Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion, Apple
The Silent Keynote Campaign
The Apple keynote address at Macworld Expo is usually a boisterous affair, full of cheering, applause, and anxious chatter about new products. With 2009 being the last year of Apple's attendance at Macworld Expo, Lesa Snider King thinks that a silent protest might send a message to Apple's leadership: On Tuesday, Dec. 16 Apple Inc. announced that Steve Jobs would not do the keynote at the 2009 Macworld Conference & Expo. That's okay. They also announced that they would no longer attend the conference in the future. That's not okay. For 25 years, a very loyal and passionate Mac community has descended upon the halls of Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA to see, hear, and learn more about the computers they love. By announcing their departure from this beloved show hosted by IDG, Apple is sending a message to the entire community -- professionals, hobbyists, media, Mac User Groups, and even IDG themselves--that they care nothing for the community who supported them through thick and thin.My personal opinion is that Apple can do whatever it wants, and that IDG and the Mac community can decide to do whatever they want to. If Apple announces something really insanely great at Macworld Expo '09, would you really stay silent? Let's hear your opinion of the Silent Keynote Campaign.
If you're attending the Macworld Expo keynote on Tuesday, Jan. 6, you can send a message to Apple by remaining silent during the 2009 keynote. While Phil Schiller is on the stage, let there be no applause, no whistling... just utter and complete silence.
My name is Lesa Snider King and I'm mad at Apple.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Sean Flanagan said 9:10AM on 12-19-2008
Considering that the Keynote is attended solely by the press, high-level developers, and rabid fanatics, I say "Good luck" to the Campaign. Someone who has spent 13 hours in a line just for the opportunity to attend the event isn't going to sit quietly.
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Greenie said 9:20AM on 12-19-2008
I wonder if there will be a line at all this time. With no Steve Jobs, and the strange way the keynote tickets were sold in the packages, I'm not sure it will be like normal years.
SpinThis! said 11:07AM on 12-19-2008
Or, the bigger question, will Phil really announce anything ground-breaking that's actually worth cheering about when everyone knows this is Apple's last Macworld?
Matt said 9:14AM on 12-19-2008
Sorry to say, but this campaign is really ridiculous. i use apple products for quite some time and i don't really care if steve, the pope or jesus himself announce them or not - as long as the products are great i am happy.
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Matthew Hillyer said 9:31AM on 12-19-2008
I agree - this seems kinda High Schoolish
It's a company, they made a decision - while I don't care if Steve, Bob, Joe or Feed does the keynote I am annoyed with them pulling out of MW all together. But it doesn't warrant some silly "lets be quiet" campaign.
Can't we just all get over the fact that Apple is and will forever make decisions - rather you like them or not. If you really feel slighted by all this, stop buying the products, really - that's the loudest voice you have.
oakie said 10:12AM on 12-19-2008
also in agreeance here but would like to add:
for those of you who feel slanted, spited, or otherwise snubbed by Steve Jobs and Apple, you are the fanboys that he dislikes based on his own personal philosophy. his desire is to build great stuff with great design for people who appreciate the aesthetic as well as the performance. it's why Apple doesnt offer clones anymore, or the myriad of ugliness that was birthed during the years of his absence.
you, the fanboy, represent the same rabid drones that follow any other trend and MacWorld is an orgy of the folks who are obsessed with Jobs the person and Apple the company. you buy the product and hang on every word like the participants in Apple's "1984" commercial. you have become sheep to Jobs' shepherd and that is not exactly "thinking differently".
i take this as Apple's move to one, prepare for Jobs' eventual transition out of his position as a fully engrossed CEO, and two, to distance the company from the sheeple whose fanaticism makes the company look like a sideshow.
love the products for what they are, not for the person behind it. because that person will eventually have to move on and the sooner you realize it, the better off Apple as a company will be in the future. the question to be answered is if Apple can survive without the rampant Jobs' lovers and solely on the product alone.
iGO said 11:27AM on 12-19-2008
Agree !
This "idea" is simply D U M B!
An whoever this Lesa King is, her take that,
"sending a message to the entire community -- professionals, hobbyists, media, Mac User Groups, and even IDG themselves--that they care nothing for the community who supported them through thick and thin"
Is Super Extra D U M B
ome said 12:03PM on 12-19-2008
When Steve first took over the reigns of Apple again, it was in a mess. Losing money, too many products.
After Steve Jobs, he cleaned up Apple lineup to just 4 different products. Cleaned up the board of directors. He is a terrific salesman, and promoter and even though he says, it is really nice and gorgeous quite a bit, he does makes the keynote very interesting.
We mac users should be a little more understanding why some of us are passionate about Steve not delivering the keynote. We should not call each other dumb....
winkyeah said 9:19AM on 12-19-2008
I agree with Matt. Who cares who delivers the keynote. And who cares if they announce a product at Macworld or not? Only those who stand to gain from a Steve Jobs announcement. If that's you, find a better job.
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Nate Bird said 9:24AM on 12-19-2008
This campaign is ridiculous. The writing has been on the wall for a long time. A silent campaign? Seriously? I'm actually glad they won't be presenting at Macworld. This is good for consumers for a couple of reasons:
1) It allows Apple to release products on their timeline. This means higher quality products and services.
2) More 'mini announcements' throughout the year. Yeah for surprises!
3) Less time and resources put into Macworld presentations and expo. This lets them focus on actually working on new services.
I'm not going to be at Macworld. I'll be watching from my computer. I'll cheer and be as loud as I want, Thank you.
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brad said 9:26AM on 12-19-2008
yup, have to say I agree with Matt as well, although I'd change "ridiculous" to "childish". Unless I am totally misinformed and this years keynote is only open to 3rd graders.
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WiLLGT09 said 9:26AM on 12-19-2008
Um, I highly doubt this campaign will do anything. I'm sorry you're "mad at Apple," but it sould like your just whining about the fact that there will be no more Steve-notes at Macworld.
There's still WWDC and Apple's own press events. Not being forced into product development schedules around trade shows (like Macworld, NAB, Apple Expo Paris, etc) allows Apple to develop better products that work better, rather than being forced to release then on a set time-table.
The pressure and expectations has become so high at these keynotes for Apple to ALWAYS unveil the latest and greatest, that it has to hamper the time needed to really work the kinks out of products.
Calm down.
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Neil said 9:29AM on 12-19-2008
It's just childish. Grow up.
Give it a year or two and in hindsight you'll most likely find that the best for Apple as a whole was to focus less on Steve and more on products.
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Justin said 9:29AM on 12-19-2008
Yeah this campaign sounds utterly ridiculous. It's a freakin' TRADE SHOW -- people will still be able to "learn more about the computers they love" from the Apple website, press releases, etc. It's funny how quickly this "community who supported them through thick and thin," or rather the "very loyal and passionate" supporter Lesa Snider King, doesn't support Apple with its decision to pull out of MacWorld.
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Howie Isaacks said 9:31AM on 12-19-2008
I'm disappointed about this myself but, this is really going a bit far. It won't do Apple much good to be embarrassed at the keynote address. I've been a Mac user since 1986 and I love the Apple brand. However, I don't need to see a trade show to know what products are being announced. Trade shows are a little behind the times anyway. I actually have every keynote address Delivered by Steve Jobs stored on one of my external drives and, I enjoy watching for the nostalgia. In the end though Apple doesn't seem to benefit that much from customers waiting to buy new computers until after MacWorld. For their long term growth, it's best to roll out new products all throughout the year instead of a major events.
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glad said 9:40AM on 12-19-2008
I am in total agreement with the retail outlets that it has it doesn't make any sense for it to be at macworld. In fact being there hurts the share price and also holds back sales and keeps the rumour mill going into overdrive. As for the silent campaign these people need to get a life. It's not as if the company has produced rubbish products over the past 10 years, share price has tanked and sales have fallen through the floor.
We know Jobs talks were great but all good things must come to an end so lets be mature adults and not preeschool kids and throw all our toys out of the pram because big daddy steve is pulling out of nmacworld and won't talk to us.
Maria said 9:32AM on 12-19-2008
Frankly, I think the folks who started this "campaign" should consider getting a real life. They're certainly not going to help Apple by making Phil's job any tougher than it already is. All they're doing is whining -- and making themselves look like a bunch of spoiled fanboys. Get a grip. This isn't the end of the world.
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Ben said 9:32AM on 12-19-2008
I have no real opinion on the campaign, but I do agree with the emotion behind it. As apple continues to gain marketshare, and build more and more users, it will interesting how they will continue to nurture that loyal core user base. These people have been around much longer than I, and in my opinion, are vital to create the uniquely valuable brand identity. I am not much for protests, but I do think any company that puts as much into the experience as Apple does, should continue to offer proactive ways that evangelists can feel in the loop.
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jax sedrin said 9:34AM on 12-19-2008
Another vote for "childish".
Hmm... would it also be childish if I started an anti-silence campaign?
"C'mon, people! Let's give Apple the send-off it deserves!! WOOOOO!"
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Edwin said 9:39AM on 12-19-2008
I'm mad at Lesa Snider King for being mad at Apple and starting such a crazy campaign. She writes books so I'm going to send a message to her by not buying her books.
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