Comments on: Future of Macworld Expo up in the air

This year's attendees cautiously optimistic the conference will stay on their calendar without Apple, but much depends on whether IDG can still put together an interesting event.

[Perry_Clease]

Possibly MacWorld could become more of a 3rd party Mac software show than one that features Apple products and be quite a success. A few years when I attended MacWorld I bought Vertus' Fluid Mask, I might not have done that without the opportunity to try it out at their booth.

Maybe Pystar can take Apple's spot on the floor. :)

Tom, are you at MacWorld?

[Tom Krazit]

I'm not at the moment, but I've been hopping back and forth. Our office is two blocks away.

[BillDemp]

There is little doubt that Macworld will be a much different show without the cash infusion from Apple. The question is whether people would still attend a show with a much smaller budget and scale. Is this going to degrade into a super-sized Mac User Group meeting with booths?

[daveysocal]

Seriously. IDG should just partner with Apple to sponsor the WWDC every summer. One show - a big Apple presence without an Apple booth, vendor booths on a show floor, much better weather, better for most people's schedules, and no over lap with CES. This seems like a no brainer to me. The only downside is higher cost for travel but, since most Macworld attendees are from California and surrounding areas, it does not seem like too much of a stretch. Besides, a lot of people attend both. I can't be the only one thinking this....

[Sean_Gilligan]

Some smaller shows are "must-see destinations" and some bigger ones are "must avoid". It depends what you are looking for. I've avoided MacWorld in recent years, a smaller version with a clear focus and good attendees and speakers could be more appealing. I might even check it out...

[Brian]

I noticed several times seeing Al Gore at Macworld 2009.

I wonder if other celebrities show up as well.

[ExIDGer]

Apple DOES NOT bankroll Macworld, they are a cost to IDG who gives them the booth space for free. They can easily pull off Macworld 2010 without Apple, but need the existing sponsorship base and attendees. I agree with the other posters who said this is now a community event not a Apple event. This started as Apple's event and was set to go head-to-head with CES in the same week when Apple "Computer" was not as consumer focused as today but still wanted a piece of that market. Next year Steve will keynote at CES??

[cmeskii]

Hilights from Macworld? HIGHLIGHTS? you're kidding right? Try LOWLIGHTS

[troyrig]

I suppose nobody noticed how creepy the perfect rows of matching macs and black shirted crowds were in that photo? I mean, come on! That is so THX.

[D3vildog699]

I kinda did, but thats what it looks like at my work, so im used to it.

[METAUSTIN]

Sounds like CES 2009 has been a bust, at least in respect to Apple. What a shame.