MacWorld Tokyo Cancelled

[MacRumors]

MacUser/PC Pro (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/?http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/news_story.php?id=36100) reports that MacWorld Expo Tokyo will be cancelled this year. MacWorld Tokyo was originally scheduled in March 2003.


A spokeswoman for the show's management company, IDG World Expo Japan in Tokyo, confirmed the report to MacUser, saying the show would not be held this year. The unidentified spokeswoman was clear to say that the decision to cancel the upcoming show was only related to the 2003 event and what would happen the following years had yet to be decided.

The decision to cancel MacWorld Tokyo appears to be based on Apple's decision not to attend/participate. 2002's MacWorld Tokyo brought announcements (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2002/03/20020320183528.shtml) of new iPods and the 23" Cinema HD Display.

[vniow]

Wow that came out of nowhere!http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/veronica/eek21.gifhttp://img.ranchoweb.com/images/veronica/eek21.gif

Ouch.

[Steradian]

I really don't think that apple should treat it's Japanese users as they just have, or might have. It is apperent that they are important to the mac community, we need as much market share as we can muster, So canceling this is quite wrong of apple. :(
first post?

PowerBook G4 1ghz

[Dandee]

Now is the time for Apple to come out in the open more often i think. All around me i here people who want to switch to Mac. I wanna convince them myself to do so, and walking around on a Mac-show makes it even easier. Perhaps only to let them see that on the software-side the Mac is well supported. Please Apple, join also the shows on a lower level. We miss that in The Netherlands.

[stevesien]

I ws finally gonna go this year, next year.

is .MAc down now? 4pm tokyo time. 2am east coast?

[MacBandit]

It's not that uncommon to see fooreign MacWorlds cancelled. Anyone who has been following them will remember MacWorld France was cancelled I believe last year and there was on in England I believe that was cancelled also in the last couple years.

[robodweeb]

While it's sad that Apple isn't exemplifying "the high road", given the state of the Japanese economy now and for the past few years, it's probably good business sense to cut back on the marketing budget in that area. It may not be politically correct, but Apple is a business and our satisfaction with that business is more dependent on a good botton line than the fuzzy feel-goods of pumping money into a losing venture.

Apple and MacWorld may be engaged in a pissing contest, but this may ultimately be good for all, by reminding all just how dependent we are on each other. At its worst, such dependency is better, IMO, than the degrading obeisance to Redmond that so many find acceptable. Who believes that Microsoft would respond to similar provocation is such a fiduciarily responsible manner?

robo trying to be vikR

[shinbone]

Apple would be making a big mistake by not doing a Macworld over here. Japan has one of the highest mac to pc ratios in the world, with a devoted mac community and a generation of affluent youngsters. Even though newspapers will speak of the economic downturn, its easy to see by living here that people generally have a lot more spare cash to spend on consumer electronics, especially computers, in Japan than in other countries. And Apple also has to tap into the Japanese market more since the broadband industry is finally getting afloat and people are buying more computers and internet connections. Remember, DSL was a total Unknown over here until a year or two ago.

[irmongoose]

What the heck. And I was just about to invite some of my potential "switcher" friends to Macworld... Apple is definetely making the wrong decision here. They haven't had a good Macworld for a few years, and I was counting on the upcoming one... and now they go ahead and cancel the whole thing. I already can think of over five or six people who are going to be disappointed.

:mad:




irmongoose

[aussiesteve]

I think its about time apple started to attend general PC expos rather than there own. If apple wants to be seen as an viable alternative in the same marketplace then they had better be SEEN IN the same marketplace! maybe this is what they are thinking. Having there own expos only goes to alienate themselves more. Potential customers should be able to see Windows and Mac in the same environment, and that they are compatible, only then can they truly weigh up the pros and cons.
Thats what i think!:)

[gerror]

If apple wants to be seen as an viable alternative in the same marketplace then they had better be SEEN IN the same marketplace!

Good point but I think Apple should keep the Macworlds for the die-hard fans

[Mr. Anderson]

First there was the whole fiasco with NYC and Boston, now this? I don't understand why Apple is doing it, its to their benifit. It was my understanding that last years MWTokyo was success? Who is making the call on whether Apple is attending?

D :(

[agreenster]

On a side note--its intersting to see that a couple people here on MR are from Japan. Heck--I didnt know that! (I guess I should pay attention to the 'location' in their screename, huh?


Very cool

[iN8]

Was it IDG who cancelled the show, or was it Apple. As far as I have seen, a Macworld can go on without Apple, but not IDG.

[Dj Kioto]

Apple has made some bad decisions independing on MacWorld Expos before....

"it's like a backstage pass into the future."

And though they have 4 Billion in cash in the bank, though they are not in danger of going bankrupt... One must realise that sinking money into a macworld where nothing significant is going to be released, and afterwards cause apple fans to say "this is the worst macworld yet" in message boards much like this one, isnt going to help apple.

It's true Apple would do well to expose them selves in the market as much as possible, but when the reactions they get are mearly lukewarm, they have to cut their losses.

Though I make it an event to tune into the live broadcasted Keynotes® and keep up with the news everytime a macworld or mac expo happens, I think that Apple and Macworld have saturated us with Macworlds and Mac Expos... We have or potentially have 4 or 5 Mac centric tradeshows each year, dont forget the WWDC and the QuicktimeLive Expos... how many comdex's are there?, for 5% of the world market, I thing 4 trade shows a year is a bit much, even if they need the exposure.

This is only my opinion, so take it or leave it.

[Cappy]

People need to wake up here to the real world. Yes, Apple needs exposure but MacWorlds just don't really cut it(well, most of the time). The exposure Apple needs more than anything is just flat out positive news and lots of it. Most of the customers that make purchasing decisions to buy Macs catch this and frankly there just isn't enough news coming out of Apple these days. MacWorlds are very expensive. I don't think most folks realize that. Note also that business oriented shows like Comdex have been shrinking as well. These shows just don't fit with the times.

[Rower_CPU]

Here's the deal:
Apple decided it wouldn't be at the Expo, then all the other companies said "well, if Apple's not there, why whould we be there?", so then IDG is left with no-one at the Expo and was forced to cancel.

There's a couple of things going on here. First, like Cappy said, tradeshows in general are growing less popular/attractive for companies. Some are even saying that this year's Comdex may have been the last one. :eek:
Second, there was never a formal announcement that the MW Expo Tokyo was going to take place at all this year, so it's not really that big of a deal for them to back out now.
Third, I think this shows IDG that without Apple attending an Expo they are screwed. If the 3rd party vendors back out as soon as Apple does, IDG is stuck. It might have been a calculated, semi-justifiable way for Apple to put their foot down about all the Expo nonsense here in the states.

[skunk]

Apparently Apple decided months ago that they weren't going to attend, but IDG kept mum, presumably hoping Apple would get back on board. Apple didn't, and then Microsoft, Adobe and others pulled out as well. I can see it being more cost-effective for Apple to open a couple of AppleStores in Japan and to use them as a permanent exhibition. In effect, that's what the retail thing is all about.

[kenkooler]

Its sad to see foreign Macworlds being cancelled, outside the United States, I think its one of the few ways that users can be convinced to switch.
I remember that in 2000 was the last Macworld in Mexico, since then, they have been steadily losing users around here.

[skunk]

Still better to have a year-round presence than annual one-offs.

[Cappy]

Originally posted by kenkooler
Its sad to see foreign Macworlds being cancelled, outside the United States, I think its one of the few ways that users can be convinced to switch.
I remember that in 2000 was the last Macworld in Mexico, since then, they have been steadily losing users around here.

All because of maybe one show a year is now gone? Pretty powerful stuff. ;)

Seriously though keep in mind there are a number of factors involved but the bottom line comes down to making money. If Apple and even IDG can't make money at doing a show, well, you should get the picture. It's all about money people. Apples might grow on trees but Macs and money sure don't.

[Dunepilot]

Cappy, you jest, but having been to expo events in the past with my family, who are undemanding Mac-users (i.e. not power users, or the kind of geeks like us who spend time on these boards), I can honestly say that Apple Expos are a brilliant way of getting people to part with some cash.

You turn up, and everywhere you look, someone's buying a Mac that puts the one you own to shame. You feel the need to spend. You buy a new Mac.

Capitalism. Don'tcha just love it.

I would be very suprised if Apple actually lose money on Expo events. They generate so much media attention and generate a lot of sales on the floor.

[Padrote]

Who needs the Japanese anyway!! They seem content walking around with their cell phones and PDA's. Asia is in a crises. Apple should focus on the sleeping giant that is China. Getting 2 billion people to switch would be a great challenge for Steve-O. Japan is such a saturated market for electronics, that I don't think its as important as other countries.

I don't think its that big of a deal.

[Admin Edit: Please do not use racist or derogatory terms]

[avus]

Originally posted by Padrote
Who needs the Japanese anyway!!
Japan is such a saturated market for electronics, that I don't think its as important as other countries.

I don't think its that big of a deal.

What an ignorant jerk.

Japan has been the most important market for Apple outside of the US. We were the first to embrace many Apple technologies, and you are ignoring the fact that the iPod has 50% market share among MP3 players in Japan right now.

Shut your racist mouth now.

However, I do agree with Apple's decision to cancel the MacWorld Tokyo - the rumors leading up to the MacWorld has damaged sales, and it is a bad business model - they should announce anything important when it is ready, not delaying for the keynotes.

Apple Japan has shifted the focus from hosting one big show a year to supporting grass-rooted users groups around the country, and I am sure it will be more successful.

[Billicus]

Originally posted by Padrote
Who needs the Japanese anyway!! They seem content walking around with their cell phones and PDA's. Asia is in a crises. Apple should focus on the sleeping giant that is China. Getting 2 billion people to switch would be a great challenge for Steve-O. Japan is such a saturated market for electronics, that I don't think its as important as other countries.

I don't think its that big of a deal.

:mad: Watch your mouth!! :mad: Japan is far more technologically oriented than China will be for some time. I believe Apple should continue to focus on Japan, but that canceling this trade show was a good thing too - after all, who wants Apple to go belly-up?

[Marvenp]

Originally posted by avus


What an ignorant jerk.

Japan has been the most important market for Apple outside of the US. We were the first to embrace many Apple technologies, and you are ignoring the fact that the iPod has 50% market share among MP3 players in Japan right now.

Shut your racist mouth now.

However, I do agree with Apple's decision to cancel the MacWorld Tokyo - the rumors leading up to the MacWorld has damaged sales, and it is a bad business model - they should announce anything important when it is ready, not delaying for the keynotes.

Apple Japan has shifted the focus from hosting one big show a year to supporting grass-rooted users groups around the country, and I am sure it will be more successful.

My sentiments exactly! As an American living in Japan and being able to travel back and forth for business, I can tell you for a fact that Japan is the largest market outside the U.S. for almost any industry. Japanese are early adopters of new technology whereas Americans tend to take the 'there's nothing wrong with my old one' attitude. It would be foolish for Apple to consider tis market insignificant.

[daRAT]

Originally posted by dukestreet
First there was the whole fiasco with NYC and Boston, now this? I don't understand why Apple is doing it, its to their benifit. It was my understanding that last years MWTokyo was success? Who is making the call on whether Apple is attending?

D :(

All PR I bet, see now Apple is in the news again, this will go on for a few days and Apple will still go to MWTokyo.

[LimeiBook86]

Hopefully they won't cancel MWNY 03 or move it to Bostoni fthey do I'll Kill'em!!!!!!!! :eek: :mad:

[irmongoose]

Padrote: Watch your friggin mouth. Japan is THE most largest non-US market for Apple. Others have commented on this, so I won't go any further, but know what the heck you're talking about before you comment on anything.

...

Well, now that I'm not so mad anymore, I have some rational comments to make. First of all, if Apple is just doing this so they don't have to put up with troubles with IDG, I agree with them. It's just that, you know, why did they have to pick Japan?

Anyways, as someone else said, Apple is supporting many Apple User Groups, especially in Tokyo, and I like that. I just went to one for the first time last month, and it was pretty cool. Plus, it was held in the Tokyo Apple HQ... and I saw a G4 cluster room for the first time! :D :D

Anyways, as long as they don't stop having Expos, and they don't make this a frequent thing, I'm okay with it.




irmongoose

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by MacBandit
It's not that uncommon to see fooreign MacWorlds cancelled. Anyone who has been following them will remember MacWorld France was cancelled I believe last year and there was on in England I believe that was cancelled also in the last couple years.

well, there was a reason to cancel macworld france last year.

THX OSAMA!!

[Dandee]

You guys across the ocean are the ones who get the most to see from Apple via Macshows. Over here in Europe we'll have to do with one show in France, and the last one was cancelled. What i would like to see is that the bigger (official) Apple dealers joined the smaller shows with the full support from Apple (Europe). We need it. Maybe there is a possibility to show Stevies powertalk online in Europe during a show. On a massive screen to get a massive crowd to switch and get rid of the IBM/MS-clone-itch.

[yamadataro]

I appreciate these guys saying warm things about Japanese market. Many thanks from Tokyo :D

As to the MW Tokyo, the expo itself won't make a big difference for my life (with Macs). But the single most important thing I care about is Jobs' keynote. We Mac fans on the planet will have less keynotes as a result of this cancelation and THAT is a shame!

Jobs' ketnote is one of my excitement boosters for sure.
Going out drinking with a cute Japanese girl is another!

Cheers!