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Reports the cancellation of the 2004 Comdex, the computer trade show that was once United State's largest trade show, as its owners cited the failure of the industry's largest companies to participate. History of the event; Rise of commercial Internet in the mid-1980s; Companies that have backed out from the event.

Focuses on Burton J. Smith, founder and chief scientist of Tera, which bought the original Cray Research. Suggestion that the intellectual legacy of Seymour Cray, father of the modern supercomputer, is being revived; Cray's approach to building ultra-fast computers; Background on Cray's custom machines, known as vector supercomputers; Comments of Smith; Overview of the industry; Smith's ability to create a viable company.

Presents a question and answer advisory regarding the securities on shared personal computers and palm organizers. Assignment of a palm device names during the set up process; Synchronization of the address books for a two separate palm organizers; Profile and feature of a palm device; Insights on the outlined steps in the column on January 6 issue; Presentation of a print box from Microsoft Outlook that varies with the format of the message.

Discusses how, as printed manuals grow scarcer and features multiply in computers, electronic gadgets and software, consumers are increasingly on their own in learning what their devices can do. How basic functions, such as a light-up keyboard, can remain hidden from the user forever; Reactions of users to this trend; Scope of the task of technology-support professionals teaching people about what their machines can do; Reluctance of computer users to explore new features; Why electronics and software manufacturers have scaled back printed manuals; Examples of hidden features. INSET: Faster and More Efficient: Secrets Revealed.