Apple: Last MacWorld Expo and no Steve Jobs
// December 16th, 2008 // Apple, Blog, News, mistical.com
This coming January, 2009, will be the last MacWorld Expo Event that Apple throws. Not only that, Steve Jobs will not even be there to attend the show and give us not only the last MacWorld Event, but the last time we see what is going to be coming out that day, next day or coming months.
First off, I understand that Apple is getting much bigger than they were years ago. They have many, many new stores now with more stores to open up. Also the fact that their website is much better and to buy from. So they no longer really need to get out to the world on what is new or going to be coming out and when. Especially with how many blogs there are today and newspapers that report on new Apple products and such.
Now, that being said. I am still sad to hear this is the last MacWorld. I have always enjoyed not only watching it when they come out (I have not watched them all..) but I have always been there to watch live blogger posting pictures and text of what Apple is announcing at the time for them being there. I do not think it would be such a big deal though for them to cancel it, if Steve Jobs would actually be attending the last one. You would only think he would do that for the Apple Fan Base. But I guess not.
One way: Apple has always been about secrecy. One thing that has changed over time, with the explosion of popularity with the company is the fact that upcoming products are a little harder to keep mum. The last two keynotes, that I can recall, had no element of surprise at all. But that doesn’t mean that that makes the keynotes any less fun to watch.
In a way, it’s almost a slap in the face. Not solely to the customers, but to all the third-parties that help contribute to the Apple ecosystem, boosting Apple’s figures while riding the coattails of their success. Because, face it, without Jobs and the keynote in general, I doubt we will again see that sold out Macworld any time soon. The number of visitors will still most likely be large, but not as large as we could have seen. And with that being said, the less number of visitors means the less amount of exposure for companies present. With the less amount of exposure, that means there is less likelihood for newcomers to succeed. So why even register to take part in the event if you do not think it will help contribute to the good of your company? So on and so forth, a snowball effect.
That leads to the second possibility:
By textbook definition, the sole duty of a CEO is to make stockholders happy, which usually translates to make it grow in value. As seen, the Apple’s stock is very volatile when it comes to Steve Jobs and his health. Did you notice there was less Steve Jobs at the last event? Probably trying to help illustrate that there are brilliant minds behind the company, with Apple not being a one man show. Unfortunately stockholders do not care, their main focus is on the guy making them money. With that being said, this is probably just another measure to help make a smooth transition from Jobs to his successor, whenever that time may come. As the shock factor would have been far greater should it have happened any other way.
Either way, it’s a sad day for a Mac fanboy. Especially not having Jobs present at the final MacWorld. Perhaps, once again, it will act as one last public indication that the company can stand in its own without him. Some on my Twitter feed quipped saying that they expect Jobs will come out on stage and say “I’m sorry, Phil couldn’t make it.†Which would make all of us happy, but nothing more than keeping the keynote alive, with our without him.