But you still say "the keynote" - as if CES somehow was similar to MacWorlds of yore where a shining knight in a black mock turtle sets the stage for all that follows.
The pre-note (Ballmer's speech was the day before CES opened) really didn't have much impact - nothing like a MacWorld keynote where everyone rushes over to the exhibits to see the new gadgets that were just announced. The possible fact that the CEA president may have gushed about Microsoft (I didn't see the keynote or watch it later) would be expected -- certainly the very large checks that Microsoft writes to CEA for booth space and sponsorships make Microsoft very important in the eyes of CEA.
I don't know how many other trade shows you attend, but I can tell you about the ones I've attended as well as the ones I have been involved with. And for reference, I am a product manager for a software company that generates over $1billion in annual revenue.
There is a speech made every morning on some topic of interest. They are generally called keynotes. But it is the first speech of the whole show that matters. And in most circles that is called THE keynote for the show.
Now, I personally have never attended a MacWorld. I find it something that is interesting to read about, but not worth the money. That's even when I work in the area.
What I have seen, for many years, and not just in the local news, but in trade publications, is that what's stated in the keynotes for both CES and MacWorld is compared as the Microsoft/Apple showdown. I don't work for a publication so if you disagree with that well, call up those publications and complain.
And While Windows 7 has already been reported on in small circles, and released to the MS developer network, the Ballmer speech was the first time it was pushed to the general media. This was their time to tout the new features and that's what they focused on.
Nothing in Ballmer's keynote was unexpected. Windows 7 Beta - yeh!. Well, I was already running Windows 7 PDC (build 6801) on the laptop that I took to Las Vegas. Whoopee! I got to upgrade to Build 7000 when I got back on Sunday. Important and good news for Win7 coming out on time - but no surprise to anybody.
For you, I can see that as the case. No more so than a member of the Apple Developer Program who is running beta builds of Snow Leopard. But the Ballmer keynote was not directed at someone who is an MS Developer.
Fair enough - but really, how can one not take a statement like your "If CES were to become THE tradeshow, then Apple could really help out their image....." as a bit of Apple fan arrogance?
CES is doing quite well as "THE" tradeshow. If Apple shows up, it could help the CES image among the 10 year MacWorld veterans - but it's questionable whether it would do much for CES in the wider world.
This is especially true since CES is an industry-insider show for people to make connections between manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
Whether you like it or not MacWorld and CES have ALWAYS been in competition. If anything this is why so many people are upset at Apple pulling out of MacWorld since it means that trade show is pretty much done.
In my opinion I care more about the loss of tax revenue and business to the city of San Francisco. But I really think trade shows are becoming less and less important in business. Compared to their costs they just do not generate the new sales that a company would like. The only thing that is gaining in importance are user conferences, but that is a wholly separate topic.
This particular thread is about Apple going to CES. And they will only do that if they see this is as an opportunity to grow the business. From what I have seen CES is very a different culture than what Apple normally does for trade shows. Which goes back to my original points.
Something is either going to be different about CES next year. OR The Apple presence is going to be unlike anything we have seen Apple do before. The last thing Apple is going to try and do is "bring" their fans to CES. That's pointless. This is about getting new business and that most certainly involves cashing in on their brand and culture in some form.
Apple's grand plan is to undercut distributors and retailers - to own all the manufacturing channels, the retail stores, and the online store. This is the biggest misfit for Apple attending CES - the point of CES is to promote the middlemen that Apple has been intent on eliminating.
What you write is no different than what EVERY company does. That's the nature of corporations. At the end of the day there is only one thing that truly matters for a company. Is that company working toward growing its revenue and its market. Everything else is just ancillary to that goal.
