I really missed the good old days of Computer Fest……
A couple years ago, me and my dad used to attend a special sale every year on some bargain hunting because I was very proactive in computers (and still have) in my life time. That’s why we went to Computer Fest, a three-day event that is held at either the Automotive Building (since been converted into a convention centre) at the Exhibition Place in Toronto and the International Centre in Mississauga. In the past, Computer Fest used to host four shows of the year, the following is a run down on the two venues on where the shows were held:
International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario:
- Spring (sometimes it is held there in either March or April)
- Christmas (usually somewhere before the end of November)
Automotive Building at Exhibition Place:
- Fall (usually held before the end of September)
- Winter (usually held in February)
Many vendors set up their stands into a flea-market like atmosphere and customers went to look for a specific part (like motherboards, video cards, routers, books, etc.) and such. The first number of customers who get in line early get a free gift – in the form of a computer software program or a book. They tend to sell out very very quickly. I vaguely remember the days when me and my dad spend some quality time together looking at some computer stuff and now that I’m more advanced, i’m ready to take to the next level. There are also some gaming areas in which many gamers play in a tournament environment and fight against people in a LAN-party. Apart from there, counseling-like areas are set up in which a person who is very knowledgeable in computers discuss in a one-on-one basis to the customer about what the user should do (for example, “I want to share multiple computers in my house”)
Anyways, back to my story – sometime in 2004/2005, the show was axed from four shows to two shows, due to a “partnership dispute”. In its place are two shows: Compusale (which is essentially run by the same organizers) and Super Computer Sale (a mobile event in which organizers arrange with specific vendors to set up at a public place – like a hotel lounge). The last time that I went to Compusale was at the National Trade Centre at Exhibition place back in 2005. At that time, I was heavily listening to my punk rock tunes a lot and taking college prep courses in high school. I still remember those days…
With the advent of the internet and heavy aggressive competition from many local computer stores and also big-box outlets, the need for Compusale, Computer Fest and Super Computer Sale has made them redundant. The last time that Super Computer Sale was held, it was back last year. It hasn’t been brought back ever since.
Oh the memories of the Computer Fest. It may have been gone, but it has never forgotten. You might often see some computer stuff the next time you go to your local flea market on the weekends. As always, be careful on what you are buying.
References:
http://www.ehmac.ca/everything-else-eh/24403-review-toronto-compusale-march-2005-a.html
