Personal computers are taking a back seat at the PC Expo in N.Y.

NEW YORK (AP) — Personal computers will be overshadowed by other gadgets when computer trade show PC Expo opens Tuesday. Handheld devices — with or without wireless Internet access — home networking equipment and Internet appliances are expected to be the focus of attention.

In fact, the 85,000 visitors expected at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York won't be able to see the latest PCs from Compaq Computer Corp. and Dell Computer Corp. The big PC makers have elected to stay away.