The New Stuff at Macworld

The Experts (that group who know everything) are of the opinion that there will be exciting new products at Macworld, even from Apple.

Evolutionary

Apple

Michael Gartenberg, vp of JupiterMedia, a marketing research firm, who edits MobileDevicesToday blog thinks that Phil Schiller (standing in for Steve Jobs at the Keynote presentation) “isn’t going to get up onstage, say hi, and walk off”.

NPD Group’s director of analysis, Ross Rubin, agrees. “Given that Apple is participating, it will certainly serve its interests to maintain some excitement around the keynote and event,” he said. “Certainly they will have some substantive announcements at the keynote.”

Best guesses are that we won’t see a revolutionary product, like a netbook laptop, or totally revised iPod or iPhone, but Apple has a lot of arrows in it’s quiver, and we will see some of them shot… right on target, if the past is any indicator. They just won’t be TOTALLY NEW!!!

The iMac is due, and the Mini overdue for an overhaul. I expect to see more info on Snow Leopard, too. It’s entirely possible that the white spotted cat will be released in the 1st quarter this year, so Apple will be doing all it can to get us salivating at the prospect.

Meet and Greet

For me as a consultant, and for many consumers, the opportunity to meet and talk to developers or at least company reps, to find out what’s new, how their kewl stuff will make me or my clients happier, more productive, more secure, etc. is a huge reason to go to Macworld. The conferences are great, but the real meat for me is to check every booth, and talk to everyone I can who is involved with anything I can use or work with. It’s incredibly educational, a fantastic opportunity to find great hardware or software that will be just what you need… and be able to see how it works and why it will be right for you. Ads and reviews just can’t give you that.

Less Sizzle, but Plenty of Steak

So, if you can get to Macworld, it likely won’t be like some years (the iPhone rollout, the MacBook Air rollout, etc) but it should still have enormous value… if you use a Mac, or are interested in the possibility of using a Mac, or if Macs are essential to your livelihood. Me, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, with or without a huge new Apple splash. I just hope Macworld can survive Apple’s absence in the future.

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