Before going to IFA 2019, my first time, I heard many people tell me that it was the "CES of Europe". I took it for cash, I really had no reason to doubt it. I know that CES is a great tech show where all the major brands present a range of radical products that will probably never see the light of day, but still manage to spark the imagination of the tech world.
And, even if there were quality products, the Lenovo Yoga C940, for example, could follow the promise made by Intel at Ice Lake: nothing has affected the planet. For example, where are all the great gaming laptops that CES 2019 had to offer? New computer components? Where were the strange new televisions?
The beginning of my sailing nightmare at IFA 2019
(Image credit: future)
unfinished
This lack of excitement was not helped by the fact that the series is an impossible to navigate mess. I understand that almost all convention centers were designed by someone who was clearly inspired by Mr. C. Escher, but at least most of the time, the show ended before being greeted by jet-lagged journalists.
It didn't help that many of my appointments during the week were in the middle of a convention that was still under construction. I'm not afraid to admit that I spent my first days at the Berlin Technology Show completely lost.
However, all the hassle of navigating the confusing showroom would have been worth it if she had a glimpse of the future. I've seen a lot of new products at IFA 2019, many of which really seem like a great option for many people. But while these devices are technically coming out in the future, that didn't seem like the future.
At least I got a chance to see PC cabinets
(Image credit: future)
What is even the future then?
Basically what I want to say is that IFA 2019 was just... kind of there. I didn't see anything that disturbed my worldview, making me think of a new world where I could finally realize some of my dreams.
Thinking of the many announcements made over the past week, there are certainly some impressive products, but even these weren't enough to get me excited.
The Razer Blade Stealth (Late 2019), for example, is an update to a computer that I already like very much, bringing real graphics power to the computer for the first time. However, it is more of a technology that catches up with the initial promise of the laptop when it was launched three years ago.
Then Intel announced the release date for the Intel Core i9-9900KS processor. Intel desperately needs a desktop processor that can put AMD back in its place, but rather the departure of a slightly overclocked Intel Core i9-9900K processor. Now obviously I haven't had a chance to bang this piece of silicon on a bench to see if it destroys the Ryzen 9 3900X, but I can't hold my breath. .
I've seen Asus and Acer laptops with 300Hz displays, which is definitely a first. We've had high-refresh rate displays for some time, though, and at least personally, the switch from 24Hz to 300Hz doesn't seem like the most important technological advance. And honestly, it seems a bit excessive for a laptop.
But of course we can't forget the Acer Predator Thronos Air, a slightly lighter version of a ridiculous gaming chair that was announced a year ago and still costs € 14,000. There are probably people who think it's exciting, and I'm not here to rain a parade, but I really don't see the point, especially when you can buy a car for the same amount.
It may not be new, but I love this Razer Stealth Blade.
(Image credit: future)
You should relax
At the end of the day, it's probably not a big deal that there weren't any disruptive announcements at IFA 2019. But I still love the technology, which is why I suffer from these trade shows in the first place. . You may well have seen something at IFA that made your head stand on end and you thought "what are they talking about?" I understand that and I am very happy for you if it is the case, maybe I missed something.
But, I still can't shake the feeling that the computer world is a bit bland right now. Most of 2019 has been filled with pretty risky tech, from AMD, which boasts the processor throne at Computex 2019, to Asus' ROG Strix mothership, which is on our minds. . It is quite possible that I am so used to an unusually exciting time that this relatively quiet period gives me the impression of being trapped in a technological desert.
Anyway, I'm sure that will change. IFA 2019 felt calm before an exciting technological storm. And I can't wait to see what happens around the corner.