“Jason Snell, editor of Macworld (the magazine, which has nothing officially to do with Macworld the show… believes Macworld (the show) will be better off without Apple (the company). That’s a little like saying Minnie Mouse would have been better off ditching Mickey and going for a solo career,” Robert X. Cringely writes for Computerworld.
“Macworld is actually run by IDG World Expo, one of the many arms of the IDG tech empire (Macworld the magazine is one arm, Infoworld is another). IDG is like Shiva, the Hindu goddess of destruction, on steroids — and about as intractable,” Cringely writes.
“Jobs, of course, is the One Right and True Way in all things tech. He doesn’t lose arguments, he just ends them,” Cringely writes.
“So I suspect the explanation is far simpler. This abrupt announcement, coming just as the holidays descend upon us, has all the classic signs of a Jobs temper tantrum. Jobs wanted to change something major about the show. IDG said no, Steve said something like “Fine — see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” — only with a lot more expletives thrown in,” Cringely writes. “Besides, Macworld needs Apple more than Apple needs Macworld.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Now, wait, which Cringely is this again? Oh, whatever. By now, we’ve heard every explanation under the sun, but we continue to firmly believe that the real reason why Jobs pulled out of Macworld Expo was the message he received last week via deep-space satellite: “Klaatu barada nikto.”
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “James W.” for the heads up.]
Temper tantrums are good -:)
This sounds almost plausible. Except that we have always heard rumors of “the discussion” prior to noting “the fit” in the past. For example … “I want it in NYC”/”we want it in Boston” = “we won’t be coming”.
I agree this sounds very plausible. Even if Apple was planning on doing macworld this one last time you would think Steve himself would have done the last keynote.
It is entirely possible that Steve threw a temper tantrum and cancelled at the last minute.
Although, somehow I think I agree with the other theories that say Apple does not have anything really good to show at macworld.
🙁
Corrections:
Shiva is male.
It’s called a meltdown, not a temper tantrum.
Temper Fugit.
Cringely is an ass and from the tone it sounds like he tried for a job with one of the many “arms of Shiva” and didn’t get the gig.
I don’t see this much fuss being caused with Adobe pulling out of Macworld. Maybe Adobe’s about to go bust & seek the Government helping hands!
It doesn’t have the signs of anything. The only thing we know is that this is the last one and that Jobs isn’t doing it. The reasons why could be one or more of any number options.
Ultimately Macworld could be better off, it might suffer intially but it could let smaller developers shine more – especially with increased development for the iPhone meaning there are more Apple based titles than ever.
Well, we all know why Minnie Mouse divorced Mickey….
It was because she was f#*king Goofy…
1) It costs a ridiculous amount of money to do these shows. It starts with paying several hundred dollars per square meter, so a large stand (say 50′ x 50′) is going to be $75,000 or so for starters.
2) Then they start screwing you for electricity (at an exhibition in the UK recently, we got screwed for around $600 for each 1Kw connection for three days), internet access (a couple of thousand bucks), drayage.
3) Now you have to build a stand.
4) Then you have to dedicate ridiculous amount of managerial and technical resources, just so some spotty teenagers can come and paw at whatever Steve has just announced. Probably depleting the talent left at Cupertino to the receptionists, the post room and whoever fills the coffee machine.
5) And you also have to align your product development plans to someone else’s timetable.
6) And it’s becoming harder and harder to top the “last big thing” so that nobody is disappointed.
Screw it. Use the Apple Stores. More people, more control, less pressure, less money.
As I have said before, you invite a guest to come to you home for dinner and to bring the main course. Then you have you and your associates crap over the menu, complain on how it was cooked and rant because he didn’t bring a complementary desert.
Not only that but you support a bunch of beguiling yahoos and criticize or ban anybody that comes to your guest’s defence.
Apple doesn’t need Macworld.
To Steve: Hold your own party. Just like your WWDC, build it and we will come. With bells on.
Makes me cringe. According to most Hindus, Shiva is a guy, a God. Kind of sets the general credibility level for this opinion.
@ MCCFR
I heard that Apple was shelling out WELL over 1 Million to do a Macworld show.
For Apple, this is just dumb. They get MORE attention I think by sending out media invites for a “Special Event”, throw in a little catch phrase that people will start running wildly at the mouth about what it could mean.
They hold the special even where they please, at the price that suits them. It is a much better “bang for the buck” than Macworld.
The fact that APPLE gets to decide when the release a product, and not the timing of Macworld deciding it is just icing on the cake.
The Dude abides.
I should add for clarity, “For Apple, this is just dumb.”. I was meaning, to continue to attend Macworld and waste precious resources (even though Apple has plenty in the bank).
The Dude abides.
If Jobs really had a temper tantrum, Apple would have pulled out of the 2009 show, not given IDG a year’s notice.
You are absolutely correct. Trade shows were developed for one reason: to allow customers to see and inspect the wares of a company before making a buying decision. Having a lot of vendors in on spot for a few days was very efficient when the only way to compare competing products was to travel to each manufacturer; perhaps thousands of miles apart. Those days are gone for Apple. I has spent that past 7 years building out a retail network that now provides the mass of those interested a place to go and experience Apple Products. They have custom events and advertising to promote new products. MacWorld should still be able to survive with Apple, but Apple has grown out of its need for MacWorld.
” …. throw in a little catch phrase that people will start running wildly at the mouth about what it could mean …. ”
LOL! Exactly what Apple just did, rather cleverly. Over 2000 articles ranting and raving and speculating. A lot of hysteria over “Just Say No.”
January 24, 2009.
25th Anniversary Mac
I have yet to see one article that points out a single compelling reason why Apple needs MacWorld.
MDN has it backwards. Steve Jobs pulled out. Then we heard “Klaatu barada nikto”
@Cascadians/Anim8me2: Personally I don’t Shiv-a-Git what the war god is. If Cringely sought employment for one of the Arms, he probably at best was offered a Hand Job.
@ bizlaw,
Apple most likely has signed a contract already for this year to attend. Easier to just go then try to get out of it… plus I think it would “burn” Macworld more for there to be no Jobs there. It’s like going to a concert to see your favorite band, but find out it is just some crappy cover band instead.
The Dude abides.
Instead everyone seems to take enormous pleasure in concocting these conspiratorial, speculative, random, theories which are pure fantasy. Steve is gonna die or no he’s just in a bad mood. Apple finally just ran out of ideas or they realized nobody is buying anymore Apple gear.
Man I wish they’d get their stories straight.
I’m sorry to disagree with everyone, but I can very easily see Steve Jobs getting pissed about something with the show and having a tantrum. Sure, this isn’t the only reason, but it makes as much sense.
The company that I work for has several show booths that they take to every show. Apple probably has one stored a block away from the Mosconi Center. It’s not that much money or time that Apple is spending for MacWorld.
Cringely is obviously a Republican, sounds a lot like the kind of crap McCain was was tossing about pre-election…
All this speculation about what is behind the move is just that, sheer speculation.
There is nothing wrong with that, but it should be stated right up front in this article as well as the three or four other theories bandying their way about the internet this morning.
The point is, in my experience, speculation is only a fruitful pursuit if there is a mystery and no common explanation(s) that fit the available facts. In this case we have an abundance of actual good evidence that the show was expensive, tiresome, and counterproductive to the company in many ways. there is no *need* to speculate on alien causes or Jobs temper tantrums because there is no “mystery” as to why Apple would have opted out of the show.
Finally, speaking as a member of the same generation as them, the pundits pushing the conspiracy theories this morning are all just a bit too OLD for me to take anything they ay at face value. These are the 50 something guys who’s whole CAREERS have centred around going to trade shows. Now they are the ones that can’t see the writing on the wall in regards how trade shows are themselves a thing of the past.
@ Dimebag
No! Don’t take us there.