LAS VEGAS — If you count the now-defunct Computer Dealer’s Exhibition computer show (also known as COMDEX), I’ve been coming to Vegas at least once a year since 1981 to witness the latest and greatest in technology.

While COMDEX has been dead for years, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) remains as the massive annual gathering ground for the entire high-tech world.

Unless something really major happens in the next few days (the show officially gets under way on Thursday; today’s press preview day), the biggest tech news of the week came from Mountain View, where Google announced its highly anticipated Nexus One phone.

I’ll get my review unit tonight, but I did have a chance to play with one briefly last week.

Based on my experience and the specs announced Tuesday, Nexus One appears to be evolutionary, not revolutionary. Some call it an iPhone killer, but I think of it as an iPhone denter. It won’t kill or even seriously wound iPhone’s market share in the immediate future. Over time, I’m bullish on the Android operating system because of Google’s open stance about the operating system and the applications.

Unlike Apple’s application store, Android app developers don’t need to cater to Google. Anyone can write any app, which is a double-edged sword. It’s good because it encourages innovation, but it’s bad because it leaves the door open for bad apps or sleazy apps.

That’s all I can say until I

get the review unit. In the meantime, I’m girding myself for the next four days.

Many people tell me how much they envy the fact that I go to CES. While I love my job and love covering technology, this is far from my favorite show.

I much prefer smaller trade events like DEMO or All Things Digital where the attendees are counted in the hundreds, not hundreds of thousands. Even though CES is smaller than it was before the recession, it’s still huge and impossible for one person to fully cover. All I can really do is get a sampling of the thousands of products that will unveiled this week.

This year, I have a new strategy for the show. Sure, I’ll spend some time on the show floor, but not as much as in previous years. Instead I plan to have private meetings with vendors and attend events each evening where small groups of vendors show off their products to a fraction of the thousands of journalists in attendance. For example, on Thursday night there is an event called ShowStoppers where exhibitors set up booths in a large ballroom so that journalists can chat and try out their products. All the while, liquor and food is offered and consumed. I’ll nibble on some food, but pass on the liquor simply because I don’t want to be in a haze during my most productive time at the show.

Besides, I’ll be busy for much of that evening interviewing industry insiders at the CBS News / CNET podcast stage. Starting on Friday, you’ll be able to hear them on my CNET podcast page.

As far as my CES coverage is concerned, what happens in Las Vegas definitely won’t stay in Las Vegas. My only reason for coming is to figure out what the hot products and trends will be in 2010 and share them with you.

E-mail Larry Magid at larry@larrymagid.com.