[Jason Snell]

TeaEarleGreyHot said:

The big winner, I think, will be MacWorld.com, who is now the sole focus for Macintosh advertising, and is more important than ever for product launches and big news from the small guys.

The check's in the mail, TEGH.

[lwdesign]

I used to go to San Francisco each year to attend the Seybold Convention (for the design and printing industries) that filled both North and South Moscone Center venues. In the 3 years prior to 9/11 the shows kept getting smaller and smaller until it was finally moved to Moscone West and only filled half of that small hall. Apple had pulled out and it was no longer fun.
I agree that the days of the trade show are over for Apple. It must cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars for the floor space for very little return. Apple is in a completely new situation now, with all its retail stores. Back in the days before the stores, trade shows made sense. Now they're an unnecessary expense.
Steve, or Phil or Jon Ive, etc. can create press venues whenever a new product announcement is needed, and it's MUCH cheaper. Yes, trade shows are fun to attend, and the hobnobbing with like minded Macophiles is always fun, including the parties and training, but the trade show is a dying species. The bad will generated from Apple pulling out will be very minor in comparison to the company's current reach out into society with its stores.
The Apple Store in Tampa is always busy, even when other stores in the mall are nearly empty. Apple is not letting down its customers--only the relatively few that attend MacWorld Expo--and even these will not be fatally wounded. I think this is an excellent move for Apple--and they gave a whole year's notice!

[veggiedude]

Maybe iPhone Expo is coming.

But seriously, the expo always coincided with my birthday, it won't be the same anymore. Hopefully lots of other companies will carry on the tradition. Maybe Microsoft will step up?

: )

[iamac]

Here's how the keynote will go:

Phil Schiller will talk about App Store and iTunes sales, he'll unveil the updated Mac mini, and then he'll say, "Oh, and there's one more thing..."

At which point, Steve Jobs will take the stage and announce a new $300 Apple netbook tablet computer made from 100 percent biodegradable soy plastic that includes eight Firewire ports and a new glossy display that uses cutting-edge BlackHole? technology that won't reflect light. And then, after doing three Ozzie Smith backflips, he will have himself cryogenically frozen on the spot, so that he can never die.

Immediately afterward Apple's stock price will drop noticeably because the $99 iPhone nano rumors didn't pan out.

[Cloudmover]

Hi DPG4450Guy.

I'm very aware of Steve's health history and I wish him the best in his struggle.

I'm just saying that there is a more concrete explanation available for Apples' change in Macworld Expo policy and the lack of a Steve keynote. It's two words - the economy.

Let's see, Belkin, Seagate & Adobe are pulling out of this years expo. Even Google is downsizing their presence at MacWorld. This economy is in the crapper and if you're a smart company you cut costs.

It seems pretty simple to me that the age of the Trade Show is over. Trade shows DON'T make economic sense. I've exhibited at trade shows and let me tell you, you almost never break even. It's one giant three or four day press release in a sea of press releases that, thanks to the union fees and restrictions at the convention center, suck money like a Dyson. In this climate where everyone is tightening their belt, the trade show is the first thing I'd remove from the company calender.

As for the keynote, what new thing is Apple releasing in January? MacMini upgrade? New enclosure for the MacPro? Speed bump for the iMacs? From what I'm hearing, there are no new "sexy" products for Jobs' to demo. Snow Leopard (that I am looking forward too) is conspicuous for it's lack of NEW features and well, let's be serious would anyone in their right mind, want to release a new product now?

The one thing we all know, is that Steve Jobs is an excellent showman. I think he passed on this keynote because there was nothing new to show.

[Raymondo17]

>No longer does Apple have to wait to January to announce big items, which has had to hurt the Xmas sales before the Expo.<

I never thought Apple was put out waiting until January to announce new items. My opinion was that they used the holiday buying season to clear the shelves of the older merchandise before unveiling the new. I'm bummed about this news, as early January was always one reliable moment in time when you could anticipate new Apple products. :(

[George_Mit]

mac_sevant

The reason Steve Jobs isn't doing this keynote is the same reason he didn't as much of the last one. A lot of misinformed people on the web spread rumors of his ill health, when there is no evidence to support it, and the stock price takes a dive whenever this happens. At the last keynote Steve gave the stage to other important people at Apple, to show that he is not the only person at the company: there are other amazing people running Apple, and if something happened, Apple would not instantly fail. Clearly, Apple has proven in 2008 that Macworld is not necessary to get people talking about them; they call an event, and the world listens. Instead of having to reach a poorly timed deadline right after christmas for new products, they can call an event when a product is ready. They learned this with the iPhone and Mobile Me release, which went badly because they announced a release date before they'd worked out all the kinks. I think in 2009, we're going to see a smoother, seamless way when very few months Apple calls an event and then releases a product, instead of having the pressure of having something big for January.

My 2 cents

[himbo]

carolax said:

Wow, it's amazing how much we know about Steve Jobs' health and how to market computers. Apple does something that offends our sensibilities and wonder of wonders, they don't know squat about how to run their company.

Yeah, I am constantly amazed at how much smarter the people who post on internet forums and who aren't running multibillion dollar businesses are than the people who, you know, do that for a living.

[Nutbeem]

Yes, sad day.
We all had to know it couldn't last forever, didn't we?

[dougster]

:::bummer::: ... but at least we should still have the Macworld.com folks sending out live blog feed to us from the Expo. And since its pretty much live we get the blog before the keynote is released anyway. Still wish Jobs would do the presentation, but they have their reasons. :_|

[Rick LePage]

No - every major trade show has a keynote, and MWE has always had one, and promised one. SJ's not interested (he certainly doesn't like doing them, according to insiders), so someone has to get up in front, and Phil's the logical choice.

Everything is not about Jobs' health.

my .02

[dbutenhof]

[quote name='mac_savant']
>

Cloudmover said:

> Steve Jobs health? WHAT are you talking about? Let's not jump to unfounded conclusions, okay.

While there's no conclusive evidence, the one big clue is there.

Apple is delivering a keynote, but it's not delivering a Steve Job's keynote.

If they're going through the time and trouble of having a keynote, why isn't Steve presenting it?

It would be one thing if it was a long trek or an unusual venue, but it's not. It's Apple's hometown.

The best guess without further details from Apple, is that it's health related.

My 2c.

And we all know how much 2? buys these days.

How about a more rational explanation: Steve has better things to do with his time, more valuable to him and to his company, than giving a presentation at a declining trade show in front of a (relatively) few people. If he really wanted to reach customers and partners with a personal announcement or message, his purposes would be far better served by sitting down with a webcam in his office and posting it on apple.com. (Most people who see the keynote watch interesting sections off the web feed anyway, compared to the numbers in the auditorium.)

But then, so far as I'm concerned Macworld died when they left Boston, so color me cynical. ;-)

[PRoth]

That was the best post about this story... If only you knew an illustrator, you'd have a hit comic on your hands. Laughed out loud, thanks!

[wardoggie]

I used to go to Macworld every other year because I couldn't afford to buy new stuff every year anyway. For some reason, even though I went last year, I grabbed an exhibit pass to this year's event. I'm glad I did.I'll miss Apple and Adobe, but will enjoy it nonetheless.

In high-tech, I've noticed a decline in trade shows that cater to horizontal markets, like Macworld Expo. Even some trade shows that cater to vertical markets are shifting to a series of smaller, regional seminars. The number of huge trade shows is dwindling and I suspect that low ROI is the reason. And I agree with an earlier poster that if Apple had to cut a trade show to maintain a healthy bottom line or whatever reason, I'd rather they focus on the WWDC to keep a steady stream of cool new applications in the pipeline. Perhaps this announcement will boost MUG membership?