Two years ago, 3D TV commanded center stage at the annual Consumer Electronics Show . Last year, it was tablets . This year, while both of those product groups will still be shown in force, it looks like the PC is ready to make a comeback.

The computer industry, which seems swept by one revolution after another, is back in the spotlight at CES this week, with a new version of Windows and a new type of laptop heralding the new era .

Over 2,700 companies are displaying products at the Las Vegas Convention Center, covering 1.7 million square feet. To accommodate its growth, CES added a fourth day and was moved back to the second week in January.

Also, for the first time in a long time, CES won't have to compete with the porn industry for showgoers' attentions. The annual Adult Entertainment Expo was moved to Jan. 18-21, and so will not coincide with the tech show this year.

Predicting exactly what will be on display at CES is a fool's mission, since major electronics companies like Sony and Panasonic tend to keep their new products well-hidden. But all signs point to a big year for PCs.

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