VIRTUAL TRADE SHOW: THREAT OR MENACE?

Harry Tsao came out swinging: "Trade shows are great, but is it really worth investing a million dollars--once you factor in all costs--to come to Comdex?" Tsao, vice president of marketing for ShowExpo.com, a Pasadena, Calif., company that offers trade show-like service from a Web site, wasn't afraid of telling an audience of show and event managers that computer events were too big, too expensive, and not effective enough at delivering business.