[quote name='daphatty']$12 Dollars?! Wow! That's alot of money. The shows they have here in the DC area are only $7.
I have two perspectives on this. Computer shows are hit or miss depending on where you live and how technologically advanced your city is. For example, computer shows died out in Silicon Valley around the mid-nineties. The only one I know of that still goes on in Northern CA is in Vallejo (which is generally a poorer part of N. CA). I think the main reason they died out in N. CA is because of places like Fry's Electronics. No one can beat their prices. You can get just about anything computer related at that store from the lowest to the highest of quality and cost. IMO, Computer shows just couldn't compete.
Now lets take the DC area. This place SUCKS technology wise. The best thing we have here is a MicroCenter which isn't saying much. CompUSA isn't much either. They are the BestBuy of computer stores in my opinion. Since the options here are very limited, computer shows thrive. They have them monthly out here and even allow you to buy an annual pass for $45.
So your best bet is to judge the availability of technology in your area. If your options are limited (meaning you consider Best Buy a good place to get computer parts) then a computer show is probably the right place for you.
EDIT: As for comparing to online deals, NOTHING BEATS FREE SHIPPING AND NO TAX!
www.newegg.com is AWESOME for that.[/quote]
DaPhatty, thanks, and by any chance are they MarketPro shows that they usually have in DC (because I live only a couple hours north of there, and that's what we have here). The show only costs $6 (I was figuring 12 since I'll probably be paying for my gf's admission as well)...anyway, if they are MarketPro, we're they any good, or am I better just going with NewEgg?