2009 to be Apple’s last Macworld
In a shocking turn of events, Apple has suddenly announced that it will no longer be present at Macworld Expos after 2009. Next month’s keynote will be Apple’s last at one of these events, which is a major letdown in my opinion.
What’s even more surprising is that it seems like Steve Jobs won’t be the one giving this final keynote, instead he’s handing the torch down to Phil Schiller, Senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, and also a familiar face at many of Apple’s Keynotes, frequently helping out in certain segments. Still, Phil probably won’t be able to conjure up the same RDF (reality distortion field) that Jobs is a master at, the keynote just won’t be the same without Steve Jobs himself.
Still, the fact that Phil Schiller is giving the keynote isn’t as big of a deal as the fact that Apple will no longer be present at Macworld Expos any longer. You really have to wonder how long Macworld will continue to last in this case, since plenty of people pay the exorbitant entry fees just so they can watch Apple’s keynote. It’s probably the most exciting part of the entire Expo, watching Steve Jobs introduce his latest and greatest products under his RDF.
Also, one really has to wonder why in the world did Apple decide to stop attending these Macworld events. According to the press release:
Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, so like many companies, trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. The increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.
To me, these excuses really sound like what they are: excuses. And they’re lame attempts at trying to justify why Apple won’t be appearing at trade shows any more. Just because they have more means to reach its customers doesn’t mean that by doing so through Macworld keynotes is any less effective. In fact, introduction of new products through other means besides keynotes probably won’t have big of an impact, as the suspense leading up to the keynote and the final revelation of the product is probably the most exciting part of it all. New products which were introduced through press releases or their website have never gotten me as excited as those that were introduced at an Apple Keynote, they’re just so much more exciting to watch.
There has to be some underlying reason as to why Apple has decided to take this step. Maybe they’re really being affected by the recent economic crisis? Which is really not that impossible, considering how they’ve decided to keep their prices at such a high level when most people obviously can’t afford them. Or maybe the rumours of Steve Jobs’ failing health (which he debunked in one of his keynotes) some time ago are actually true? The rest of us will never know the actual reason, but let’s just hope Apple will continue making such a lasting impression on the personal computer market for a long time to come.
Source: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/12/16macworld.html
