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LAS VEGAS - So you thought people came to trade shows like Comdex to get the scoop on new technology. Ha! This place is loaded with free T-shirts, key chains, candy, frisbees, sunglasses, multi-colored slinkys, CD holders, stuffed animals, notepads, and mouse pads. Some of these freebies are so desirable that some conventioneers are willing to do stupid human tricks to get them.

For instance, on the opening day of the show, a look-alike Kramer (of Seinfeld show fame) had a large crowd barking "CLICK!'' as he tossed chocolate at them from Iomega’s booth (the Zip disk people). Over and over again. Never mind that they looked like frisky puppies at obedience school. They had their eye on the prize -- free candy.

As at any other tech show, freebies aren’t hard to come by at Comdex, whether you’re willing to perform for them or not. Here’s a list of a few:

The Comdex computer trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and is the largest of its kind in the United States, with more than a million square feet of exhibit space. (Reuters photo)

• The top contender as stupidest-looking wearable freebie is a red cardboard box hat sporting the Agfa logo that’s begun popping up on the heads of the crowd at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The box is reminiscent of those stupid cheese hats worn by Green Bay Packers fans.
• It’s not exactly a freebie, but the snazzy red and black Comdex backpacks handed out to those who paid to attend the full conference and show win a thumbs up for utility and fashion.
• Office suites -- those software packages that usually include a word processor, spreadsheet, and database program -- will generally set you back a few hard-earned bucks. Sun Microsystems is blanketing convention-goers with its free StarOffice suite. Don’t despair if you’re not here to snag this freebie. It’s available for download at Sun’s web site: www.sun.com. Meanwhile, Microsoft, maker of that other office suite, is tossing out wallets on a string that sport the Windows 2000 logo. Attendees are also lining up behind computers at a Microsoft booth to sign up for a free beta copy of the long-delayed Windows 2000.
• Nice use of metaphor goes to paymybills.com for it’s free calculator. The ultra thin gray and white unit has a pop-up stand that makes it handy to total up those Comdex expenses.