Macworld Expo minus Apple still equals Macworld Expo
In the story of love, there is always a winner and a loser (the loser being the one who sits at home with ice cream in one hand and a remote in the other, crying while watching The Notebook). In the romance between IDG and Apple, it seems that IDG is not content to sit at home now that Stevie J. has stopped returning its calls.
While we know that Macworld Expo is scheduled to continue in 2010, there is not a solid sense of what next year's conference will look like. Because IDG wants to get attendee input on the future shape of the event, it has elected to have a "Townhall" open forum where attendees can meet and discuss the future of Macworld.
The emphasis of Macworld Expo is expected to shift back to the Mac and the many products and services that can enhance it. Because Macworld showcases hundreds of products that are not found in Apple retail stores (including sessions & vendors who focus on large enterprises and educational markets), it is a great opportunity to get them into the hands of users who would not normally get a chance to see them in person.
Here's hoping Macworld Expo continues on for the foreseeable future -- and who knows? Perhaps the popularity of Macworld will bring Apple back in, but who needs 'em, right? Have a good idea for something you'd like to see in Macworld's future? Let us know in the comments, and perhaps one of our intrepid staffers attending the townhall will discuss it with IDG's team.
For continuing coverage of Macworld Expo 2009 from our team on the ground in San Francisco, stay with TUAW -- you can see all coverage in one place, get a feed for our stories or follow us on Twitter for instant updates.
[via Ars Technica]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LaughingMan said 2:04PM on 12-31-2008
I doubt that Macworld Expo will continue. I still remember when Macworld New York turned into Macworld CreativePro Expo, with Steve Jobs and Apple passing on big product introductions there.
In a year, the east coast expo was gone. I expect sort of the same thing with San Francisco.
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JiN said 7:08PM on 12-31-2008
The East Coast issue was Steve wanted it done in New York City and IDG insisted on Boston. Apple pulled out of MacWorld Boston and eventually that expo met it's demise.
Dr. Watz0n said 2:45PM on 12-31-2008
Hey! I liked the Notebook...
That being said, I am not so sure about the expo continuing beyond 2010. Granted, I could be wrong, but I always assumed a large portion, if not a majority of the attendees at the conference have been brought in by Apple's presence alone.
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Mike said 2:55PM on 12-31-2008
I concur! The East Coast Expo was a Swap Meet the year Apple was out. If the popularity of the Expo is supposed to "bring Apple back in" then they would not have opted out to begin with. I have been attending the Expo for the last 12 years and since the introduction of the iPod the Expo attendance has increased.
Looks like this might be my last year! At least I saw "His Steveness" at last year's Keynote.
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Jon said 3:23PM on 12-31-2008
Apple was the biggest name to pull out of Macworld but they weren't the only ones. Adobe and several others are not showcasing at Macworld 2009 at all. And I don't know if they'll be back either.
This is the problem - Apple's presence attracts a significant proportion of the show's attendees. Is it worth big companies continuing to invest during a recession in a show that will experience a significant drop in attendance next year? And if IDG can't attract the big guys is it worth it for them to even put on the show at all?
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