The Last Gadget Standing Starts Here

Sometimes being last works, especially when it comes to the fickle moving target of high-tech products. We're looking for the Last Gadget Standing—the one gadget of all the new ones we're about to see that will become a lasting part of our lives—and you can help.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) doesn't begin until January 8 (and runs through January 11), but the fever is mounting. For gadget lovers everywhere, the pilgrimage to Las Vegas is a post-New-Year's mecca. Last year CES had almost 2,700 exhibitors with thousands of new products. It occupied 1.6 million net square feet and wrecked the feet of the more than 140,000 attendees who walked its floors each day. This year, the show will be even larger!

The noise, the sheer amount of processing power, the huge displays, the barkers doing their demos—it's a high-tech carnival. And with so many new products, it's tough to see the forest for the trees. That's where you come in.

I've been hosting an event at CES every year called Last Gadget Standing. The idea behind it is to let the "people," not the "experts," vote to pick the gadget that has the best chance of actually making it off the show floor and becoming a life-changing force. It's got to be a cool gadget, but it's also got to have survivability! Think Survivor meets American Idol.

This year I'll be working with the other Yahoo! Advisors to make sure that you've got all the product news to help us choose the Last Gadget Standing. For weeks we've been combing the back alleys, getting the latest on who's going to be showing what at CES. We'll be previewing some of the products you'll be seeing at the show over the next few weeks, and we need to hear from you as to whether they've got the potential to rock your world or sink your ship.

As we get closer to CES, we'll hone in on the 10 most promising products and bring them with us to Las Vegas, where we'll showcase them to a live audience. And for those of you who'd rather have your teeth drilled than walk the Strip with 140,000 other digital guys and gals, well, you can vote for your favorites online.

Start reading our CES coverage today by searching on Last Gadget Standing in your search bar. I'll be recapping and calling out the events of the week for you. And history buffs who want to see which Last Gadgets have actually lasted the test of time, check in tomorrow.