me of the Amway/Quixtar guy.
Get rich hype and massive egos.
Reply to this commentThat mini hamburger reminds me of the Wendy’s commercial.. Although I’m sure they served several of those.
Reply to this commentMust be great to “roll” like John Chow…We’re workin’ on it, will let you know when we reach that “Chow Status”
(well, we can try…hehe)
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