One More Thing: Jobs Isn't Coming To Macworld

from the RIP-trade-shows dept

Wed, Dec 17th 2008 1:22pm — Carlo Longino

Mac fanboys cried themselves to sleep Tuesday night with the news that Steve Jobs won't be giving any more Macworld keynotes, while Apple won't even attend the event after the January installment. There's a lot of speculation that Steve Jobs' health is behind the move, as rumors about his recovery from pancreatic cancer continue to swirl. But the more likely reason is that, like many companies, Apple's getting tired of trade shows. For many companies, the expense and complexity of exhibiting at huge shows, then having to compete with hundreds or thousands of other companies for press and industry attention, are making the shows less and less compelling. Lots of companies -- including Apple -- are instead focusing on their own events for product launches. And, of course, given Apple's penchant for control, it's hardly surprising that the company would want to go down this route. But the bigger point remains: huge trade shows used to be a great idea when physical proximity was a real barrier to business and newsgathering. But communication has gotten simpler and cheaper, travel has become much more commonplace and things like blogs and social networks give people easy ways to meet other folks in their industry, making these huge gatherings more a hassle than anything else. Meanwhile, smaller, more manageable and focused events seem to be thriving, indicating that it's the large-scale format that's getting long in the tooth.

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Filed Under: macworld, steve jobs, trade shows
Companies: apple

12 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 17 Dec 2008 @ 1:33pm

CES is here to stay
What other excuse do professionals have to sneak into AVN?
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Xyro TR1 (profile), 17 Dec 2008 @ 2:25pm

Haha '

Also, haha Mac Fanboys.
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DS, 17 Dec 2008 @ 3:04pm

" Apple's getting tired of trade shows. "

Really? Because they hate the coverage that blogs and other tech sites give them at MacWorld?
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- Faceless Minion, 17 Dec 2008 @ 3:27pm
  
  Re:
  Let's be honest here. The blogs and tech sites that drool over macworld will drool over simple press releases too.
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Zubin (profile), 17 Dec 2008 @ 4:29pm

The primary benefit of recent keynotes...
The main benefit of recent keynotes may have indeed been a combination of the physical presence and online presence. Bloggers big and small attending the event have liveblogged the keynote, letting everyone worldwide see what Jobs was saying as he was saying it.

Personal anecdotal evidence (from a few friends) suggests even people who are not that interested in tech news find this fun and even interesting, and read up on what goes on. I bet others found the same thing.

I really wouldn't be surprised if these huge trade shows to continue to find a purpose, but it will be as part of something larger.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Dec 2008 @ 5:14pm

This Macworld thing is much ado about nothing. Apple has greatly diversified since the days of being just a computer company, and to the extent they want to drive events, that is what WWDC is for. I'm quite certain that when they have a major product announcement, they will be able to continue to do Stevenotes and whip the press and public into a frenzy sans Macworld.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Dec 2008 @ 5:47pm

good riddance! stop making crapple products.
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Mark Regan, 17 Dec 2008 @ 7:03pm

Applying the same principle
Political nominating conventions and Inauguration Events are outmoded in the television and internet era.

Why can't we use that money to develop a secure on-line elections process?
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Dan Savage, 17 Dec 2008 @ 7:48pm

"Mac fanboys cried themselves to sleep Tuesday night with the news"

Name three (over the age of sixteen, please).

Now that Techdirt has embraced strawmen for its arguments its value has dropped 85%. Think I'll read Techcrunch instead.
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Eddie Pasternak, 17 Dec 2008 @ 8:32pm

The apostrophe
The apostrophe - how to make one?
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ranon, 17 Dec 2008 @ 8:52pm

The keynote address by Steve Jobs is just not an offline presence. There is a huge online community that looks forward to his speeches.

He also has built up the expectation that every time he gives one of his speeches, he launches a new product or does something equally spectacular. Why would one want to give up that sort of headroom??
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Michael Long, 18 Dec 2008 @ 1:47am

It's the timing...
How would you like to be told that you have to come up with something fantasic AND presentation ready each and every January 12th?
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