Apple Bailing on MacWorld is Smart

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2689' target='_blank'>http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2689</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The problem for Apple is that almost everyone in the Mac community knows that there's a chance of new products coming at Expo. Starting in the fall, there are almost daily sightings of potential new models or software revisions, the latest being the Mac mini rumor. So, what happens? It becomes common wisdom for Mac customers to avoid a CPU purchase in the month before the show, just in case a new, better model is released. Or to skip a software upgrade. This effect will happen even if someone doesn't want a new model - they might be able to get a deal on the older generation of machine out in distribution. The Mac market stops and waits for Expo."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1230554140.usr18053.jpg" /></p><p>Whether or not Apple is to blame for the vacuum that's created in the months after their fall event (which is usually all about iPods) is immaterial to the fact that there is indeed a vacuum.&nbsp; Apple does do well as far as selling Macs go over the holidays, but no one in their right mind would be an Apple product that hadn't been revised or updated in the months leading up to the holiday season.&nbsp; Even this year, while notebook sales were great, desktop sales were on the floor and hiding under the table mostly because the iMac and Mac Mini haven't been updated in (what feels like) an eternity.&nbsp; Knowing you would be buying a machine that's obsolete as soon as you walk it out the door, why would you do it?&nbsp; I know I wouldn't, and most people who are "in the know" wouldn't either.</p><p>There's been a lot of talk about Apple hurting the little guys by backing out of the expo.&nbsp; What the talkers fail to realize is that Apple is hurting itself, in some ways, by staying in, and Apple has a bigger obligation to its shareholders than it does to some accessory maker that makes another iPod speaker dock or pair of headphones.&nbsp; They have to maximize holiday sales, particularly in rough economic times, and that just isn't going to happen when a good majority of your user base is aware that you're updating your products a few weeks later.</p>

[Jason Dunn]

They have to maximize holiday sales, particularly in rough economic times, and that just isn't going to happen when a good majority of your user base is aware that you're updating your products a few weeks later.

Hrm...but doesn't that really mean though that Apple should instead stop updating their products right after the holidays? I guess they might given that they won't e tied to MacWorld any more, but a smarter move would have been to move the event to May or June, well away from the holiday season. :)

[Vincent Ferrari]

Hrm...but doesn't that really mean though that Apple should instead stop updating their products right after the holidays? I guess they might given that they won't e tied to MacWorld any more, but a smarter move would have been to move the event to May or June, well away from the holiday season. :)

I imagine if they controlled the event, that would be possible, but it is, after all, an IDG event and it's pretty common knowledge that IDG and Apple have had a somewhat adversarial relationship over the past few years. I don't reckon that conversation would've gone well at all...

[doogald]

Hrm...but doesn't that really mean though that Apple should instead stop updating their products right after the holidays? I guess they might given that they won't e tied to MacWorld any more, but a smarter move would have been to move the event to May or June, well away from the holiday season. :)

That, of course, is why Apple makes a lot of new announcements at their own WWDC every June. So, as long as there is a WWDC in June, I doubt that Macworld would be moved to then.

As for not buying a product just before Macworld, I very consciously bought my MacBook a week before the convention a couple of years ago. I knew that I had 14 days to return it if I wanted (I think with a 10% restock, though), but I also knew the place would be hopping crazy after any new announcements, and when your Dell notebook hinge breaks, you need to replace it, you know?

[Macguy59]

MWSF will be missed regardless of the reason(s). I had intended to attend it this year but have since cancelled.

[Jason Dunn]

...it's pretty common knowledge that IDG and Apple have had a somewhat adversarial relationship over the past few years. I don't reckon that conversation would've gone well at all...

Yeah, I guess. I don't know, I'm a big believer in strong ecosystems and big companies building relationships with lots of little guys. That's never been Apple's strong suit though, so I guess this is pretty normal.

[Pony99CA]

Yeah, I guess. I don't know, I'm a big believer in strong ecosystems and big companies building relationships with lots of little guys. That's never been Apple's strong suit though, so I guess this is pretty normal.
As opposed to Microsoft, who supports the developers wonderfully, then either buys the successful ones or puts them out of business with a competing product. :D

The rumor going around today is that Apple pulled out of MacWorld because of Jobs' health, and that gave cover for his not appearing. Of course, that was on Gizmodo, so take it with a two-ton block of salt....

Steve

[Spooof]

I think that this will be the death of MacWorld... look what happen to the Boston Mac conference when Apple pulled out.