No Jobs means no Macworld splash
Without Steve Jobs at Macworld, don't expect the company to make any huge announcements.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News)Without Steve Jobs attending next month's Macworld keynote, it's safe to say Apple won't be making a huge splash in January.
Before Tuesday's announcement that Jobs would skip the annual Macworld keynote, the usual rumor mill was in full swing, with speculation about Apple Netbooks, iPhone Nanos, and the like. The news that Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will be giving the keynote (the Philnote?) brought all that speculation to a halt.
Apple made it pretty clear yesterday that it is not expecting this Macworld to pack a punch. "It doesn't make sense for us to make a major investment in a trade show we will no longer be attending," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said. As such, that means Apple is not likely to spend the time and effort required to put on one of Jobs' patented addresses, with the elaborate demonstrations and Keynote presentations that accompany such an address.
So what might we expect? New Mac Minis and an upgraded iMac are possible, given the length of time since new models were introduced and a few early reports. And a safe bet is a 30-minute demonstration of the capabilities of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, which is expected to appear in the first quarter of the year.
But do not expect anything groundbreaking to emerge from this year's Macworld, which, truth be told, was probably going to be the case, no matter who gave the keynote. Jobs' absence merely confirms that Apple is mailing in this Macworld, the last in which the company plans to participate.
One potential surprise would be Jobs making any kind of appearance. The announcement immediately set off speculation about his health, though nothing has emerged over the last 24 hours to suggest that it has taken a turn for the worse.
Apple could get a lot of mileage out of having Jobs swap roles with Schiller, playing the goofy capable-assistant role usually reserved for Schiller. And it would allow the Mac-faithful to serenade Jobs one last time; while many people come to Macworld for the products and the community, an awful lot of people come for no other reason than to see Jobs speak.
Even if Jobs just sat in the front row, as executives such as COO Tim Cook and various members of the board of the directors do during a typical Stevenote, it would go a long way toward reassuring the Mac community and Apple shareholders that Steve is fine. Apple's stock is down almost 7 percent Wednesday, following yesterday's news, as investors ponder the impact of a January without Jobs.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
Dear Steve Jobs, thank you for the products that have made my life easier and more enjoyable from a technology standpoint. There are no reports that you are ill, and it's my hope that is the case. Not for the shareholders. Not for Apple. I hope you are well simply for yourself and the family members closest to you who truly love you for yourself. For the person that you are and not what you can do for them. For whatever dreams you have left. I'm watching Pixar's Cars on my iPhone 3G, and it makes me smile for so many reasons. Thank you for everything.
Yes Jobs gave his input on products, but it is no way fair that the public should view him as "The Creator!". There is a TEAM of people all working in apple, Steve Jobs is just the front runner. He is backed by the real, un-sung genius' of Apple.
Apple is proof that if a comapny is in it for the love of what they do the money follows and the shareholders are happier than if they invested in a beancounting greedy company who can't see past the next quarter.
To mike.gw - I can watch Cars on my HTC Diamond, too. And my Zune. And my portable DVD player, my VIsta laptop, and my XBox. I can even watch movies that Steve Jobs didn't get money from. But you don't see me writing some letter to a glorified marketing figure-head.
I switched to the Mac back when Apple cared about their products AND their customers.
Nowadays, every Keynote is all about PROFIT for their SHAREHOLDERS.
It is so obvious and such a slap in the face for every PC user who has switched over to Apple.
Apple now has a history of EVERY product being introduced with serious issues.
As much as I want to buy the next operating system from Apple, I will hesitate on purchasing Snow Leopard for at least a few weeks at the earliest (so they can issue the bug fixes).
Apple deciding not to participate in any more MacWorld Expos after this year should have set the big reset button on conventional wisdom; after all, Apple always goes to MacWorld.
I do think that there's a possibility that Steve and Apple are looking for an opportunity to demonstrate that Apple can still excite without Steve on the stage. They will do so in their own time, for the own reasons, so it may not be this time, but I wouldn't be so quick to predict Apple's future MacWorld behavior based solely on the past.
Apple doesn't do trade shows anymore. Must mean their retail stores are doing the job. The internet gives us access to all third party products.
Rethink trade shows...
Of course, we're in this Recession - if you look at the Auto Shows, big-name auto makers are pulling out of formerly big shows - heck, the big three have pulled out of NASCAR of all things!
So maybe pulling out of this trade show makes sense to the beancounters somewhere - as opposed to the reporters at CNET.
I pray that you are well, and that you continue to be an innovator in tech. You have much to be proud of, from the co-founding of Apple, Inc. to NeXT, to PIXAR, to the re-invention of the mac. Tech history shall always have your name in it. If you are ill, please know that I am praying for you, and for your healing. God Bless you!
This was prerecorded and obviously done before Apple then made that nightmare for MacWorld organizers come true. It's clear that even MacWorld didn't know what was about to happen to them before getting blindsided.
First Adobe, now Apple. Ouch.
Who cares about Macs; most people don't buy their overpriced stuff anyway.
This sounds so much like a cult its pathetic. Maybe all the Mac fans should take that magic pill now so that they don't have to suffer through a MacWorld without Steve. To all the Mac fans, I am sorry you will not have your cult leader at your January event. I guess you will just have to wait for the next Star Trek convention to come through town.
I think it's a great step in becoming a 'greener' company
1. It forces them to announce a release date (ready or not)
2. It causes speculation
3. It forces Apple to deliver as soon as possible so they can charge sky high prices BEFORE their competition beats them to market
4. It causes Apple stock value to fluctuate
5. It prevents Apple from finishing a product before announcing it
Keep in mind that if Apple can keep a product secret until it is finished, they can not only charge sky high prices, but they can maintain those outrageous prices as long as possible until the competition begins replicating it at a fraction of the price.
Look at how Apple overcharged their early adopters of the original iPhone when it was first released.
Let history be a lesson, Apple wants to distance themselves from their competition for as long as possible.
Without competition, Apple can charge whatever they like and get away with it.
After several years of Apple being the only computer company to produce all-in-one computers, now the PC industry is following their lead, offering good systems (often better products) at much more affordable prices.
Steve Jobs does not have the power to eliminate the competition, but he does have the power to eliminate Macworld.
A famous quote from a Star Wars movie: "All who gain power are afraid to lose it".
- by AppleSuxLeo December 19, 2008 4:30 PM PST
- Jobs is probably dead and they had his head cryogenically frozen , and will roll the head out for special events.
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