This happens to me every year - and, from past experience, I should know better.

Every year I attend the annual PCXpo computer trade show (which is now part of TechXNY) with mouth-watering anticipation. And for the past few years I have been sorely disappointed.

This has always been the East Coast show I've looked forward to, where I can get a glimpse of what's new and cool in the industry. But what happens when "new and cool" don't show up?

In fact, you know that the bloom is off the rose when the hottest item on the show floor is a digital phone and two of the most innovative geek toys were demonstrated at hotels and events unrelated to the show.

Exhibitors only filled half of the available space on the second floor of the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, with DV Expo East, another trade show, taking up most of the space on the first level during the first two days of the three-day show. This made me wish for the halcyon days only two short years ago when all three floors were packed with vendors hawking their wares and it took three days to see everything.

Of course, a lot of this attrition is related to economics, with many of the tech companies that were present two years ago being swallowed up by major corporations or going out of business. And others have opted to show their wares offsite at ancillary shows (such as Digital Mobile Focus or Showstoppers) instead of spending the extra bucks to be on the show floor.

Next year, show organizers can expect some big-time competition for their trade show bucks as CeBit, one of the biggest computer trade shows in Europe, travels to New York and takes over PCXpo's usual late-June slot at the Javits Center.

PCXpo -- uh, I mean TechXNY -- will be moved to mid September because, according to the show's sponsors, companies announce new product cycles in the fall.

That said, here are a few of the geek toys that piqued my interest:

- Kyocera will be introducing a new digital phone that combines all the features of a Palm handheld computer with what you'd expect from a full-featured, WAP-enabled phone.

- IBM will be selling three new notebook computers -- ranging from desktop replacements to slim, lightweight models -- that will feature built-in wireless networking capabilities.

- M-Systems showed off its new 512-megabyte DiskonKey, which allows you to carry tons of data on your key ring or clipped to your shirt pocket.

- Microsoft showed off its new version of Windows for tablet PCs.

- Several companies, including Logitech, Si-Pix and Casio, showed off new slim digital cameras that are great for taking snapshots or for sending digital images of the family to relatives and friends via e-mail.

- Logitech introduced a new digital pen that will change the way we take notes in the classroom and during meetings.

- NVidia showed off its new multimedia chipset that will finally bring on-board computer graphics and sound into the 21st century.

I plan to take a closer look at these and many other geek toys introduced at the show in the coming months, so stay tuned.

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