Macworld Expo 2009 is in less than a week. Held in San Francisco every January since 1985, it has become a pilgrimage, of sorts, for many Mac loyalists. I have only counted myself among this group since 2005. This is to be my fifth Macworld Expo (notice that the "w" in Macworld is not capitalized), and likely to be my last. I almost decided not to go this year, and when I did decide to go, I said it would be my last for awhile. Why? Cost, mostly. The trip, from airfare to hotel accommodations, from Expo/Conference passes to actually spending money on the show floor. It gets to be a lot of money.
After that, Apple made the announcements that have given the Mac faithful pause... this is Apple's last year to attend Macworld Expo, and that Steve Jobs would not be delivering the Keynote speech this year, handing off that duty to Phil Schiller, Apple's 2nd in command.
I don't believe that Apple has publicly stated WHY they made this decision, but that has not stopped the speculations:
1) Apple likely spends a million dollars to build and staff their display on the showroom floor.
2) Apple doesn't like having to come up with something new and fantastic to show every January. This puts it immediately AFTER the Holiday buying season, which is NOT the ideal time to announce new products, and since everyone knows that Apple will be announcing SOMETHING, they tend to hold off buying anything Apple until after Macworld Expo.
3) Apple Rumor websites, knowing that Apple usually does release new products at Macworld, start dredging up, and publishing rumors about what Apple will be releasing. Some of these ideas are amazingly far-fetched... but when Apple releases a new model desktop that will convert rocks into Gold, everyone is disappointed that Apple did not release the anticipated flying car.
4) Steve Jobs is so sick, that they know 3 weeks in advance that he won't be able to give the keynote. (I am so freakin' sick and tired of hearing this rumor that I am ready to throttle the next person that I hear utter it.)
Items 1 - 3 have a certain ring of authenticity. I mean that they could CONCEIVABLY be reasons why Apple will not be at MwSF after this year. But there are arguments that take the counter-point to all of these, such as Apple having over 27 Billion dollars (Read twenty-seven BILL-YUN DOLLARS) in its coffers, and spending $1 million dollars is a small drop in that bucket.
There are a lot of good reasons for Apple to end the keynotes. But why end attending? Steve Jobs has said "We do the equivalent of a Macworld Expo every day at each of our Apple retail stores." (I am giving this from memory, so it is not likely to be word perfect) From Apple's point of view this may be true, but from the attendee perspective Macworld Expos are so much more.
1) Multiple vendors - There are more vendors on the show floor than just Apple. While I was at MwSF 08, I was able to actually put my hands on, and play with, several Canon digital cameras. The Apple store only carries a limited number of (usually lower end) camera models from the various manufacturers, and while I could do this at a dealers, there is always pressure to purchase, as well as opinions that may be tainted by profit.
2) Small vendors - There are small booth, stuck out of the way, in which some small startup company (frequently just one person) who is demo-ing some fantastic piece of software that I would not have seen in the Apple store, and if they did have it, they'd not likely have someone who could demo it and answer my questions.
3) Conferences - I can learn a lot about Apple software in training classes, which I could also do at an Apple store, but I can also learn about Photoshop, network topography, creativity, and a myriad number of other subjects that would not be touched upon in an Apple store.
4) Camaraderie - There are people that only meet up with each other while at Macworld. It's kinda like a family reunion, except that your uncle Phil doesn't get drunk and start dancing on the tables with his underwear on his head (well, not at the Expo/Conference anyway).
5) Parties - Dove-tailing on "camaraderie" would have to be all the parties. Vendors want you to remember them favorably when it comes time to order that replacement (enter hardware/software name here). One way they do that if to invite you to a party where you can get well lubricated (that's a euphemism for getting drunk... get your mind out of the gutter) and be entertained. But not all parties are sponsored by vendors. Macworld Expo has the Macworld Blast, which last year included entertainment from Devo. The Your Mac Life podcast pretty much winds up Macworld Expo with its YML Rocks party (entertainment by the Silicon Valley Rockers, a kick-ass cover band led by Macworld Expo's own Paul Kent). Many other parties give Mac aficionados the opportunity to network and socialize.
6) San Francisco - The host city for Macworld is the City by the Bay, San Francisco. Few cities can compete for beauty and culture. Carrying a digital camera with you while walking around town will offer more "photo ops" than your memory card can store. There is also an amazing amount of culture. Whether you want to see a play, the opera, a symphony orchestra or a movie, you can find it here. And restaurants reflect the diversity of its residents. Whatever food you crave, you can likely find it here.
My point being that Macworld Expo is so much more than you can get by visiting an Apple store. Macworld Expo is not going to end just because Apple won't be here. I don't know how much longer it will be around, and there are certainly enough arguments to predict doom for any trade show, but I think that Paul Kent and his staff are more than capable of changing Macworld Expo to reflect the needs of the community.
I am going to Macworld Expo 2009, and I am going to have a wonderful time. When I get back, I'll let you know how my opinion has been changed, or not. I'll also tell you about the many highlights, and lowlifes of this years show, so stay tuned.
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