Comments on: No Jobs means no Macworld splash

CEO Steve Jobs' absence from the his usual slot keynoting Macworld almost guarantees that the company won't have any groundbreaking products to show off in January.

[mike.gw]

You know, I don't really care about the stockholders. Their only concern about Steve's health is what it will mean to the value of their Apple stock. It's just greed. And we see where institutional greed has led us. Here's the deal: Steve Job's Apple has created many wonderful and influential computing products. If for any reason, Steve stopped making contributions to Apple's products, his legacy is already secure. Apple's products have a Steve Mindest to them, and a new product manager should be able to figure them out. Minimalist Beautiful Design, Ease of Use, Out Of The Box Thinking, Great Software Programming.

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.

[saedre]

Amen!

[AlanHub]

you dont think Steve Jobs is greedy? HAH! look at your iphone and macbook and attempt to respond to me.

[jakestarnes]

You can't be serious!? Jobs hasn't actually made ANY products. He wasn't the one doing the research and development; He wasn't the one doing the marketing; he wasn't the one doing the designing! Perhaps you should get this deluded, romanticised notion out of your head.

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.

[darkpoet25]

To jakestarnes and alanhub I couldn't agree with you more. People have Steve Jobs on this giant pedastal like he was a God or something, much like Bill Gates. They both created or co-created big companies sure, but they didn't 'invent' anything nor did they make anything. The actual technicans are the ones doing the real work, for which they more often than not don't get any credit for.

[Renegade Knight]

Oh, the Irony. No Shareholders No Apple for you to care about.

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.

[troyrig]

To darkpoet25 - I love how you make the point that people diefy Steve Jobs and the first reply on this comment was "Amen."

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.

[AlanHub]

the point is that: fanboys see Apple and Microsoft as two wholly different perspectives. One idolizes their "unique leader who "cares" and will buy anything that he throws at them, the other adamantly defends against anyone who criticizes its latest operating system. I for one am not buying another mac. This macbook has crashed on me too many times for me to accept the hypocrisy.

[GadgetDon]

A wild thought...what if there is a blockbuster surprise in hiding. And the swap is in part to downplay any leaks/rumors (if it was this big, wouldn't Jobs be doing it) and in part to show that Phil Schiller can show off a blockbuster (presuming that he can). Do I think that's what is happening? Nope. But reading Apple's tea leaves is such fun.

[Perry_Clease]

Now you are thinking like Steve :)

[mojojam]

Apples' event at Macworld was what made Apple stand out in the computer industry. It showed that they recognized their unique connection with their users. It's great PR and Steve Jobs did a wonderful job. Too bad, now it seems like $$$$$ take precedent over connecting with Apple fans. Events can be made with less expenditures if they try. If they continue to follow this path they will no longer be the diamond in the rough. They'll eventually just become another computer company pushing their wares.

[inick500]

I fully agree

[Brian]

Thank goodness someone on this planet understands what I've been seeing all along.

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).

[RetiredMidn]

This is thinking in the past: Steve always does the blockbuster keynotes, so if he's not doing this one, it's not a big one.

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.

[rejobi]

Remember Macworld New York City. IDG moved it to Boston and Apple pulled out. Now, no more Macworld on the east coast.

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...

[solitare_pax]

MacWorld did their trade show in Boston for several years before moving it to New York City (which was a drag, since I could make it to Boston for a day, but not NYC) so what's the problem?

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.

[AppleSuxLeo]

People are on to Mr Popeil and his overpriced "Sharper Image" of the computer world company. Mac sales are way off and their stock is tanking recently.

[Jon N.]

Dear Mr. Jobs:
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!

[Vegaman_Dan]

Just listened to MacBreak Weekly with Leo Laporte, which had been prerecorded earlier in the week. The special guest was Paul Kent of MacWorld who was brought on to talk about all the exciting things that they had planned, some of the special events Apple had in the works, hinting at a big announcement that would shock the MacWorld attendees, and about the upcoming Stevenote. He said he didn't know exactly what Steve was going to talk about, but it was going to be big. He then went on to talk about how well MacWorld is doing, their future expansion plans, and eagerness to have even more participation with Apple. When asked by one of the commentators if the trade show was in any trouble, they responded saying they were in fantastic sheape- it would take something disastrous like Apple leaving to affect the coming of fans from across the world.

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.

I believe in the products because, I use it every day without a glitch. I didn't buy Mr. jobs. I bought and will continue buying Apple products.

[hulst.jurgen]

The amount of Mac / Jobs coverage on Cnet is getting totally out of proportion!
Who cares about Macs; most people don't buy their overpriced stuff anyway.

[AppleSuxLeo]

I`d rather see the WOZ anyway. He is THE MAN !

[jscott418]

This is a bunch of BULL. As if nobody else can introduce products except Steve Jobs?
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.

[seppe__]

No more keynotes --> better for the environment..

I think it's a great step in becoming a 'greener' company

[Republic512]

You are an idiot.

[sting7k]

Wow, what is this like the 12th article in 2 days about this? Beating a dead horse at this point, they all say the same thing. We get the idea, No Jobs = Macworld lame.

[compugirl]

I agree. But it shouldn't surprise you at all. This site has a ridiculous bias in favour of all things Apple.

[Norseman]

It just hit me why Steve Jobs won't be keynoting Macworld anymore. It's because Bill Gates isn't keynoting CES anymore. Steve would no longer be able to make Bill look like a complete klutz by comparison.

[bburn--2008]

Well, Steve will have to leave Apple at some point so I wouldn't be surprised that he announces his retirement at Macworld SF in January. And as for Macworld Expos well...all good things come to an end.

[zmonster]

Has nobody heard of CES? It is much more logical for Apple to invest its resources and money into a worldwide show like CES than it is to invest in Macworld.

[Brian]

It is possible that Apple is no longer interested in making announcements because:

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".

[AppleSuxLeo]

Jobs is probably dead and they had his head cryogenically frozen , and will roll the head out for special events.