Computex, one of Asia's biggest computer shows and where all of Taiwan's mobo, chip and chipset vendors come together, has been postponed because of attendees' fears about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus*.

The Taipei-based show was due to run from 2-6 June, though whether it would take place or not has been open to question for some time. In March, the organisers, the Taipei Computer Association and the China External Trade Development Council, emailed registered attendees to ask if the war in Iraq and the then emerging SARS threat would affect their plans to visit the show.

That's why Intel recently cancelled the upcoming Taipei and Beijing legs of its touring Intel Developers Conference. Other Far Eastern shows have been cancelled or delayed for similar reasons.

As yet, Computex's organisers have announced no new date, but some time during the second half of the year seems to be what they have in mind. ®

*Severe and acute? That's pretty bad... Still, better than calling it the ARS virus, we suppose.