The Macworld Conference and Expo: A Macintosh Feast in San Francisco

Founded in 1985 and growing every year, the San Francisco Macworld Conference & Expo has become one of the tech world's biggest events. The conference, held for three to five days during the first half of January at the Moscone Center, is typically described as a trade show. In reality, though, the current Macworld is so much more than just a hall full of exhibits.

The fair is put on not by Apple, but by the International Data Group, a technology media organization. That means attendees with find a huge variety of products and services in two halls packed with some 500 exhibits by hardware manufacturers and software companies that produce Mac compatible goods. Past exhibitors, and winners of the Best of Show awards, include Adobe, Aspyre Media, MacSpeech, and of course, Apple.

Tech education is also a major part at the conference. Talks, seminars, and networking events are lead by top experts in a variety of specialized fields, such as assistive technology and graphic design. These are so thorough they typically last several days. There also a lot to learn from speakers scheduled in throughout the conference.

Macworld Then and Now

Mac lovers have expert conference organizer Peggy Kilburn to thank not only for the mere existence of this Mac-fest, but for its huge popularity, too. It was she who gathered Mac gurus like David Pogue and visitors from major user groups like BMUG.

If you're trying to keep up on the latest developments in the world of Macintosh technology, this is the place to be. It was at the San Francisco conference that Halo was first announced by Bungie Software, despite the fact that the game was later bought out by Microsoft. The iMac was announced at one of the now-defunct summer conferences held in 1998, but the iMac G4 was brought out in San Francisco in 2002. The 2003 conference saw the announcement of the Safari browser and 12-inch Powerbooks. In 2007, the big news-maker was the iPhone and in 2008, it was the MacBook Air.

What's in Store for Macworld 2009

If you've been thinking about attending Macworld, but haven't been able to find the time, Macworld 2009 to be held January 5th through the 9th, is the one you'll want to try to get away for. What makes Macworld 2009 so special? This year will be the last in which Apple participates. In 2008, the company displayed its last exhibit at the conference and this year, Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the last speech from an Apple executive.

Despite Apple's decreased presence, the variety of events at the conference just seems to keep growing. Besides the exhibits and educational talks, attendees have the chance to chat with like-minded Mac users at the birds-of-a-feather (BOF) meetings, informal networking get-togethers. Digital imagery features big in this expo, too, with the Digital Photography Experience and Digital Arts Gallery.

New to Macs? The expo floor will offer an expert-managed section dedicated entirely to newcomers and Ultimate Starter Class on Jan 6th will provide an more in-depth introduction to the world of Macintosh.

It's not all business at the San Francisco Macworld Conference & Expo, though. There's also Macworld Live!, the comedy talk show hosted by New York Times tech columnist David Pogue and featuring Pogue's ever-popular song parodies.

If you're big on social events, don't miss Macworld Blast, the year's ultimate Mac lover's party complete with live entertainment. Here attendees can mingle with speakers and exhibitors and wind down a little after the conference.

There is one small downside to the conference, though, and that's the price. Although early bird discounts were available before December 1st, those buying later have choices ranging from the Platinum Pass for $1895 to the more modest Hands-on Maclabs Pass for $299.

Sources:

www.wikipedia.org

www.apple.com

www.macworldexpo.com